Chapter 4
I never brought anyone to one of my homes before, not that it was ever expressly forbidden.
But I didn’t know how it would go, either.
I hid away my secret work before bed because I could never risk my aunt or any of the maids finding it, so at least I knew that was safe in a lockbox at the very back of my desk.
Still, I thought it was probably better if I didn’t bring him to my room.
It seemed too personal somehow, as if it would give him too much ammo or too much of a glance at the real me.
I asked, “Did you bring a book with you?” I didn’t see him carrying one.
“No.” He blinked in obvious confusion. “Why would I have a book?”
He smirked at me, but the expression was full of mirth.
“The books are at the library. Don’t bring your current book.
Instead, let’s each pick one there. It’ll be part of the fun.
Actually, I’ve got an even better idea. I’ll pick one for you and you’ll pick one for me.
We can get to know each other from our book tastes.
Also, are you embarrassed to bring me inside? ”
I loved the book idea because it sounded really fun—the most fun I could think of having, actually.
But for his second question, was I? “No.” I realized I meant it as I said it.
“I’ve just literally never had anyone over anywhere I’ve lived so, yeah, I thought maybe you’d want to stay in the hall.
I don’t even know if my aunt and uncle are home. ”
My uncle was almost never home, as I had only run into him a couple of times since I moved in, and then only in passing. He left very early, if he slept there at all, but my aunt could be home.
Julian shrugged. “Lead the way. I’m good with parents. You kind of have to be growing up in my family, so the skill probably translates to aunts and uncles, too. Besides, they wouldn’t dare be rude to me, Alatheia.”
I couldn’t help but think it really must be incredible to have a last name with that kind of power.
Then again, if I was honest, I worried less about them hurting his feelings and more about what they might say to me afterward.
But it’s fine . It wasn’t like it would change things, since I’d been two seconds from being thrown out everywhere I had ever lived, or so it seemed.
“Fine.” I opened the door, and he followed me inside.
I used to be wide-eyed in new places, especially nice ones.
I’d never encountered actual wealth before my mom died, so for a while, I didn’t know how to handle it.
Lately, I hardly noticed it. Things were things, and none of them were mine, so it didn’t matter if the floor was marble or plastic.
Julian didn’t blink when he stepped inside the opulent apartment, proving he wasn’t surprised. “Which way is your room?”
I nodded to the left then he followed me down the hall.
Once we got inside my room, though, his jaw dropped.
“This is the maid’s room. I don’t mean any offense, but all the apartments in this building have the same floor plan.
They put you in the tiniest room, the one that used to be designated as the maid’s room in these apartments. Granny uses hers for storage.”
I nodded. “The maid comes every day, but they don’t keep live-in staff.
They gave me this room on purpose, but I get it.
I’m not their daughter. Her room is still her room—even though she’s grown, married, and living in London with her own child on the way now.
The other two bedrooms are theirs, as they like to keep their things in different rooms. That left this for me.
It’s okay, it’s not like I need more space. ”
He ran a hand through his hair and dropped the bags on the bed. “Every once in a while, I’m reminded how incredibly spoiled I am.”
My brow quirked automatically. Only every once in a while?
He laughed, catching my expression. “Harsh, but you’re probably not wrong, based on the eyebrow that’s doing the talking for you. So, if this is your room, what do you do for a good time?”
I snorted, because I wasn’t telling him about my work. “I read and just … I don’t know. What does anyone do? Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.” He held out his hand, and I blinked at it. I stared at it long enough, in fact, he should have dropped it, but he didn’t. I couldn’t quite get a handle on Julian, as if his clear blue eyes could somehow figure out my secrets despite the rest of the world never noticing me.
I blew out a breath and caved. Finally, I took his hand.
He squeezed our fingers together. “I’m a likeable guy. I swear, you’ll see it eventually. I don’t know—yet—about everything that happened to you, but I want to know more. Maybe you’ll even let me know why you’re so skittish around me someday.”
I shook my head. “Not happening, even if you’re nice. Let’s go.”
We stepped into the hall together just as my aunt came out of her bedroom. She wore all black with her hair in a messy bun. Previous experience taught me that if her hair was up, she was headed to some kind of beauty appointment or treatment.
