Chapter 27 #2
Pins fell quickly to the plate now, Phoenix’s fingers releasing curls to fall gracefully over my shoulders.
The weight of the hair shifting on my scalp made me release a moan.
“We already have one, trust me. You’re fine.
By the end of the summer, there will be five other newsworthy things that happen.
There’s always fresh hot gossip in the Hamptons, Red. ”
He was wrong, despite his joking. I knew it and so did he. Phoenix could be called many things, but he wasn’t a great liar. I asked him, “Did I ruin your parents’ party?”
“No. It’s still going on.” Barrett shook his head. “Can’t you hear the music?”
I did since he mentioned it. I rubbed at my forehead. “I am … not okay. It’s like I’m here but I’m not really here.”
“I know that feeling, but probably not for the same reason.” Phoenix laughed, and Julian groaned.
His twin said, “You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
Until I’m not . “There is something else.”
“Something other than the strangeness of our family situation?” Barett rolled onto his stomach, still holding the ice pack. I stared at the rose on my dresser, not remembering when I put it there.
“Yes.” Phoenix removed the last pin and the rest of my hair tumbled down.
He smiled at me. “That might be the best work I’ve done in years.”
“Sort of jealous,” Julian answered. “You got to touch her hair for ten minutes straight.”
I turned around to face all of them. “I am the Poor Relation .”
“I’ve heard you make that joke before.” Phoenix walked to the bed and sank down on it. “It’s funny, but you’ll only be the poor relation for a few more years. After that, they can fuck themselves.”
He didn’t understand. “I am the Poor Relation as in it’s my stream. I make it; I’m the anonymous creator.”
I watched each of them absorb my confession, the impact clear on their faces. Some version of what or whoa escaped their mouths.
“Really?” Jeremy clapped his hands. “That is so cool, but also somehow not surprising.”
“I love it.” Julian grinned. “That’s real talent, Baby. How do you do that? I mean, would you show me?”
Barrett shook his head. “Did all of the stuff that happened to her happen to you?”
“No, fortunately. I couldn’t use the truth for fear my family might somehow hear about it. Some of it is very similar but not a one-to-one thing.”
Phoenix furrowed his brow. “You should be very wealthy from your stream. You have what? A million followers? How many views? The monetization should be pretty decent. Maybe not rich, but enough to not be considered anyone’s Poor Relation .”
I sighed. “If only. I can’t open a bank account, so I can’t collect any profits. It’s just … for me to do something.”
“Well…” He sat forward, reaching for his phone. “That we can fix. Fast.”
I didn’t understand. “What?”
“Birth certificates can be ordered online for a small fee. Once we have that, we set up an account in your name, so they won’t know about any of the money.
Then, we collect any monetization available and set up future pricing.
Easy. For me anyway. I know how to hack into things and get them done.
I can even get you off your aunt’s taxes, if she is claiming you. ”
Barrett pointed to him. “What he said.”
I could hardly process it all. My neck didn’t want to hold up my head any longer.
I put it in my hands. Jeremy rose and touched my shoulder.
“Come on. You need a bath. You’ll never sleep with that racket outside, so you soak.
We’ll go do our duty and say all the proper goodbyes while you enjoy the relaxation.
Rest. This was a lot tonight by anyone’s standards.
But remember this—you were the most beautiful woman in the room tonight.
Forget the rest, and remember that part.
” He smirked. “That, and the fact Barrett punched him. I wish you could have seen him go down. Barrett, It was a thing of beauty.”
Their oldest brother groaned. “I’m staying here. I’m not going back. Say goodbye for me. You want this role? You take it, Jer. I’m staying here on Alatheia’s bed.”
“Me too,” Phoenix agreed, flopping an arm over his eyes. “I’m not feeling up to people. I don’t want to be around anyone other than us right now.”
Us. There is an us. I am part of an us . “I know we’re young, and it might be way too early to think about, but I would stay with you. In case anyone was curious, I would, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to be sent away. Tonight should have proved my family’s plans to you.”
