Chapter 25
I worked on the Poor Relation for an hour. The storyline surprised me, but it looked like Gretchen was going to meet another Poor Relation— a guy. Was he her Real Deal? I didn’t know yet. Does Gretchen get to have a person? Of course it begged the question: did I? Maybe multiple people?
My stomach grumbled, so I put everything away and headed to the fridge. Dina kept her kitchen well-stocked, so I got busy making myself a grilled cheese sandwich. Just as I was about to put it on the pan, my phone dinged.
Do you want to come eat at the main house? Barrett asked.
I smiled. Would it be rude for me not to? I just started a grilled cheese.
Make me one, too. I’ll come to eat with you. Not rude at all. I don’t even know where Phoenix went. There was a pause. Make one, please .
I grinned bigger. Sure .
I’d started grilling both of them on top of the stove by the time he arrived. Barrett slid his arms around me from behind, then propped his chin on my shoulder. “I missed you.”
He smelled like the beach, and I wondered if he’d spent some time outside. “You were with me most of the day.”
“Not enough.” He audibly let out a breath. “I was just taking a walk with Jeremy, some decompression after the meeting.”
Well, that explained the beach scent, but I found the aroma heady on Barrett, mixed with his natural smell. I loved it. “How did that go?”
“Long.” He laughed and stepped back, grabbing two plates as I cooked our sandwiches.
He also snagged a bag of chips from the cupboard, and although I noticed them before, I couldn’t imagine Dina eating them, so I figured she’d gotten them for her grandkids.
Quickly, I cleaned up. The maid would likely clean up anything I missed, but I would rather do it myself.
Barrett waited for me at the table. “Thank you for this. It sounded perfect, not to mention the alone time with Alatheia.”
I met his gaze, and my cheeks heated up. I hated officially blushing, and the whole redheaded, pale-skin thing meant he could see it. We ate our grilled cheeses but he stared at me, despite my blush or maybe because of it.
“Barrett, can I ask what you want to do, if not follow your family’s plan?” He had told me, but it had been when we first met. I wanted details now.
He tapped my foot with his own under the table. Are we playing footsie? I tapped his back.
“I want to help open music clubs and teach.” He quickly stopped at the fridge to get us drinks, then returned with one opened for me.
I blinked, surprised at his answer. “Teach what?”
“Math.” He stared at me, as if waiting for my harsh judgement. “And music. Do you think that’s weird?”
“Why would that be weird?” Am I missing something?
He sighed. “Anytime I’ve told my parents that, they act like I just suggested I wanted to don a clown suit to play birthday parties.”
“Well, that’s probably not weird, either. The world takes all kinds, right? What does Dina say?” I took a sip of my drink.
He didn’t answer for a second, his foot playing with mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever discussed it with her, but I probably should.”
I found his response so funny. I would probably discuss anything and everything with Dina if I could. With the constant resource of a person—one who adored him—he hadn’t asked?
Then again, maybe it just meant I didn’t quite understand the way things were yet.
“Your dress for tomorrow is being steamed with my mom’s and Granny’s. It’ll be brought to you tomorrow.”
I shook my head, the entire idea insane. “I’ve never been to a party like the one you’re throwing. I know my aunts and uncles have gone to them, since I saw them get dressed up, usually for events or galas someplace very fancy. I guess your house is the fancy place now?”
“Yep.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s important that we perform the right kind of show every year.”
Should I just tell him? I knew their secret, I knew who they were and how they lived.
It was okay. They didn’t have to hide or worry, but how would I tell them?
It wasn’t like they confessed their family’s secrets, but they said it was okay for me to kiss all of them at the same time. Maybe that was enough?
“Barrett,” I took a deep breath. “Listen?—”
I never got to finish because Julian came through the door and stopped abruptly.
“This is where the two of you have been hiding while I have been stuck at a cardboard table in our living room eating with our parents because all of the furniture we can use is currently gone? Where is Jeremy? Where’s Phoenix?
If no one is going, I need a heads up because I can only take so much of this.
” He sat down next to me, sandwiching himself between Barrett and me.
“And what is this? Grilled cheese? Do you know that we just had shakes ? Meal replacement shakes, gluten free, sugar free and salt free, so no one would look bloated tomorrow.” He closed his eyes, his expression pained. “I like food too much for this.”