She stopped and stared at us. “Alatheia, did you have that boy in your room?”
The way she said boy gave the implication of a dirtier word, sounding more like cockroach . I might not know her well, but I could tell Aunt Tricia didn’t have a high opinion of Julian as her first impression.
“No.” He replied and dropped my hand before he approached her. “I stayed outside the room.”
I managed not to quirk a brow, but I made a mental note—Julian lied smoothly. Not surprising. The shoes warned you.
“Oh?” Her skeptical response oozed disbelief.
I sighed. “Aunt Tricia,” I began, but then Julian offered her his hand to shake.
“Julian Lent, pleasure to meet you. I believe my father knows your husband.”
Unlike me, she didn’t hesitate to shake his hand, though her entire demeanor instantly changed. In seconds, her desire to toss him onto the street morphed into something lit from within, abundant with welcome.
“Oh yes, of course. You’re Dina’s grandson, then, aren’t you?
” She practically twittered with excitement.
I stared at her, utterly baffled. She never acted so charming, so it was like seeing a whole other side of her.
Then again, it was completely fake, reserved for the Julians of the world and no one else.
“I thought you would be in the Hamptons. I know I would love to be there, but I had to stay here. Alatheia is in no condition to travel.”
He glanced at me. “She seems fit to me.”
My aunt ignored the defense entirely. “Alatheia, you naughty girl, you didn’t mention you knew Julian.”
“I just met him yesterday.” When would I have told her? Not to mention she never asked about my life or interests.
He smiled. “Well, let’s get going. Nice to meet you.”
“Have fun you two.” Her voice sounded higher than I was used to hearing it.
It wasn’t until we were in the elevator that he spoke again. “You’re not able to travel?” He lifted an eyebrow. “How did you get here, then? You traveled, right, unless you did some sort of Star Trek thing and transported?”
I rubbed my eyes, suddenly exhausted by all of it. “That would be fun, actually. Wouldn’t you love to see the world like that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind flying. I like to watch television and eat.”
Amusement flooded through me, despite myself. Still, I couldn’t think of anything I would like less than flying after my three flights so far. I would be okay with never flying again, given the choice. “Don’t you get scared when the plane shakes?”
“No, because turbulence is safe. It’s just the plane …”
I put my hand on his arm, which was a lot of touch from me.
For a second, I froze, startled because I initiated the movement.
What is wrong with me? Still, I said aloud, “Thinking about it now isn’t going to make me suddenly feel safer on planes.
It’s one of those strong emotional things.
If it was logic based, it would make sense, but it’s one of those things you can’t just think through. ”
“Right. I get you. You’re talking about anxiety and worry, and somewhat about what to do and not to do. Sometimes, my youngest brother … never mind. Not important right now.” He smiled, but it looked forced. “Your aunt is one of those fake people. The ones that say one thing and do another.”
She was but I wasn’t going to comment, not after a glance at his shoes. I dropped my hand to my side, reminding myself not to get tricked into being too comfortable with Julian. Wiser—safer—if I kept my thoughts to myself.
“Hmm.” He made a funny noise and then shook his head. “Being around her makes you clam up. That’s okay. I’ll get you to be chatty again.”
Chatty? I couldn’t think of a single time in my life when someone accused me of being chatty. It was sort of amusing, in an odd way. Despite his threat, Julian didn’t push me to speak again until we sat side by side in a taxi.
He cleared his throat before asking, “Have you given any thought to what you want me to read?”
I hadn’t actually. “It’s complicated, right? As you said, we’ll get to know things about each other based on the book we choose.”
“Are you so sure you don’t want to know me? Or is it that you don’t want me to know about you?”
I sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Why is that?” He leaned toward me, the smile curving his lips absolutely devious. “Are you hiding massive secrets you fear I will discover? Did you kill someone? Have you recently engaged in spy activity?”
I didn’t have to answer him, I knew. I could just stay quiet and win my game again. Silence, after all, kept me safe.
But I didn’t. Instead, I looked him straight in the eyes and said, “Okay, let’s just be blunt. I don’t have friends.”