Chapter 24 #3
“We’ll find out soon enough.” There’s a wistful strain to Rosie’s voice and I want to reach out and squeeze her knee and tell her that it’s all going to work out.
But we’ve both been fed enough false positives by our parents to last us a lifetime.
“What I do know is that I want my Prince Charming to be absolutely gorgeous. I want him to be Bradley Cooper’s lookalike, with golden blonde hair and big blue eyes.
” She giggles loudly. “Shoots, it can be the real Bradley Cooper, if he’s interested. ”
“I don’t think he lives in Santa Capinari, hon, but I’m sure if he did, he’d be after you.
” I make a exit off of the highway and try not to be too mesmerized by the golden orange sky as the sun sets.
I power the window down and breathe in the cool evening air and I can’t help but observe all the fancy cars surrounded us: BMW’s, Mercedes, Tesla’s, even a few Rolls Royces.
“We’re not in the land of the poor anymore, Rosie. ”
“Do you think we made the right decision?” She asks me and I can hear the doubt in her voice. It had been a huge risk, moving here, using our entire savings to put down a deposit for a studio rental and this rental car.
“I think we made the right decision.” The GPS tells me we are five minutes away from our final destination and I can’t wait.
As I drive I notice a cute bar called Kettle King and I swerve into the parking lot.
There are a few sports cars in the parking lot and the facade of the bar screams selective, rich, and fun.
“What are you doing, Sage?” Rosie peers over at me in surprise, her warm brown eyes surveying me cautiously. “We’re not moving into a place above a bar, are we?” She sounds nervous. “I like hanging out, but when I’m done for the night I want peace and quiet.”
“No goof. Of course we’re not moving above a bar, but I thought we’d grab a quick drink to celebrate our new move. The first official night of the rest of our lives.”
“The good life.” She sings loudly and then she pulls her phone out.
“We should call Juniper and let her know we’re here, so she doesn’t worry.
” She mentions our favorite cousin, the one we’d just got done visiting and I nod.
Juniper is the only member of our family that actually means something to us, but even she doesn’t know the truth of our lives.
Though, I know both Rosie and I want to share with her our news.
I think we’re just afraid that if we voice it out-loud, it will confirm that it’s true and we don’t want it to be true.
So we just continue along the blissful road of willful ignorance.
“Call her and let her know.” I put the car in park and pull out the folded napkin from my pocket and read the hastily scribbled words one more time.
Kettle King. I hadn’t thought I’d find it so quickly.
I didn’t know if that was serendipitous or not.
I supposed I’d find out soon. I quickly place it back in my pocket before Rosie can see it.
She doesn’t know the real reason why we’re here and I wasn’t mad about it.
The fact of the matter was that I was her big sister.
Her protector. And as such that meant there were certain secrets I had to keep.
“It’s ringing,” Rosie stretches out her arms and offers me a warm lazy smile. “I bet she’s with Rafe somewhere doing who knows what.”
“I bet you’re right.” I grin and rub her shoulder. “Send her a text and we can call her back later. Right now, let’s grab some drinks and food and then check out our place. I’m sure excited to see it.”
“Me too.” She ends the call and puts the phone back into her Louis Vuitton bag.
The one that Davis had gifted me and I’d given to her.
She loved that bag, almost as much as I hated him.
“You know this is going to be our first real home.” Her eyes meet mine and we just stare at each other for a few moments. “Thanks Sage. This means something.”
“Don’t think me yet, I haven’t milked any billionaires out of their money yet.
” I lighten the mood with a joke and we both burst out laughing as we exit the vehicle.
A Mercedes sedan pulls in next two us, parks and I watch as two tell men, wearing suits and dark expressions exit the vehicle.
They don’t even look at us as they make their way to the entrance and yet I’m mesmerized by the way they carry themselves...
with the cool, calm, collected air that wealth affords men.
Rosie and I walk slowly behind them and I think the entire moment will pass with them not even realizing we’re there, but then the taller of the men suddenly turns, looks me right in the eyes, stares at me for a maximum of three seconds and then heads into the bar.
No smile. No word. No nothing. And yet, my heart couldn’t stop pounding.
The look had been nothing to him, but to me, it had felt like he was looking into my soul.
The Bluffing Game. You can get it here: