Chapter 14
Josephine
I shuffled behind Kylian as he gave me a quick tour of the house.
The kitchen, media room, living room, and gym are all on the main floor, as is the master suite, which is Decker’s room, apparently.
My room is on the second floor, in the same hallway as Locke and Kendrick and a few other guest rooms. In my stupor, I didn’t think to ask Kylian where he slept.
My room is fine—nice, even. One wall faces the lake, and the view is undeniably gorgeous.
The décor is all powdery blues, deep purples, and shimmery golds.
There’s a feminine touch to the design that I would admit to liking if I wasn’t so disgruntled about my new living arrangements.
Or concerned about who typically uses this room.
Kylian mentioned the paparazzi are used to seeing women at the house. So. Yeah. It’s fair to assume that this is where said women might stay.
Do any of the guys have girlfriends? Who should I be prepared to run into or even cohabitate with?
My head is swimming with questions. Questions, the fog of exhaustion, and the groggy pull of sleep after my unexpected all-nighter.
Yawning, I trudge into the en suite bathroom, then blink at the pristine space. The room is huge—bigger than my bedroom back at my uncle’s, with an enormous vanity, a high-tech walk-in shower, and a gorgeous soaking tub.
The comparison to my place with Sam jolts me back to reality.
I haven’t tried to text or call him yet, because honestly, I don’t know what I’m supposed to tell him.
I disappeared, but I can’t tell him where to or why or when I’ll be back.
He probably couldn’t help me even if I did feel comfortable divulging details.
He’s already done so much for me, and I don’t need to mix him up in what is turning out to be another act in the shit show that is my life.
That’s something else I’ll have to figure out. But that’s a problem for tomorrow, after I’ve gotten some sleep.
I shower on autopilot, which is a shame, because the water pressure is fabulous, and the temperature stays scalding hot the entire time.
I get a smug bit of satisfaction about using up all the hot water before I remember who I’m living with and just how rich he must be to afford a fancy-ass bathroom like this.
Attached to the guestroom. There are probably a half a dozen more like it here, too.
I doubt this is the type of place that runs out of hot water.
Begrudgingly, I dry off and admit to myself that, under different circumstances, that might have been the best shower I’ve ever taken.
Just like the bed might be the comfiest I’ve ever had the privilege of lying on.
There’s a Lake Chapel U crewneck in the closet, along with several pairs of sweatpants and T-shirts. Pulling on clean sweats feels wonderful but does nothing to ease the lethargy threatening to pull me under.
I lock the bedroom door—another small mercy; the lock actually works—then close the blinds, shrouding the room in darkness. Then I crawl into the annoyingly comfortable bed, resolved to let myself rest. A quick nap will help me get my head on straight so I can figure out my next move.
I wake with a start, groaning as I blindly pat the bed in search of my phone. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I practically leap off the mattress when the screen lights up with the time.
It’s just after seven, meaning I’ve slept the entire day away.
I’ve got multiple missed calls from Hunter, which is almost enough to send me into a panic spiral. What the hell am I supposed to tell her?
After several minutes of contemplating my phone, I decide a text is the safest bet.
Joey: Hey girl. Sorry I’ve been MIA all day. I got caught up with something and totally lost track of time.
That’s all true. I have no idea where the day went—I never sleep that soundly, especially in a new place. Stupid comfy bed and fancy blackout curtains.
Hunter: Phew! I’m happy to hear from you. I was starting to worry! No big deal. We still on for the party at Crusade’s tomorrow?
If she only fucking knew…
Joey: Yes, for sure. Let’s meet at the party. I have a few things to take care of first.
Like figuring out how to explain my new living arrangements, for starters.
Hunter: Perf! My stepdad’s making me go watch my stepbrother play tomorrow so I won’t be at the LCU game. But I’ll see you after!
Fuck. I had almost forgotten about the football game. The game I’m required to attend, according to Decker, the bossy fucker.
If the guys have a game tomorrow, then, with any luck, maybe they’ll be at practice tonight.
