7. Lauren
7
Lauren
“I swear to God, if you don’t wipe that look off your face, I’m going to wipe it off for you.”
I turn my mouth into a pleasant smile, but there’s no fooling her.
“Nice try. How about a real one this time?” Zyon demands, closing the guest room door behind her. She comes up to where I’m sitting cross-legged on the bed. “Or, you can tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Nothing’s bothering me,” I mutter. “I witnessed a murder, and I’m just traumatized over it.”
Zyon tsks sympathetically. “Oh, sweetie. I’m still so sorry you went through that. I can’t imagine how that must’ve messed with your head.” She sits down at the edge of the bed, staring at me with concern. “I think you should see someone about that.”
“I will.”
“If you need a rec, I’ll give you the number for my therapist. Anita fixed me, so she can fix anyone.”
I’m inclined to believe her. Zyon and I have gotten close since she and Gabriel got back together last year. I’m now aware that she went on a downward spiral after getting assaulted a few years ago. Sex, alcohol, and drugs did nothing to ease her pain, but she got addicted to them anyway. It wasn’t until she went to therapy and met Gabriel that things turned around for her. Now, here she is, happy and healthy, with a son and an impending walk down the aisle.
“Sure, I’ll definitely take that rec,” I say.
Zyon nods then cocks her head with a smirk. “Maybe then you can tell her what’s really bothering you.”
My thoughts go back to those two bottles of water in Marcus’ hands. “I already told you—”
“Yeah, yeah. I heard all that since you came in last night. Which reminds me; you need to tell your family about the test results asap. I can’t handle Gabriel knowing I kept your secret.”
“I will.”
Her eyes narrow at me. “Lauren…”
“Yes, Mother. Hand to God, I’ll tell them soon enough,” I promise with my right hand raised.
She gets up with a conceding sigh. “Fine, and I won’t push for information on whatever’s got you looking like they stole your stuffed animals. At least, not right now. You’ve got a long day ahead of you.”
I watch as she moves to the window and parts the curtains, letting the Sunday morning sunshine in and also giving me a view of the evergreen trees in the backyard. “Actually, Gabriel sent me to remind you that your folks will be coming in an hour.”
“Ugh. I’m so not ready for today,” I groan.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. Gabriel and I have another meeting with our wedding planner at noon.”
“How are the plans going, though?” I ask as she heads toward the door. “Did you and Gabriel resolve that little issue yet? ”
Zyon pauses at the door, her eyes rolling as she turns back to me. “Oh, it’s been handled. I don’t care that we’ve buried the hatchet, but there’s no way I’ll allow her to join my bridal party.”
By her , she means Gabriel’s longtime friend Nicole, who has been a thorn in Zyon’s side since she and Gabriel got together. Growing up, I’d always known Nicole had a thing for my brother. I also thought it was obvious that Gabriel didn’t feel the same way. Apparently not. Nicole found out the hard way when she finally made a move on him three years ago. To make matters worse, Zyon walked in the second Nicole tried to kiss Gabriel.
Talk about a hot mess.
If only I could simply say that it’s water under the bridge. Although Nicole got married to her French boyfriend a few months ago and she and Zyon made amends, I still sense some lingering animosity there. It’s obvious from the slight scowl on Zyon’s face.
“Despite our ‘mending the fence’, Nicole and I aren’t friends,” Zyon goes on. “I’m okay having her and Lucas over whenever they visit, but that’s where I draw the line.”
“And Gabriel?”
“I don’t think it matters that much to him. She’s the one pushing the issue, trying to make him feel guilty for leaving her out. I told him to get her fitted for a tux. If it’s that important, she can join his party.”
I scoff. “Knowing Nicole, she won’t be having that at all.”
“That’s her problem. It’s our wedding day, and I refuse to be uncomfortable.”
The sound of an approaching car engine pulls both our attention to the window. “That’s probably Sam or Charlotte,” she says, referring to my parents.
“Shit. ”
I scamper out of bed and make a mad dash to the bathroom, rushing through a shower, yanking on a pair of Zyon’s leggings and her crop top on in half the usual time. After throwing my hair in a messy bun, I hurry down the stairs, bracing myself for Daddy’s chastisement for keeping them waiting. He’s such a stickler for time. Being five minutes late is a cardinal sin.
As I breeze into the living room, I breathe a sigh of relief.
It’s only Marcus.