I took his hand, and he lifted his lids to gaze at me, adoring me with his eyes. I asked him, “Would you like me to make you a grilled cheese?”
“No. I’m actually full. Not happy but full. What are we doing now? I’ve found you, so I’m not leaving.”
Barrett grabbed the plates and took them over to the sink where he left them sitting. Oh no, that won’t do . I rushed over and started scrubbing them. The silence that filled the room told me they were both silently judging me.
I turned off the water. “What?” I asked without bothering to turn to face them.
“Why are you doing that?” Barrett nudged me from my left while Julian took the place at my right.
“Because I don’t want the maid or anyone else to have to clean up after me.
” I shrugged. “I don’t want to be a bother.
” I walked past them quickly to the living room.
“How about a movie? What time are we going?” Did I sound frantic?
I wasn’t sure why panic filled my throat, and I didn’t know what to do with it.
Usually, I swallowed it down. “Should we go for a run?”
Julian caught me from behind and pulled me into a hug.
He felt so warm. Safe. I closed my eyes, soaking up that warmth.
Barrett came up behind me and hugged us both, essentially moving me around, sandwiching me between them.
This is even better. A small pleased sound escaped my throat, and I curled into them.
“You are not too much for the maids, I promise. You are not having a raver. Our family is throwing the party of the summer tomorrow. Your dishes are nothing. In fact, they’re actually my dishes.
I put them in the sink, not you. It’s okay.
” Barrett leaned closer to whisper in my ear.
“Who told you that you were too much? Everyone in your life or one specific person?”
Julian held me tighter. “Give us names and addresses.”
“No.” But I choked out a half laugh and felt better, calmer. “Thank you for this. I just don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage.”
The door to the house opened and closed, but I couldn’t see who came inside. “What is this? Why wasn’t I invited to the hug?”
Jeremy threw his arms around us so fast we all almost toppled over, which was funny enough, we all burst into laughter at the same time. My panic fully subsided, and maybe they all felt that, because they let go of me. I could breathe again.
“Where the fuck were you?” Julian punched him in the arm.
“For dinner? I ate in the kitchen. They made me a secret cheeseburger. Did you get stuck with whatever that thing was Chef made?”
Julian groaned. “A cheeseburger? Fuck.”
Our phones dinged at the same time, and we all looked at them, practically in unison. Phoenix texted us all an address and the word come .
“Is he already there?” I asked them. Weren’t we all supposed to go together?
“Looks that way.” Barrett shrugged. “Very Phoenix. He doesn’t always remember the plans we make, but at least he remembered to invite us this time.”
Julian nodded. “I hate the Madisons.” He met my gaze. “We actually go to school with them. Marco Madison plays goalie on our team. He’s … not a nice guy.”
I frowned, thinking it wasn’t shaping up to sound like a fun or exciting evening. “What should I wear?”
It seemed to be the constant question. Will I ever just know?
Dressed in pants that were too tight, my sandals, and a tank top that showed some of my belly, I followed the guys into a house that was equal to theirs in size.
They said it was a five minute walk down the beach and it was.
By the time we got to two houses away, I could spot it since every light in the house glowed brightly into the night.
The air still felt thick, maybe even more so than before, and I could smell electricity in it.
If anyone else noticed, they didn’t comment.
People jostled into us, the inside of the house packed tight. Jeremy turned to Julian. “He invites everyone, doesn’t he? Marco likes to make a scene.”
“Lents!” a voice called from upstairs. A tall, tan, brown haired guy about our age practically draped himself over the side of a balcony to wave at us. “You’re here. Phoenix said you were coming, but I started to think you were going to no-show.”
Barrett rolled his eyes. “Was there an rsvp I missed?”
Marco rushed down and scooped Jeremy into a bear hug. Jeremy didn’t return the embrace with as much excitement. Julian was next, but he was braced for impact and managed to avoid the oomph that his twin released. Barrett got a punch on the arm before Marco stopped to stare at me.
“So, this must be Alatheia. Phoenix said you had someone with you this summer. He also said I shouldn’t say anything gross because Julian would hit me. But you wouldn’t hit me, would you, Cap?”
Julian tilted his head. “Don’t say anything gross and we won’t have to find out.”