Chapter 20 #2
The call ends, and I swear I’d throttle that girl if she were here. She knows I can’t be with him, even if I wanted to.
Which I don’t.
“I’m going to go to bed now,” I tell him, starting to get off, and this time he lets me.
“You always go to bed this early?” His mouth twitches, arms folded across his well-toned chest.
My eyes rove down his body, and he doesn’t miss it.
“Want me to take off my shirt so you can get a better look, bambina?”
“Not particularly.”
His lips wind up at the corner.
That cocky bastard.
“How about we order takeout?” he offers. “Maybe eat at the table together like civilized people. Then I’ll let you go to bed.”
“Let me?” I scoff.
“That’s right.” His expression matches my intensity. “Now, how about you be a good little girl and sit down at the table so I can properly feed you.”
My stomach rumbles like the treacherous thing that it is, and the demanding tone in his voice has me wanting to deck him and kiss him at the same time. It’s really confusing.
His chuckle is gruff as he climbs to his feet. “Come on, let’s order something.”
He grabs my hand, and as he does, it tingles.
What the hell is happening to me? And why do I like it?
Hours later, and I’m finally in bed, while he’s out there on the sofa watching TV. I actually had a nice time with him.
We ate together in the kitchen, then watched a documentary about a serial killer and found time to actually talk.
I told him how close I am to my sister. That I’d do anything for her, kinda like he would for his brothers. It’s important to have a strong family bond. It’s why I can’t fuck it up. I can’t have my family turn away from me for betraying Gio and Eriu’s future marriage.
I settle on my pillow, throwing the comforter over myself, when my cell dings with a text and Elsie’s name appears. We kind of bonded while dancing to those corny pop songs and getting our makeup done by the tiny tyrant.
Elsie asked if we could exchange numbers, and my first instinct was to say yes. I like her. What can I say?
Elsie
Are you okay? I heard your dad wanting to talk to you. But you ran off with he who shall not be mentioned before I could ask.
Iseult
Yeah, and he’s here in my damn apartment annoying the fuck out of me as always.
Elsie
Just promise me when you two get married that I can at least be one of your bridesmaids.
Iseult
If I ever agree to marry that idiot, promise to get my head examined.
Elsie
Just give him a chance. I mean…I did. The first time I met him, he drew his gun on me.
Iseult
Lucky he didn’t do it in front of me, because he’d be dead right now.
Elsie
Aww, she really likes me.
Iseult
Eww. Please don’t get all girly on me.
Elsie
I’m going to hug you so hard the next time we see each other.
Iseult
Please don’t.
I can just hear her laughing.
Elsie
No promises. But look, Gio and you? I have faith. You have to believe it too.
I want to tell her she’s wrong, that there’s absolutely no future for Gio and me, but I know all she’d do is try to convince me that there is. So instead, I say something else.
Iseult
I’ll let you believe that for the both of us. I’ve gotta get some sleep. Talk later.
Elsie
Night. But this conversation isn’t over.
Iseult
Oh, believe me, I know.
A heavy breath leaves my lungs as I lay the phone down beside me. Staring at the ceiling, I wonder what my mom would think about what I’ve been doing with him.
Would she understand? Would she try to talk to my father and explain why Eriu shouldn’t marry him? Would my father even care?
Of course he wouldn’t. All he wants is to protect us from a war. Nothing else matters to him.
I force my eyes closed, my mother’s beautiful face appearing before my eyes, and slowly I drift off to sleep, seeing her there too.
AGE 14
I face the full-length mirror in my bedroom, assessing myself just as someone lightly knocks on my door.
“Come in,” I say, knowing it’s Mom from the sound.
I stay where I am, running my fingers through my ginger curls, releasing a huff.
“Hi, darling. You alright there?” She smiles when I turn to her, already dressed to drive up to see my aunt who’s about to pop out my new baby cousin.
“What are you doing in front of the mirror?” she asks, her thick brows knitting as she settles on one end of my bed.
I lean against the wall, looking at her, wondering why I don’t look like her.
Mom is gorgeous. Her hair is this perfect rich brown color that falls just past her shoulders and just shines all the time, while her eyes are a golden blend of honey and warmth.
As though she’s the sun, heating everyone around her.
“I’m just…” I flip my hands in the air, shaking my head, my exhale sharp. “Why am I the only one in the family with red hair?” I lift my eyes to the ceiling before facing her again. “I look like I’m adopted.” I shuffle closer to her.
“Adopted?” She chuckles.
“Yeah. I mean, look at me, Mom. Are you sure I even came out of you? Because I wouldn’t be mad if I didn’t. Definitely couldn’t have had a better mom than you, anyway.” I blow out a breath just as she gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Come here, child.” She extends both arms.
And with a twist of my mouth, I do. I sit right beside her.
Her eyes glisten as she settles her gaze on me, her arm wrapping around my shoulders simultaneously.
“First of all, if you were adopted, I’d never hide it from you, sweetheart.
But you very much are my biological daughter.
I mean, I can show you the stretch marks you gave me.
” Her lips purse in a comical way, and I can’t help but smile.
“Then how come I don’t look like you guys? You all have brown hair. Even my eyes are a weird blue green, while you have your hazel and Eriu and the boys all have Dad’s light green eyes.”
“What is this about, Iseult? Did something happen at school today?”
“No.”
Yes. It’s Samantha Britson’s fault.
In English class, we were reading about this character who was on a quest to find her birth family.
Samantha the Serpent sits right behind me, and the whole time she kept whispering that maybe I should go find my real family too, saying I was adopted.
And after school, she and her little friends decided to tell me how hot my brothers are and that I look like the ugly stepsister. What a great start to the school year.
But the problem is, I’ve had those thoughts a bunch of times already. And when I heard that bitch say it out loud, I just thought, what if it’s true?
Mom drags in a long breath, her eyes locked to mine in deep concentration. Her arms unwind from me and she’s patting my knee.
“Did I ever show you a picture of your great-grandma, Maeve?”
“No…” I yank my head back curiously.