I creep toward the door and unlock it silently, then open it just an inch. I hear nothing. Though I wish that meant that I’m alone, I don’t trust it. The trouble with mansions? They’re so damn big it’s impossible to get a sense of who may be where in the house.
I can’t ignore the rumbling in my stomach much longer.
I spent a good chunk of my childhood in a constant state of hunger, especially on weekends or when my mom would lock me out.
I haven’t gone without a meal since I was old enough to get a job and take care of myself, but that doesn’t stop the hunger pangs from hitting hard, especially when I’m feeling so emotionally strung out.
I decide it’s worth the risk of running into the guys to scrounge up food. My optimism grows as I tiptoe down the winding staircase and enter the huge kitchen. It’s empty, and the house is quiet.
Grinning to myself, I practically skip to the fridge but freeze when the clinking of silverware and soft murmurs waft in from the deck.
“Josephine.”
I grip the handle of the refrigerator tight as my teeth snap together. And to think I was obtuse enough to assume I was alone for one brief moment…
“Come out here and join us.”
I cautiously pad my way over to the sliding glass door and peer out. There is an absolutely massive spread of food covering the table, and the guys are all here.
Decker, Kylian, Locke, and Kendrick. Sitting around the table and enjoying a meal, as if they didn’t kidnap a woman and upend her whole life this morning.
“Sit,” Decker says. It’s a one-word command. The kind one would give a dog.
I scan each seat—there are four empty chairs at the table, each next to one of the four men.
Resigned, I settle for the one next to Kylian. It’s the closest to the door, so it makes sense from a practical standpoint. And he’s the only person who’s offered even a shred of kindness to me today.
Once seated, though, I immediately regret my choice. Because I’m unexpectedly close to Decker at the head of the table, and right across from Locke.
Shit.
I’m so focused on the two of them that I’m startled when a glass of water appears in front of me. Blinking, I take in the hand that set the cup on the table and follow it up a muscled arm as Kendrick turns and sits back down without looking at me or even acknowledging the gesture.
I clear my throat, hoping my words don’t waver, then offer a quiet thank-you. With a relatively steady hand, despite the situation, I bring the glass to my lips and take a long drink of water and sigh when I set it back down.
“Eat,” Decker commands.
Glaring, I whip my head around to face him but bite my tongue, nevertheless. I’m starved. And this spread looks amazing. I know better than to bite the hand that feeds me—literally.
“Can you pass the potatoes?” I ask Kylian after putting a few pieces of grilled chicken on my plate.
“Sure thing, Jo.”
His words are soft, comforting in a way. When I smile at him, I’m caught off guard by the sincerity in his sapphire eyes.
“I came up to check on you earlier, but you were asleep,” he murmurs quietly.
I open my mouth to ask how he knew I was asleep—my door was closed and locked, after all—but think better of it and snap my jaw shut again. Honestly, I don’t want to know.
“We always eat together on Friday nights, Josephine,” Decker says, like he’s royalty speaking to a peasant. And I suppose, in a twisted way, he’s not that far off. “Family dinner is at seven. You’ll be expected to join us. Don’t be late again.”
I side-eye him as I cut into my food. “And if I’m not interested in participating in your little family dinners?”
“It’s not a request.” His glare is so piercing I swear it’s singeing the skin on the side of my face.
Good. Maybe his face will get stuck like that. I fully intend to elicit that glare over and over again in the coming days. I’m still out of my depth, but I’m committed to my plan. If Decker Crusade wants to make my life a living hell, I’ll reciprocate with all I have.
“So I can’t leave the isle without an escort, I have to eat with you on Fridays, and I have to attend all your games.” I finally turn to face him. “Any other non-requests, Cap?”
His eyes dilate slightly. Because of my alleged cooperation? Or the nickname he thinks he recognizes?
Either way, he smirks. “That’s it. For now at least. Glad to see you’re falling in line.”
Now it’s my turn to smirk. “You bet, Cap. Or should I say captor, since you took the lead in the equivalent of human trafficking today?”
His smug smile is instantly replaced with a scowl.
Beside me, Kylian chuckles under his breath.
Yep. I needed that nap. Because now the games can really begin.