Chapter 5
I made it outside before it occurred to me that I didn’t know how to get back home.
I had a little cash, because Dina had insisted I have some on me today.
I could find a taxi to get home, probably.
I couldn’t walk—I had no clue which way to go, nor did I know how to navigate the subway.
No phone of my own meant I couldn’t just use a rideshare service, either.
I swallowed, shaking my suddenly sweaty palms and taking a deep breath.
It wasn’t like I was stranded. I would just find a taxi.
I spotted a few parked nearby, so I walked toward them.
“Hey!” A hand grabbed my arm, and instinctively I jerked free.
I turned and sighed out a breath of pure adrenaline when I saw Jeremy.
At least I knew what to expect from his type—the ultra-rich, the ones who acted like they were allergic to people like me.
They wanted me to disappear, as if I should be punished for even getting to see inside their special bubble.
I swallowed. I knew his type, but that meant I also had armor against him. “What?”
I wondered if he would spout some manly speech about how I should stay away from his brother.
Like it is my fault . For whatever reason, Julian decided to step out of line by spending time with me, but I fully expected Jeremy to bring our time together to an abrupt end.
I got it. I could have predicted the dialogue if I gave it more than a few seconds of thought.
It was okay; I would stop seeing him. Neither of them could change their grandmother, but she would probably be considered eccentric anyway.
Besides, I doubted she would care what her grandsons thought.
We didn’t need to have the conversation, though.
“Don’t run away.” He held my eye contact. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.” He totally did . But I wasn’t willing to give him any more ammo.
Better if I just go away . Julian appeared on the stairs behind him, so I quickly added, “I’m going to go.
Don’t worry. None of you have to see me again.
I’m still going to see your grandmother because we’re working on a project together, but I can stay away from your brother.
Just let me find a cab and you can get on with your life. ”
Jeremy’s brow crumpled. “What project? Never mind. It’s not important right now.
You can tell me all about it over dinner.
I’m sorry if I gave you a bad first impression.
My attitude had nothing to do with you, so let’s just go from there?
Julian mentioned you planned to go for steak.
I love steak. They like me better over there than they do him anyway. ”
He showed me a lot of straight, white teeth when his lips curled into a smile. I recognized the illusion of the gesture and knew despite Julian seeming so kind, he grew up in the same world as this guy. Jeremy didn’t bother with the pretense. Jeremy was a predator.
I shook my head. “No, but thanks. I’m just looking for a cab.” I nodded toward the nearby taxis.
“It would be easier to order a car, but I really wish you wouldn’t go. Come on, give me a second chance to make a first impression.” He smiled again, a somewhat more sincere gesture, if not by much.
“She doesn’t have a phone.” Julian sighed, reminding me of his presence. I jumped, surprised I forgot he was there.
“Alatheia, this is my twin brother Jeremy, and he’s not usually such an ass.
He’s mad at me because I left him in the Hamptons with our family and didn’t come back.
I texted him that we were going out today, so he figured you might be my excuse for not going back to the Hamptons.
” He shot Jeremy a look. “I’m hoping he’s realized the situation isn’t what he expected.
Jeremy, this is Alatheia. She lives in the building with Granny and is working for her this summer.
Alatheia lives with her aunt, Tricia Samuels.
The situation is complicated, though, so I’m trying to show Alatheia I’m not an asshole. Stop fucking this up for me.”
Another look passed between them. Julian added, “Seriously. It’s important.”
The city screamed around us, New York never truly silent. Honking, skidding of cars, airbrakes and more filled the air around us as Jeremy stared at Julian. A light mist hit my face, and I wiped it away, wondering if it was the first hit of a coming downpour.
“I see.” He nodded and then looked back at me, one brow cocked. “Yeah … Sorry. It’s complicated. Let’s have dinner. I’ll do better. I’m actually nicer than he is, believe it or not.”
Julian slid his arm around my shoulders. “He’s not. He’s absolutely not.”
My stomach grumbled and made the decision for me. Steak sounded great, regardless of the company. I glanced down, realizing I still clutched Dune in my hand. “The book is great so far.”