He rises from the couch, looking well-rested in blue jeans and a white T-shirt. I thought he’d be worn out after the night I’d imagined him having. He clearly has more stamina than I’ve given him credit for. I push the rising jealousy down, and he spreads his arms as I approach him.
“How did you sleep?” he asks, his husky-sounding request giving me a thrill.
“Like a baby,” I lie, and his worried expression clears. “Gabriel’s top notch security system made me feel safe.”
“Good to know,” Gabriel’s voice comes from behind me. “Considering you spent half the night telling me I was doing too much.”
I ease out of Marcus’ arms and spin to face him. “I still think you were doing too much. You wanted to put the baby camera outside my door.”
My brother’s golden-brown eyes—the same shade as mine—sparkle with amusement as Marcus chuckles. “Yeah, dude. That was too much.”
“One can never be too careful; you know that,” Gabriel replies as the doorbell rings.
Zyon passes us on her way to the front door with my nephew Liam on her hip. A few seconds later, I hear Daddy’s fawning voice, then he emerges from the hallway all red-faced with Liam in his arms. He has been over the moon with my nephew; not only because he’s his first grandson, but because our little brother has a new playmate .
Yes, at the lovely age of fifty-five, my father has a four-year-old with his much younger second wife. It used to bother me that he remarried a woman slightly older than Gabriel, but Karyn loves him dearly, which is all I want for him.
He lands several kisses and tight squeezes on Liam before handing him back to Zyon, who bounds up the stairs after mouthing ‘good luck’ to me. She knows I’m going to need it with all these guys in one room. Dad hugs me, flooding my senses with the scent of pine that triggers memories of my childhood, when I thought my father was a superhero who could do no wrong.
Turns out, even superheroes have flaws.
Watching him and Gabriel hug will always make me smile. A few years ago, imagining them like this was beyond my wildest dreams. Things got strained between them after Daniel’s death, but it got worse after we discovered that our dad wasn’t a superhero after all. He was a villain, and boy, did he enjoy playing that role.
Forgiveness is a hell of a thing. Without it, we wouldn’t be standing here right now.
“Let’s get down to business,” Daddy says gruffly, glancing at his watch. “I have community service in an hour.”
I catch the flash of frustration on his face. He should consider himself lucky that a suspended sentence was all he got after conspiring to murder a police detective thirty years ago.
“Is Mom still coming?” I check my phone. Besides a direct phone call last night to check on me, I haven’t heard from her all morning. Which I appreciate, really. Mom understands that I don’t need the extra smothering. The men in my life mollycoddle me enough .
“She’s on her way,” Dad replies, looking even more disgruntled. He hates when anyone is late. “Until she arrives, let’s talk about security. We’re getting a system set up in your apartment ASAP.”
“Isn’t that too much?” I ask, joining him on the couch. Marcus and Gabriel take the sectional across from us.
“Don’t be na?ve, honey. The world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s also filled with bad people who will do anything to ensure they’re not caught.”
Gabriel and I exchange a look. Oh, the irony.
“I’m not na?ve, just realistic. They did not see me ,” I fire back hotly. “I don’t want to spend my life looking over my shoulder for something that’s not there.”
“You might be right, Lauren,” Gabriel chips in. “You could be wrong, too. It’s better to have security and not need it than the other way around.”
“But—”
“Quit arguing, Rosy Cheeks,” Daddy interrupts gruffly. “We’re doing this for your own good. Gabriel, get that security system up and running ASAP. I’ll hire a driver to take her around for a while.”
Frustrated, I give Marcus a look that says, ‘help me’ . He shrugs. I shake my head at him.
“We should also hire a bodyguard until things settle down. Ensure she’s covered at all times,” Gabriel suggests.
“ No .” I shoot to my feet. “A driver is enough, guys. I don’t need some suit watching my every move.”
“It’s for your own good—”
“Yeah, I heard you the first time. What good? The killers didn’t make me out, Daddy. There’s no need to be over the top with anything.”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Gabriel explains. “We’re hiring security, and that’s final. ”
With a sigh, I again look to Marcus for help, but I already know it’s a lost cause even before he shakes his head. “I agree, Lauren. We can’t have our eyes on you twenty-four-seven.”
“You don’t need to have your eyes on me twenty-four-seven,” I reply defiantly, then throw my hands up. “Whatever. If you want to waste money hiring a bodyguard, it’s on you.’
“Well, that’s settled,” my father says, patting his thighs with a look that tells me there’s no room for further discussion on that topic. “Is there anything else?”