Jeremy took my hand. “We’ll figure it out. Bath. Come on.”
I let him run the water for me before he left me in the bathroom.
He leaned against the side of the tub, running his fingers in the water as he said, “My mother was seventeen when she knew she loved them. Younger, if we’re being honest, but she grew up in the life.
Granny was young, too, and she didn’t grow up around it.
Maybe it’s something you can adjust to better younger. I don’t know. I just know what I feel.”
“The life?” My ears rang.
“Right, that’s what they call it. The Life . It’s a thing.”
I laughed, tugging at my earlobe as if to relieve the pressure. “A lot of things make more sense now. I thought … never mind. No more secrets. Ask Phoenix to explain things, would you? I can’t do any more confessionals tonight.”
Jeremy said, “How about one more? I’m in love with you.
I’m probably telling you too soon, but there it is.
Get a good soak, come out, then rest. It’ll be quiet again eventually.
” He winced. “We’ll have two weeks of peace before the small party.
At least that one is actually friends from Louisiana in town, although they usually consider it an opportunity to introduce us to women.
” He shook his head. “Obviously, not this year, and I’ll make sure of it. ”
I kissed him. “That sounds like … hell.”
“Yes.” He grinned. “It does. See you in a bit.”
I stripped and sank into the inviting hot water.
Closing my eyes felt nice, but my brain didn’t turn off.
Why did they do this to me? Why is it so important to tell everyone how I’m just nothing ?
Why do they want to send me away so badly?
Wouldn’t it be cheaper if I just stayed out of the way until I was old enough to leave legally?
Why did they hire a PI to follow me? Why not leave me alone?
What happened to my mother’s share of the family’s fortune?
Did my mother overdose? Why did I never ask any of it before?
The water went cold before I could think of answers to any of the questions pinballing around in my mind.
I shivered and forced myself to get out of the water.
I loved taking baths. I never got a chance to indulge in one since San Francisco.
Chicago and Manhattan only offered showers.
I wondered if I could use the tub again sometime, when I wasn’t suffering from emotional battering.
I put on a long t-shirt that hung to my knees, braided my damp hair, then brushed my teeth. Phoenix and Barrett sat with their heads close together, watching something at low volume on Barrett’s phone.
Barrett glanced toward me then pointed at his phone.
“We’re rewatching your stream, now that we know you’re the creator.
We’re trying to see if we can pick out the points that show the actual you.
Gretchen isn’t you, not in the way either of you speak or anything, but the way you both watch everything?
Yeah, that is so you.” He patted the bed next to him. “Come, lie down.”
“I will if you’ll turn it off. I actually don’t like to watch episodes after I release them. It gives me painful goosebumps.”
I climbed between them, and he turned off the phone. “Should we watch something else?”
“How about something funny?” I suggested. I could use a laugh.
He opened another app and put on a silly sitcom—perfect.
Mindless, but occasionally it would catch my attention, and I could laugh a little.
The twins returned and scrunched into the bed to watch with us.
We tumbled together in sort of a snuggled-up pile.
We wouldn’t be able to sleep that way, but for a half hour or so, it felt great.
Eventually, Julian climbed out of the bed.
“I love sleeping in here. Particularly next to you, but even on the floor. It just feels … correct. Like I’m where I’m supposed to be.
” He locked the door and then the screen door.
I loved that he noticed my need for locks before sleep.
I almost groaned when I realized tonight might have taught them all to understand why a bit more.
Julian added, “You’re not a charity case Alatheia. Not even a little bit. You’re with us now. I just wish you believed it.”
Phoenix rolled on his side as Jer got off the bed.
It’s Barrett’s night , I remembered. They all started pulling off their clothes until they only wore boxers, their clothing discarded around the room at random.
They took turns in the bathroom before the lights eventually went out as they settled into their places around the room.
