Speak Easy to Me

Chapter 10

Even though I had a fitful night of rest I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. I didn’t want to admit that it was because my dance lessons would start today but getting to see Elsa again was like gasping for air and finally being able to breathe. She was the only one who had shown me sincere kindness since I’d been here. I learned my lesson from Emmett, and I won’t fully trust her, at least not for a while.

I had to take a few extra minutes lingering in the hot bath water. I grabbed my towel as I exited the now cooling water. Taking a glimpse in the mirror I was horrified by what I saw. My eye had a light purple ring under it highlighted by a very red cheek. I then took in the bruising on my upper arm. Every one of Cameron’s fingers were imprinted on my skin, making it look like I had a handprint on my arm.

I moved closer to the mirror not wanting to believe that my fiancé left me bruised. I inspected the mark under my eye, hoping that maybe it was just a shadow, or some left-over coal I hadn’t scrubbed away good enough. It was in fact, a black and blue mark. There was no denying the handprint on my arm, so I didn’t even bother examining that further.

I went to my closet to find a long-sleeved dress to wear that would be suitable for dancing though I had no clue what I was looking for. I chose a plain light gray dress that was for everyday wear.

Next, I used the powder I had to try to diminish the appearance of the under-eye bruise. I looked utterly ridiculous. I wiped it off and decided I’d tell everyone I slipped on some water in the foyer and hit the side of my face on the marble table in the center of the room as I fell.

As I was walking down to the dining room for breakfast it hit me, Elsa had never told me a time to be at her studio. The whole time I ate, I debated on what to do. It was around 10 o’clock in the morning when I finished eating. I settled on finding Russel and having him take me to the studio. If I was too early, I could explore downtown.

I searched the whole house to no avail. Russel was nowhere to be found. I oddly seemed to be the only one in the house at the moment. I left a note with my whereabouts on the giant table in the foyer. Armed with a book and some money Uncle Lon had given me when I had first arrived, I put on my shoes and coat and made my way to the trolleybus.

I had to walk a few blocks in the blustery cold. It felt refreshing to feel the wind on my face, even if it was a bit chilly. I had only been driven through the neighborhood except for when I had walked to the park almost a week prior. My walk to the park felt like a lifetime ago.

I was able to take in the neighborhood in a way I was not able to while I was zooming around in a car. None of the houses were as grand as Uncle Lon’s, but they all looked well cared for despite the brown grass and bare trees due to the time of year.

I could feel my nose and cheeks turning red from the nip in the air. It was a little warmer once I got on the trolleybus, but not by much. At least the bus kept the wind mostly at bay. You could still hear it as it fought against the windows for entrance, making a light hissing sound as we moved along the road.

Because it was mid-morning the bus was only half full with about 15 other passengers aboard which made finding a seat easy. I wasn’t sure where I was going. I was feeling adventurous today, so I would get off when I felt I was in the middle of the city and go from there. Knowing I had a little bit of a ride in front of me, I opened my book and started reading. I had gotten about three chapters in when I looked up seeing tall buildings surrounding me. I decided this was the perfect spot to get off the trolleybus.

As I was leaving, I asked the conductor if he knew where Elsa’s Ensembles was. He pointed me in the direction he thought it was and with a “Good luck” parting, he shut the door and continued on his route. I stood on the curb in awe at the sprawling city in front of me. I had always had someone escorting me around the city. Being here on my own was a little daunting.

If I sat and stared long enough it would intimate me, all the tall buildings and people bustling around me. I willed my feet to start moving in the direction the conductor had told me. Everyone seemed so sure of themselves, moving along the sidewalk mindlessly to their destinations. I, on the other hand, didn’t know if I was going in the right direction, taking small, hesitant steps.

My attention wasn’t fully in front of me and a man, in a hurry, wearing a suite, bumped my shoulder with his as he passed by. “Watch where you’re going, dick!” I heard as someone shouted behind me. Only, it wasn’t directed at me, but at the man who had bumped me. It took me a second to process the voice with its familiar huskiness to it. Emmett!

I made an unsuccessful attempt to pick up my pace. The people all around me seemed to have slowed down to a crawl leaving no space to weave betwixt them for me to pass. Emmett was by my side in no time. I had nowhere to go.

“Good morning, Lottie,” Emmett said with a friendliness that was way too casual for my liking. I tried to keep my eyes forward, not giving him the benefit of a glance, but my eyes betrayed me.

“Morning, Holden.” I gave him an exasperated side eye that would let him know I was annoyed with him. “It was good until you showed up.” He placed his hands in his pockets casually.

“I am sorry to have put a damper on your morning. It wasn’t my intention.” The cocky playfulness his voice carried a moment ago was gone. In its place was a more melancholic tone. “You just so happen to be traveling in the same direction as I.”

“At the same time?” I questioned accusatory. He just wore a soft smile on his face.

“Seems so,” He retorted. His smile quickly faded as I fully turned my face to him. The crowd in front of us was slowly dispersed into the various buildings and shops we passed. At the next sight of an open door to a shop Emmett wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me with him into the shop. I didn’t even have time to protest.

