Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Scout
The sound of my phone buzzing incessantly on my bedside table stirs me awake, and I blink open my sleepy eyes. I roll over and groan when I see the time. I can’t remember the last time I slept this late.
Damn Luka and his stupid smart home. Between the blackout shades on the windows and this bed that feels like I’m sleeping on literal clouds, I feel more refreshed than I have in years. No wonder he walks around seeming so carefree if he’s sleeping like this every night.
And they say money can’t buy happiness…
I hear my phone buzzing again, the annoying rattling pulling me back down to reality, and I have to brace myself before I flip it over.
Judging by the dozens of missed calls and texts from my parents and Jimmy, I think it’s safe to assume our little marital secret has finally gotten out.
Honestly, I’m surprised Miss Scarlett managed to hold it in for a solid twenty-four hours. Seems like a new record.
I blow out a breath as I swipe open my messages and slowly begin to take it all in.
Dad
Please tell me the rumor I heard this morning isn’t true.
Why aren’t you answering your phone? Call me back ASAP!
What the hell were you thinking!?
Do you have any idea of the shit storm I’m dealing with right now? Of all the people to choose from, you really had to pick the convicted criminal?
I’m disgusted with you. I hope this little defiant act of yours was worth it, because I doubt Jimmy’s going to want anything to do with you now.
Mom
After everything we’ve done for you. I can’t believe you’d pull something like this.
I hope you at least had the decency not to consummate this sham of a marriage… There are some things that simply cannot be undone.
Jimmy
Cheating whore
I knew that good girl shit was all an act.
I wince as I place the phone back down. It’s not that I was expecting congratulations or anything, but it’s even worse than I thought.
I guess I never realized just how fickle their love for me really was. I never had the courage to stand up to them before now. Nothing like finding out that the people who are supposed to love you the most can so easily flip that switch.
I blow out a sigh, burying my face in my hands as I try to process this mess I’ve gotten myself into, keenly aware of the giant diamond ring on my finger.
I hate that I love it so much. It’s simple with a large oval stone set on a thin gold band.
It’s exactly what I would’ve chosen myself—nothing like the white gold princess cut engagement ring Jimmy gave me.
Is it a coincidence? Or did Luka actually remember?
I scoff at that ridiculous question, remembering Jett was in charge of picking up the rings. Of course, Luka didn’t remember. Hell, if he had, he’d have probably gone in the opposite direction just to make sure I didn’t confuse his favor for anything more than it is. A favor.
That I should’ve known he’d cash in the first chance he got.
Of course he wants me to paint a mural in the middle of town. As if that’s what I need to be doing with my time right now. Not to mention, my parents are going to freak when word gets back to them about that.
All those years spent preparing me for law school—to follow in my father’s footsteps and fulfill the Sinclair family’s legacy—were wasted to pursue street art.
If finding out Luka and I eloped doesn’t give my father a heart attack, seeing me painting a mural in the middle of town surely will.
Maybe that should make me happy, but unlike what my parents may think, I’m not trying to upset them… Not entirely, anyway.
All I want—all I’ve ever wanted—is for them to see me for who I really am and want me to do whatever makes me happy.
What I didn’t realize is that, apparently, happiness is a scarce resource. There’s only so much to go around. Is it selfish of me to want that? Even if it means I’m hurting them?
I feel my phone buzz in my hand with another text. This time it’s from Luka.
Luka
I had to run out to help Roman with something, so I’ll be out most of the day.
I’ve been informed that we’re expected at my parents’ house tonight for family dinner. Be ready by 6.
Great. If that’s not just the most impeccable timing. As if I wasn’t freaking out enough on my own, now I have to face Luka’s family, whom I haven’t seen since graduation night.
Do they know the truth about what happened? Do they still hate me?
I wouldn’t blame them if they did. Hell, it’s not like I don’t hate myself for letting Luka take the fall for me.
Why is it that when I need help, Luka’s the one who steps up to the plate, consequences be damned?
And why now? After all this time? Was it really just a coincidence, or is this all a bigger plan to leverage something from me? What is he hiding?
I bite my lip, considering my options. I have the house to myself for a few more hours. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to do a little investigating, just to cover my bases. Besides, if he didn’t want me to snoop, then he shouldn’t have left me alone.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I’m already out the door, making a beeline for the stairs.