“It is. Surprisingly, I’m liking Wrinkle in Time , too. We can talk about books over dinner and leave Jeremy out.” He grinned back at his brother. “He hates being left out.”
Jeremy flipped his hair out of his eyes.
I wondered if he missed his last haircut or kept it long on purpose, since the hair flip seemed such a rich boy move.
I almost checked myself for being mean, then remembered it wasn’t like he’d been charming when we met.
I can think all the mean thoughts I want.
“I’ll eat. You two can talk about whatever you want, so long as the food is good.”
Julian sighed. “I would prefer if you talked, actually. I hate it when you go quiet, and you know it.”
“Do you talk a lot?” Jeremy asked, head turned my way, intentionally ignoring his brother. Wind caught my hair, dragging the strands into my eyes and I wished for an elastic to pull it back.
Finally, I shrugged. “I talk. A normal amount, I think.”
“Mostly inside her own head, in my experience. When she does speak aloud, it’s fascinating.” Julian grinned at me. “This way.” He tilted his head left, and I followed where he indicated. Without meaning to, I ended up in the middle, a twin on either side.
Jeremy caught my eye when I stole a glance in his direction at a crosswalk. Despite looking so different from his brother, something about him made me think twin. Maybe it was the way they sort of moved in sync. I didn’t notice in the library, but I did now.
“You’re not who I thought you would be,” he said.
I gulped only once before finding the words to respond to him. “What did you think I would be like? How much could you have heard about me? I only met your brother yesterday.”
He stared at Julian and then me. When the sign changed to walk , we automatically slid into motion without him answering.
Finally, when we reached the other side, he said, “You might be surprised how quickly Julian can assess someone. I heard a lot about your first encounter. He’s kindhearted, much more so than the rest of us, which makes me feel protective of him. ”
“I’m not that nice,” Julian disagreed.
I followed the brothers into the restaurant without further comment.
The ma?tre d’ fawned over just them like the one at the Italian restaurant. Does everyone in town know them? I wondered how far their influence reached— the other side of Manhattan? Philadelphia? What about Miami?
I tuned it out mostly, but I realized the conversation had changed to water polo and Jeremy wasn’t participating in their banter.
When I glanced his way, he whispered in my ear, “I said something very mean to you earlier, insinuating that you might be bad for my brother. I also mentioned I liked to keep him protected, yet you haven’t said a word. Are you going to?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “No.”
My response obviously bothered him. He rocked back on his feet, shifting his shoulders and staring at me. “That’s all you’re going to say? No?”
In my mind, there wasn’t much more for me to say.
I followed Julian and the host to a table in the back, near a window.
Outside, drizzle pattered softly. A mist rose off the sidewalk, the captured heat from the day nearly making it sizzle when it was confronted by the moisture.
I stared at it, considering it a very uniquely city phenomenon.
I never saw anything like it in my childhood.
At home, I could smell the rain before it fell, a clean fresh scent on the air.
In San Francisco, Chicago, and even New York, the sidewalks fogged when rain began, making it a city experience.
“Alatheia,” Julian said then grinned. “Penny for your thoughts?”
I smiled back at him. “Not worth that much.”
“I bet they are.” He shook his head. “You do like steak, right?”
I nodded. “I love it.”
“So, she really does talk to you.” Jeremy side-eyed me. “And, yes, I’m speaking about you in front of you, which is rude. Still, maybe not as rude as talking about you behind your back, which we’ll probably also do when you’re not around.”
I opened and closed my mouth, considering my response. He knew the profound rudeness of his comment, grinning despite his actions, so I cleared my throat. “Well, my imagination is darker than anything your lackluster brain can come up with anyway.”
As soon as I spoke the words, I wished I hadn’t.
Julian laughed but Jeremy didn’t. Instead, he leaned toward me, considering me carefully.
Since I was seated between the two of them, it brought him closer to me than I preferred.
I doubted Jeremy ever did anything he didn’t mean to do, so I recognized the intention.
“What terrible things could come into your head?” The weight of his full attention kept my mouth from opening, since my brain refused to form words. His smile didn’t waver as the waiter appeared, saving me from having to respond.