He shut the door, flipped the lock, and told the young woman behind the counter to come back in five minutes after handing her a five-dollar bill. As soon as the woman was gone Emmett looked at my face again. “What the fuck is that?” He said with so much anger I jumped back a bit. I didn’t answer right away because truthfully, I didn’t know what he was talking about.

“What?” I asked, confused. He pointed to my eye.

“That.” His gentle touch under my eye was in stark contrast to the way his words were coming out. “What. The. Fuck is that, Lottie?” He was beyond angry at this point.

Emmett had no right to know what happened in my personal life behind closed doors. “It is none of your damn business Emmett, or Holden; whoever you are today.” I spit the anger right back at him. His anger was directed at Cameron, not me, while my anger was fully directed at Emmett. I went to unlock the door.

“Lottie,” Emmett pleaded as he placed his hand on my upper arm, right where my new bruise sat. I yelped in pain. He let go of my arm as quickly as he had grabbed it.

“I am so sorry Lottie,” Emmett said, concern filling his eyes, thinking he grabbed my arm too hard. I hadn’t realized how bad and deep the bruise went until that moment. Emmett had barely even placed his hand on my arm when the pain hit. His eyes went from concern to menacing.

I was now holding my hand over my arm as if that might stop the pain. “Show me your arm,” he said through gritted teeth. He was seething with anger. I was not about to take off my top in this random shop in downtown Chicago with a man who in all reality, was a stranger.

“I will do no such thing,” I informed him. My words came out a little fast and high pitched.

“Look, Carrots. You can either willing show me your arm or I am going to rip that dress off you myself to look at it. The choice is yours.” He folded his arms in front of his chest. The movement pulled his jacket tighter around his shoulders.

I begrudgingly started to unbutton the top of my dress after I dramatically rolled my eyes at him. He placed his hand on mine as I undid the first button halting me in my tracks. “Go behind there.” He pointed to a tall display shelf. “I want to see it, not let the whole city of Chicago see it.” It hadn’t even dawned on me that the window to the shop was fully open and anyone walking by could see inside.

I resumed my partial disrobing as soon as we were safely shielded behind the wooden display case. I slipped my dress down far enough for the top of the bruise to show. I wasn’t going to go any lower, but as soon as Emmett saw the bruise, he pulled the arm of my dress all the way down to my elbow.

He carefully inspected the deep purple marks outlined in blue. “Cameron did this?” he asked without looking up from my arm as he slowly turned it back and forth. It was more of a confirmation question than an actual inquiry.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s already done.” I just wanted to put my arm away and get as far away from Emmett as possible. It wasn’t good for me to be this close to him. His scent floated into my nose as he bent down closer to my arm. It filled me with a familiarity I didn’t want to revisit.

“It does matter, Lottie.” He let go of my arm, letting it fall to my side. “I’m going to kill that prick.” There was so much conviction in his voice, I knew he would.

“There is no need for any of that. I took care of it.” I was hoping to diffuse the situation. I started buttoning my dress back up. Emmett just chuckled as he crossed his arms.

“Really? You took care of it?” His mocking tone was condescending at best.

“I told him that if he ever touched me again like that, I would cut off his hand,” I paused for a moment before finishing, “along with other appendages.” A small smile danced across my lips.

Emmett let out a high-pitched whistle. “Oh boy, I bet old Cameron liked that.” The joy that was radiating off him was contagious. “What did he say to that?”

“I have no idea. I left the room before he could reply, but if the breaking glass I heard was any indication, he wasn’t too pleased.”

“I’m proud of you Carrots. You surprise me at every turn.” The smile on his face was filled with pride. He was proud of me? I smiled back before remembering that I hate him. I am supposed to be ignoring him and moving on with my abusive fiancé which sounds absurd when I put it that way.

Blinking rapidly a few times, I came to my senses. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date to be somewhere. Thank you.” I could tell from the way his face shifted from triumph to serious he had thought he was forgiven.

I made my way to the front of the store. Emmett was unlocking the door and opening it up for me without a word. I was a little disappointed that he wasn’t putting up a fight. Even a little push back would be welcome. What the hell was wrong with me? I liked fighting with Emmett though. Our little back and fourths were, I don’t know, comforting? Exciting? As twisted as it seemed, I looked forward to my little tiffs with him.

“Not going to follow me?” I teased, letting a smile draw the corners of my lips up ever so slightly.

“As much as I know you enjoy it, it would appear I have been traveling in the wrong direction.” We were now outside the shop door, standing under the eve of the awning.

“Good. Your neediness is not a turn on.” Emmett’s eyes burned with a fire I knew I couldn’t extinguish. As he inched closer to me, I quickly said, “Good day, Holden.” I used his first name to really drive home the point of me being mad at him. Then I slipped into the crowd of people passing by.

I had no idea what this hold was that Emmett had over me. It was like all sense went out the window any time he was around. If I could just avoid him for longer than a day, I think this silly schoolgirl crush could be quashed. Dancing would be a good distraction.