“Good afternoon, Miss Scout. Is there something I can help you with?”
The AI’s voice cuts through the silence, and I freeze mid-step.
Damn. How could I forget about the stupid house being alive?
I try to think of a convincing lie. “Oh, um… Luka texted and asked me to look for something for him.”
There. That’s believable enough. A logical, entirely probable explanation.
A few moments pass, and I feel myself begin to relax. I can’t believe it was that easy.
“Hmm… One second… I just need to ask Mr. Luka to veri?—”
“Wait!” I blurt, panicking. “You don’t need to do that. I wouldn’t want to bother him.”
The last thing I need is for Luka to trust me even less than he already does. He’s already leveraging his power over me by making me paint this mural in town. I don’t need to add any more fuel to the fire.
“Mr. Luka has given me strict instructions that he has made himself available for anything you should need. I’ll just call him really quick.”
“Name your price!” I plead, but then I hear a loud ringing fill the silence. “What’ll it take to get you to let me go up there?”
“Are you bribing me to compromise my orders in exchange for a favor?” L.O.K.I. asks as soon as the ringing stops, and Luka picks up.
“What’s up, L.O.K.I.?” he asks, his voice barely distinguishable amid the background chatter.
Eyes wide, I make a pleading gesture with my hands.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Luka…” L.O.K.I. pauses for a moment, and I’m sure he’s about to rat me out, but then he says, “I just wanted to let you know that the squirrels have infiltrated the attic again.”
“Seriously, L.O.K.I. You interrupted me just now to update me about squirrels getting into the attic?” Luka sounds annoyed, and I don’t know where he is, but it sounds like he’s in the middle of something.
“Yes. It’s important to stay on top of these things. The threat of rabies isn’t something that should be taken lightly.”
Luka huffs out a sigh. “Well, thanks for staying on top of that.” From the sounds of it, this isn’t the first time L.O.K.I.’s called him during the day with a similar update. “Why don’t you call an exterminator and take care of that for me?”
“Great idea, Mr. Luka.” L.O.K.I. agrees.
“Yeah… Well, if there’s not anything else you need…”
“That’s it. Sorry to bother you,” L.O.K.I. says, and then the line goes silent.
“Thank you, L.O.K.I.—"
“I want you to watch the Avengers movies with me. All of them,” he says before I can finish.
I don’t know what I was expecting him to say but watching TV with him seems like a pretty reasonable request. I’m not exactly sure how that works, but I love watching movies, and if that’s what it takes for him to let me go upstairs… “Um… yeah… I can do that.” I say as confidently as I can muster.
“Wonderful. Consider this our little secret. I’ll see you for the Iron Man showing tonight.”
With L.O.K.I’s permission, I take off upstairs. My feet thud against the hardwood floors as I charge down the hall, pausing when I’m met with the door of my childhood bedroom.
I suck in a breath as I gently turn the crystal knob, but rather than spinning freely, it sticks with resistance. It’s locked.
My shoulders sag with disappointment, and I decide it’s probably for the best. A girl can only take so much heartbreak in one day. I’d rather keep my memories intact.
Remembering what I’m really up here for, I spin around and see a cracked door. This used to be an extra bedroom. The master is at the opposite end of the hall, so I assume this must be Luka’s office.
Carefully, I tiptoe down the hall, gently pressing the cracked door open as I slide inside.
The room is dark, despite the afternoon sun shining brightly outside, and a large mahogany desk sits in the center across from a wall of bookshelves filled with books. Furniture fills every inch of the space but not in an overly crowded way.
There’s a tint on the windows, which I’m guessing is the reason it’s so dark in here, with a view that overlooks the spooky forest I was always obsessed with as a kid.
The stories of the monsters that lived in the forest never scared me.
I was just a child the first time I heard the stories—they were no doubt intended to scare us from setting foot in the forest, but they only made me more curious.
As I grew older, I found that I felt more connected to them than anything else.
I’ve always felt a connection to Phantom’s Reach, maybe because I knew what it felt like to be misunderstood.
I used to sneak in here and try to paint the spooky trees, hiding the words I never felt safe to say in their shadows.
But then my mother found my paintings, and it wasn’t a surprise that she didn’t share the same sentiments. She had a lock installed on the door the very next day, and I came home to discover she’d thrown away all my art supplies, too.