I briefly consider telling the family about my health issues. Knowing them, there’s only one outcome. I’ve had enough of them trampling my opinions today. “Not from me,” I say.
Gabriel shakes his head.
“Marcus?” Daddy prompts.
“All good, Mr. C,” Marcus replies, raising both hands.
My father stands. “I’m getting out of here. Gabriel, tell your mother what we discussed.”
“Which is what, exactly?” my mother’s smooth voice pierces the air.
Dad swivels to look behind him before he spins back to gape at Gabriel. “I’m sure I didn’t hear that doorbell ring. How come your mom has the code to your apartment and I don’t?”
“Is that a rhetorical question, Dad?” Gabriel asks with a wry smile.
“Quit whining. I earned that privilege,” Mom replies to Dad with an impatient flick of her fingers. Something catches my attention, and my eyes narrow.
“Mom?” I stand. I gape. She grins.
“Surprise!” She wiggles her left fingers, making the huge diamond ring sparkle even more. “Tony asked me to marry him this morning, and I said yes! ”
I move toward her, not hiding my shock. Mom has been dating the self-made carpenter for a couple years now, and I’m still not used to her dating someone outside her social class. It’s not that I don’t like Tony. He’s great and he makes her happy, which she deserves after a toxic marriage with my dad.
“Well, enough about me,” she says gaily after we all congratulate her. Well, except Dad, who’s scowling in the background. “What is it that I should know?”
Mom sits beside me on the couch as Gabriel gives her a rundown of our short meeting. As I start frowning again, she slips her arm around me. “I don’t usually agree with these boys, honey, but this is what’s best for you.”
“How come no one ever asked for my opinion, though? Don’t I get a say in my own welfare?”
“You may, if we think it’s necessary,” Daddy replies. “For now, we’ve got it covered.”
“The only thing you’ve done is make me scared of going home.”
“Well, if you’re scared, you can stay here until you’re comfortable enough to be alone again,” Gabriel offers.
“You and Zyon will be going off on your honeymoon in a few days, remember?” I point out.
“Yes, for two weeks, not two months.”
I shake my head firmly. “Even if it’s two days , I’m not staying here alone.”
“If only I wasn’t flying to Europe right after the wedding. You could always move back in,” Mom speaks up.
Fat chance of that happening. It took some serious negotiating for them to back off when I wanted to get my own apartment. There’s no way I’m going to willingly take several steps back.
“You could stay with your father, though,” she finishes, but Daddy is already palming his face .
“Sorry, can’t. Karyn and I will be heading up to the mountains for a week, and she’s looking forward to it—”
“And I’m sure your little wife will understand why you’re going to cancel it,” Mom interrupts. “Your daughter needs you.”
“Why don’t you cancel your trip?” Daddy fires back. “Your brand-new fiancé won’t die if you don’t treat him to a tour of the Louvre or whatever the hell you have planned.”
“My plans are for business, not pleasure,” Mom replies hotly. “And you won’t die if you keep it in your pants for your daughter’s sake—”
“Okay guys, stop. Please!” I thought we’d progressed past this bickering since my parents divorced five years ago. There’s obviously some unresolved stuff under the surface, but right now, I don’t care. “If you’re so concerned about my well-being, I could always stay at Marcus’ place.”
Daddy’s mouth scrunchies as he mulls it over. “Well, considering we’ll all be out of town, that might be a good solution.”
“Agreed,” Mom chimes in, her expression calm, as if she wasn’t about to start a fire two minutes ago. She looks at Marcus as she goes on, “I trust you with Lauren’s life.”
Marcus beams. “Thanks Charlotte. That means a lot.”
“It’s a terrible idea,” Gabriel mutters, and all eyes swivel to him.
“Enlighten me; what’s so terrible about it?” Mom asks, puzzled.
Gabriel shrugs, his casual gesture contrasting with the slight scowl on his face. “I’ll hire a twenty-four-seven bodyguard, and you can stay here while we’re away,” he replies.
I scowl back. “Staying with Marcus makes perfect sense. Why would you—?”
“No. Gabriel’s right,” Marcus cuts in solemnly. “Hiring a bodyguard is the best option, not me. ”
“Am I missing something here?” Mom asks, her head twisting from Marcus to Gabriel, both of them now wearing matching expressions.
Disturbance.
“No.” Gabriel shakes his head. “We’re just doing what’s best for Lauren, right?”
I lean back in my seat, regarding them with a deepening frown. I’m definitely missing something. Whatever it is, my brother’s certainly not pleased about it.
Neither is Marcus.