Chapter 30
Thirty
The past couple of weeks with Nero have been magical. Ever since the night we spent in the aviary, something shifted between us, brought us closer emotionally.
No longer do I sleep in my own room. In fact, Nero had all my belongings moved into his room, so every night we fall asleep after sex in a sweaty, exhausted heap tangled around each other. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. He hasn’t said the three words since, so I’m not sure if I dreamed them or not that night, but I’ve never felt so loved in my life, except by my parents.
Another thing that changed is that we eat our breakfast in the dining room with the other two couples and Sid. Though Kol and Rapsody are missing this morning.
“Where did you say Rapsody is?” I ask Anabelle seated beside me.
She passes me the plate with pastries on it, knowing by now that I add one to my plate every morning. “There’s an art dealer in New York interested in some of her paintings, so they flew up there last night to meet with him today.”
“That’s so exciting. I hope everything goes well for her.”
Rapsody brought me to the conservatory last week to show me some of her work. It’s beautiful. Erotic as hell, but beautiful.
“Yeah, me too. I’m sure it will though. She’s very talented.”
“If it doesn’t, I’m sure Kol will use his persuasive powers to make sure it goes how she wishes,” Asher says wryly before taking a sip of his coffee.
I can see that. Kol is definitely protective of Rapsody. All the Voss men seem to be that way with their partners.
“What are you up to today?” Anabelle asks.
I finish chewing my bite of pastry. “Now that the construction is done, I’m heading into the studio to do some last-minute things before the official opening.”
Lately, I haven’t been able to stop smiling, and Anabelle’s smile grows wider seeing mine.
“How’s it going? Do you have anyone signed up yet?” Anabelle asks as she pours herself some coffee.
I smile at Nero on my other side. “I do because Nero surprised me and ran some ads in all the local papers and has an online campaign going on socials, which is funny since I don’t even have my own personal profile on social media.” I knock him with my shoulder. “There have been more inquiries than I thought I’d have at this point, which is amazing, but I still need to firm up my schedule. Figure out what classes I’ll teach when and for what age group. It’s going to take a bit of tinkering.”
“You’ll get it all sorted,” Nero says and squeezes my knee under the table.
I glance at Sid, who sits alone on his side of the table since Rapsody and Kol aren’t here. He’s watching us intently, and I shift in my seat. I haven’t asked Nero, but I don’t think the two of them have cleared the air, since they never utter a word to each other. I don’t know what went down between them. Nero just told me it was “brother stuff.”
“I hope so. I just really want everything to go well. It’s a lot of moving parts.”
“Pretty sure all your parts were moving down at TT’s, weren’t they?” Sid asks.
My face instantly heats, and my eyes fall to my half-eaten plate.
Nero flies up from his chair. “Apologize. Now.”
Sid smirks. “Or what, kid? What are you going to do about it?”
“Enough!” Asher slams his fist down on the table, and I jolt. “I don’t know what your problem is lately, Obsidian, but you’ve been a moody bastard for a while now. If you can’t respect everyone who sits at this table, then I suggest you don’t join us again until you can.”
My eyes widen, and I glance at Asher. Anabelle’s hand covers mine and squeezes.
“Happily,” Sid says, tossing his napkin on the table and standing from his chair. He glares at all of us before he turns on his heel and leaves the room.
Nero sits back down and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
I give him a shaky nod.
“I’m sorry he spoke to you that way. He, of all people, should know better.”
“Nero…” Asher says in what sounds like a warning.
I don’t know what Nero means by his words, but I give him a small smile anyway, appreciating that he’s trying to make me feel better.
“I think I’m full. I should probably get to the studio.” I pick up the napkin off my lap and place it beside my plate.
“Let me walk you out,” Nero says.
He accompanies me through the house, and when we get outside, I stop in my tracks. My shitty old car isn’t there. In its place is a shiny new luxury car.
“Where’s my car?” I ask Nero.
“It’s right here.” He gestures to the vehicle that I’m sure cost more than I’ve ever made in a year. Probably two.
“No, that is not my car.”
“It is now. I couldn’t stand the idea of you driving around in that unreliable one. It was a deathtrap.”
I have no argument. That car was well past its prime. “It’s not like I drive that far. I literally just drive down the hill into town.”
He comes around me and places his hands on my hips. “I need to know that you’re safe.”
I cradle his cheek with my palm. “That’s very sweet. But this is way too expensive. I can’t accept it.”
“Can and will.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys. “Here you go. There’s no actual key to start the car, but you need them on you for the engine to start.”
I sigh. “We’re going to talk about this later, understand?”
“Sure. Totally understand.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head, knowing I’ll get nowhere with him. “Well, thank you very much.” I give him a chaste kiss. “I’ll be sure to show you how appreciative I am this evening.”
He grins and slides his hands around me, squeezing my ass. “I look forward to it.”
I laugh and swat them away. “Okay, I need to leave, otherwise I never will.”
It takes me a moment once I’m in the car to make sense of the dash and where everything is. I’ve never driven anything like this. During the entire short drive to the studio, I’m paranoid that I’m going to crash the car, driving like a grandma, but my worries fade when I park in front of the studio.
I get out and stop on the sidewalk, admiring the sign I had installed above the storefront yesterday.
GLASS SLIPPER DANCE STUDIO
It took a while to figure out the name of the studio, but it felt right the minute the words glass slipper came to mind. It represents transformation, and if you’re going to wear a glass slipper, you have to be light on your feet. You have to be intentional about where you place your weight on the bottom of your feet, and you have to move with confidence. All things that are important when you dance.
With a smile still on my face, I unlock the front door and step into what I hope is the start of a new beginning.
I’ve worked all day,cleaning up the construction mess and responding to parents’ inquiries. My grand opening is next week, and I still have to figure out the schedule of classes, which is next on my list. After that, I need to tackle getting my account set up with one of the point-of-sale companies so that I can take payments in the studio.
I’m in the back storage room, looking for the paper I bought to fill the new printer, when the chime rings over the front door. I startle but relax, knowing it’s probably Nero. Or maybe Anabelle came by to check things out. I told her she’s welcome anytime.
I exit the storage room, and my smile slides off my face and down to the floor as though it’s been melted off.
Louise and Maude narrow their eyes at me.
My heart hammers, and a whooshing sound fills my ears.
“Are you not going to say how good it is to see us?” Louise sneers. “After all, it’s been quite a while.”
“Wha… what are you doing here?”
Now that the initial shock has worn off, panic consumes me. Are they here to hurt me? Do they know about Nero and me? Have they talked to him?
In an instant, I worry they’ll strip everything I care about away from me. Part of me always knew they would come back and ruin anything good I’ve made of myself. The universe has never been kind to me, not allowing me to keep the people I love most.
“We wanted to congratulate you on your big accomplishment,” Louise says.
“Seems things have really turned around for you since you left home,” Maude says.
“You should go.” I step toward them to shoo them out.
“We’re not going anywhere until you explain to me how it is that you hooked up with my ex-fiancé.” Maude’s face is red, her jaw clenched. I’ve never seen her this angry before.
My eyes widen. I don’t know what to say. They obviously know, so there’s no point denying it. The question is—what will they do with the information?
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Maude takes a threatening step toward me, and I freeze, unable to move my feet.
“Hey! What the hell is going on here?”
I squeeze my eyes shut at Nero’s voice. Pain lances my chest because this is the beginning of the end of my happiness.