Despite my being sandwiched between two guys, the thump of the band reached my ears from outside. “What would you be doing tonight if you weren’t in here with me?”
Phoenix kissed my shoulder. “There’s always a party somewhere. Who knows where I’d be.”
“Yep,” Julian agreed. “We would look for another one when our party ended. I’m pretty content being here tonight instead.”
“Same,” Jeremy replied. “The band was bad, anyway. Or maybe I just hate them because only Barrett got to dance with you.”
That didn’t make sense, so I asked him, “What?”
“Well, Stephen thought we were making a scene. He reminded us they stay away from Mom in public, and we needed to do the same. They also reminded us that it sucked, but we knew the nature of the situation. Only one of us with you in public. Barrett grabbed you, so the rest of us had to back off.”
Phoenix sighed. “Yeah, I wasn’t letting that stop me. I was going to dance with her.”
I laughed and then they all did. Julian rolled onto his stomach. “Me too. You eventually would have, too, Jer.”
“Can I ask a possibly inappropriate question?”
Barrett stroked a finger down my nose. I wondered if his hand still hurt, so I gently touched the back of it with my own fingertips. “Anything,” he said.
“Do you know who your fathers are?” I figured they were all related, but it could be any of them.
“Sure,” he answered easily. “We all call them by their first names, except in public. Then they’re uncle so and so and Kit is Dad because legally he’s Mom’s husband.
When we were very little, it took some practice, but we weren’t really allowed in public until we mastered the skill.
Like it was a game, so we would practice.
One way at home, another out there.” He said the line as though they recited it.
“But they never hid anything from us. I’m Daniel’s son.
The twins are Stephen’s and Phoenix is Eric’s. ”
Julian spoke from the floor, adding “They meant to stop—I think I told you this?—after us. Phoenix was a surprise. Kit was fine with getting the credit for being our father, and they didn’t feel like the family needed a fifth baby just for his genetics.”
“Twins run in the family. It could have been six babies.” Jeremy added.
“Mom is one of eight, the oldest.” Phoenix yawned. “The Lents have a history of fours. We had four grandfathers.”
I knew it, but Dina’s story wasn’t mine to share.
My loopy mind fled again, my sense of time passing completely skewed.
Phoenix fell asleep in his usual position.
The twins kept going until each started to snore.
I smiled, the sound oddly familiar and comforting.
Barrett stroked a fingertip over my body, finding secret pieces of skin, silent but loving.
It should frighten me, make me nervous, or something, but I couldn’t imagine anything could ever feel closer to love than his touch.
This will all eventually blow up on me. Despite knowing it, I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Eventually, his hand stilled, flat on my stomach, covering my belly button.
I doubted he meant to fall asleep, especially if he’d noticed how my breath sped.
I stared up at the ceiling. The band finally silenced, and I heard car engines turning on and then fading into the distance.
Laughter outside, then, finally, nothing but the ocean.
After the storm the night before, it felt almost oppressively too quiet.
I rubbed my eyes. I wasn’t sure if I could ever sleep again.
I managed to sneak out of bed without rousing either Barrett or Phoenix, despite my removal of their touches taking forever. Eventually, both guys rolled around until they settled. The oldest Lent brother actually muttered something, but he didn’t wake.
I grabbed Dune —I would have late fees at the library—and snuck into the living room.
I never heard Dina come in, but the house seemed quiet.
Then again, I never heard her come home ever.
The sound proofing in my space was better for inside the house than outside the house, probably because of the sliding doors.
I sank into the couch and turned on a lamp to read. Soon, the author’s words helped me escape my thoughts, and I was grateful for it. Eventually, my eyes drifted closed.
I was on an island, alone. No matter how much I screamed, no one could hear me. Only the ocean’s constant roar answered me.
I woke when Barrett lifted me into his arms. “Stay asleep,” he whispered. “The room is cold without you.”
I shuddered on a gasp, so glad he found me. I closed my eyes against his shoulder. “Thank you,” I whispered. For many, many things .