Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
________
EVA
“There you are,” Dante called to both of us as I dragged Esme to the dance floor. After giving her some gentle but tough love, I was hoping that dancing would help her relax. It was one of the few things she actually enjoyed at parties. “Dancing?”
“Want to join us?”
“Fuck yes, I do.”
Jasmine was near the dance floor and caught my eye, tilting her head toward the nearby photographer. “Dance for pictures first,” I said to Esme, and she nodded.
We danced differently for the camera. Slower and less ‘fun’ so that the photographers could catch good still images.
This guy though. It seemed like he wanted every fucking photo in the universe. Fifteen minutes later and he was still in our orbit.
“Dante?”
“Eva?”
I danced closer to him and made sure my back was to Esme and the photographer. “Esme needs to be able to dance without thinking she’s being watched every second. Can you take care of it?”
He grinned, but his gaze was cold. “My pleasure.”
Thank goodness. Once he was gone, we danced. Esme had a smile on her face again. Dante made us laugh by doing silly dances on purpose. The whole party was relaxing as people let loose.
Esme and I danced together, shouting the lyrics to the song that was playing, and being goofballs. It was just what she needed. Even with her fear of connection and her grief, I hadn’t seen her smile like this in a long time.
I grabbed her hand, spun her under my arm, and froze. Bennett was on the dance floor, eyes only on Esme. She realized and moved aside as if he wanted to speak to me.
Someday when this was behind us, I would tell her how obvious it was that he was there for her. He touched her arm and said something only she could hear.
“What’s going on there?” Dante whispered, dancing close.
“I don’t want to say yet, because she’s already freaking out about it, but something good, I hope.”
“Got it. So keep an eye but don’t interfere?”
“Perfect.”
Bennett’s mouth moved, and I read the words, “Dance with me?”
Esme looked back at me. I plastered on a smile that was borderline psychopathic and gave her a thumbs up. She was not getting out of dancing with Bennett because she felt like she was abandoning me.
The music slowed to something more sensual. Good call, DJ. I still danced, but I would be lying if I said I was focusing on that and not spying on Esme.
She spun under his arm the way she’d done with me.
They were in their own little world together.
He whispered, and she answered, and I barely stopped myself from squealing.
Bennett pulled her back against his chest, cradling her in his arms. They swayed more than danced now, but it was clear neither of them cared.
“Look at her,” I whisper-screamed. “She’s so fucking happy.”
Dante chuckled softly. “If I was dancing with an Alpha who looked like that I’d be happy too.”
“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” I looked at him sideways.
“I have three. Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a work of masculine art when I see one.”
I rolled my eyes and went back to spying.
Esme was so relaxed while Bennett held her, it was like seeing a whole new side of her. Or a side that I hadn’t seen in a damn long time.
She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. I wasn’t even sure how she managed to end up in his arms, knees perched on his hips and her nose buried in his neck. But there she was.
Bennett held her still, shocked, before he inhaled her too. The smile on his face. He leaned into her. Held her like she was precious.
My eyes teared. It was somewhere between pure relief and joy so deep I couldn’t explain it. He didn’t care that she had vanished into her instincts, only that she was clinging to him.
I looked away and forced myself to go back to my own dancing. Esme was exactly where she needed to be. Fucking finally.
Dante and I danced for another song before a hand landed on my arm. “Eva.” Esme was at my side.
“Are you okay?” The words were a reflex from not expecting my twin to suddenly be so close.
“We need to go right now. Please? I need to go.”
Oh no. What happened? She looked… I would ask her later. I knew through that intangible sense twins had that she wasn’t lying. “Okay. Dante, can you take her over to the door? I need to find Jasmine.”
“Sure.”
Jasmine was in a cluster of other managers near one of the bars, but she separated when she saw me approaching. “Hey. Something happened. I’m not sure what, but Esme needs to leave. I need our clutches, and if you can smooth things over with the studio heads—”
“Is she all right?”
“I think so. She just needs to leave now.”
Jasmine, ever her practical self, just nodded. “Let me know if you need anything. You’re fine with the studio heads. Look.” She nodded over her shoulder to a table where a bunch of old men were laughing far too hard over a scantily clad illusionist.
“Yeah, they look like they’ll be just fine. I’ll call you later?”
“Even if you don’t, I’ll call. Can’t escape me.”
I flipped her off, but we both smiled. “Later.”
Neil joined me on the way to the elevator. The man was stealthier than a cat. “Okay, I’m ready.”
The small lobby with the elevators was soaked in perfume. Lilacs and freshly brewed tea. Esme was perfuming, and suddenly things were making a bit more sense. My sister looked everywhere but at me. “You sure you want to go?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
I kissed Dante on both cheeks. “See you soon?”
“You bet,” he grinned. “Hopefully you, too, Esme.”
“Sure.” It wasn’t convincing.
The paps were still aggressive, but both of us were too deep in our thoughts to pay them any mind. That, and our security was on top of it. We were in the car as quickly as possible.
Once the divider was in place, I pressed the intercom and spoke to my driver. “Jeremy, please go to Esme’s first.”
“Of course, Miss Williams.”
“Okay.” I blew out a breath and turned to Esme. “What the fuck was that?”
“What the fuck was what?”
I rolled my eyes and leaned back against the seat.
We weren’t in front of people now. It was just us, and she couldn’t hide from me.
“One second you were dancing with Bennett-fucking-Gray looking like you’re in nine kinds of paradise, and the next you’re begging me to leave like you’re running from the law. ”
“Yeah.”
Fear settled in my gut. Had I gotten it so wrong? If I had and I looked away… “Did he hurt you? Did he try something?”
“No. No, nothing like that. I just… I couldn’t be there anymore.”
Silence took over the car. The farther we got away from the party, the more she relaxed. Guilt began to creep up my throat. It was my fault she felt this way. So many people had treated her like she was my copy that she was terrified it was going to happen again.
How did I get her to realize that this was okay? “It’s okay to perfume for someone, May-may.”
“I know. I just can’t—” Her breath shook. “I just can’t get my hopes up about something and then have them think I’m going to be you. Not when I reacted like that. I’m sorry.”
“Esme.” I choked on a silent sob as I slid across the seat and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
It was something I struggled with every day. My success and career made the life of my sister and best friend hell on a regular basis. Most problems in her life could be traced back to me, and I hated that. Even if it wasn’t directly my fault or my choice.
But I wasn’t going to burden her with that. She already suffered enough on my account. She didn’t need to bear my guilt too. “You going to be okay tonight?”
“I’ll be fine.” She sighed. “I’m done perfuming, and I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.”
“Okay.” I squeezed her hand. “Love you, May-may.”
She got out of the car but looked back and gave me a smile that didn’t even come close to reaching her eyes. “Love you, Va-va.”
She stood and watched us disappear, and I couldn’t help the rise of crushing guilt that she was alone once again.