Chapter 15
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Asher crawled back into bed with me sometime in the early hours.
He said Cruz was stable and sedated back in his own bed, then he took my hand in his again and passed out cold.
His quiet snores should have lured me into a deep sleep, but I couldn’t sleep a wink.
My mind was racing with everything that happened in such a short space of time.
With how deeply tangled I’m becoming in their lives and they mine already.
I need to distance myself. Put up a proper barrier before this situation gets even more out of control.
When my alarm went off this morning, I reluctantly got out of bed and had a shower. Asher didn’t stir at all, and I wasn’t going to bother him, knowing him he would’ve asked to shower with me, just as friends or some shit like that, and I wasn’t taking my chances.
I dress in yesterday’s dress since that’s all I have left out of the belongings I brought with me.
As soon as I get a chance, I need to take Sloane up on her offer of a shopping trip.
One I can fund myself with the money I made last night.
Heading past Sleeping Beauty and into the kitchen, I grab myself a bowl of cereal, chopping a banana on top, and then make a coffee.
It’s nothing like the brew I would have been served back in Italy by one of our many staff, but it’s drinkable and will do this morning.
Or afternoon, as it’s now midday. I don’t have to be at the club until three, and I’m half considering hitting the shops quickly before work.
I can’t keep reusing the same outfit repeatedly.
Well, I guess I could if this place had a laundry.
The truth is, it would be nice to buy a few items with my own money, even if I earn them letting some guy play with me.
Some guy who can’t be Jagger, even if I was so convinced it was last night.
In the light of day, I have decided that was just a delusion.
There is no way that asshole is capable of such unbelievable pleasure.
As I finish my cereal and coffee, I make up my mind. Shopping trip it is. But first, I need to make something right. Something that has made me uncomfortable since I found that stash of cash in my passport. I find a notepad on the kitchen counter and scribble out a note.
Cruz,
Thanks for the bus ride and the best kiss of my life. You gave a girl faith in humanity when I was losing it. Hope you’re back to your annoying self by the time I get home tonight.
Daisy
I question if I should leave an X as well or not, but after the comment he made to the doctor last night, I don’t want to blur the lines even more. He’s my roommate, and that’s all he can be.
I stop back into my room and grab my wallet and my sneakers.
Asher rolls over but doesn’t wake up. I creep back out, not wanting to wake him, because if I do, I know he won’t let me leave without him giving me a ride, and this morning, I just want to be alone, even if he does somehow manage to put a smile on my face every time I’m with him.
Before I leave, I stop into Cruz’s room.
He’s fast asleep and looks the most peaceful I have ever seen him.
So different from when he’s awake. His face constantly shows an internal struggle, as if he’s weighing chaos versus control.
It must be exhausting to be him. I take the stash of five hundred dollars I made last night from my bag and wrap it in the note I wrote him, then slip it under his phone on his bedside table.
Then, I close his door and creep down the hallway.
I slip on my sneakers and grab my keys. As my hand turns the front door handle, I’m shoved back into the wall. Jagger stares down at me with a grumpy-as-all-hell expression on his face. “What are you up to?”
I blink back up at him, confused. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Little Miss Innocent and oh so stuck up, you turn up here and all hell breaks loose.”
I pull a face, unable to help it. Guess it’s nice to know what he really thinks. Asshole. “What are you going on about, Jagger?” I mutter, not up for his grumpy attitude this morning, when I’m exhausted already.
“You’re a Moretti, don’t play dumb with me.”
I stare up at him, so damn confused. “Not sure how I have offended you so badly, but I’m here because your sister wants me to be. I wasn’t a Moretti by choice and never privy to anything Valentine was up to. I was just a stupid girl, after all.”
“Both my brothers have been injured because of you this week. And you’re fucking with them, getting Cruz all lovesick, and then sleeping with Asher while he was out.”
I almost can’t believe what I’m hearing.
Is Jagger jealous? “Sounds like you’re the one with your panties in a twist, not either of them.
” That comment makes him growl, actually growl at me.
But I don’t stop. I’m not done. “And for your information, Jagger Stryker.” I dig my long nail into his chest. “I didn’t sleep with Asher.
Slept next to him, yes, because you left him as my babysitter, but that was it.
And Cruz, I don’t know what ideas he has in his head, but that’s all on him.
I’m not his girl, and you and I both know it. ”
His face grows harsher, if that’s even possible.
“Now that you are earning your own money, I think it’s time you moved out.
I can’t have you here distracting them, getting them fucked up in your name.
” His eyes roam down my body like he can’t stop them, and I find what looks like desire.
But I know that can’t be, this man hates me.
“Them, yeah, that’s the problem.” I shake my head. “You might be able to snap your fingers and make the rest of your crew do as you say, but I don’t answer to you, and I never will. I like this place. I might just stay forever,” I say just to push him and see what he does with it.
His grip on me tightens, and he glares at me like he wants to hurt me, or is it screw me. It’s hard to tell. But either way, he doesn’t let me go.
“Are we done here? I have some stuff I want to get done before my shift at the club. And you look like you got out of the wrong side of bed. Do the world a favor and take yourself back there and start the day again.”
“Don’t come back here tonight.” He lets me go.
I move to the door and open it quickly. “Don’t wait up for me.
” I smirk, bitchy as all hell, before I close the door in a rush, praying he won’t follow me out.
I have no idea what’s gotten into me this morning, sticking up to him like that, but screw him for acting the way he does toward me. What did I ever do to him?
As Asher would say, my love affair with the bus continues, and I ride it downtown to where my Google search tells me the best shops are, music blaring in my earphones the entire time.
I feel good today. I’m tired but slightly more empowered than I was yesterday.
And as much as I’m still worried about Cruz, he looked all right this morning.
I thank the driver as I step off the bus at my stop and walk straight into the first shop I find.
The shop smells of fresh flowers and is so clean it gleams, looking quite luxurious.
Everything is so pretty. I have never heard of this brand before, Artimus, but I think I’m going to want one of everything.
My fingers dance over the fine fabrics of silk, linen, and chiffon, wondering where I should start.
I take a few dresses off the hangers and some linen pants and shorts, as well as some soft tops.
I motion to the salesperson that I’m heading inside the change room with them, and she waves me through, busy with another customer.
The first thing I try on is a layered tulle skirt, in a peachy color. It’s soft and so feminine, I just know I have to have it. I pair it with a lavender-colored wrap top and a pair of black tights, loving the look.
A knock comes at the door. “Sorry, I was busy with another customer. Can I help you now?” comes a sweet voice from the other side.
I open the door and step out. “Maybe.” I nibble my bottom lip. “I need a few new outfits. What do you think of this?” I ask the attractive girl, who is probably close to my age.
“Love it, girl.” She holds up a finger and rushes off, returning shortly with a cropped leather jacket and a pair of combat boots. “Pair it with these.”
I grin at her, loving it. Slipping the boots on and then feeding my arms through the arms of the jacket, I stand back and study myself in the mirror, unable to help the smile that breaks onto my face. “Perfect.”
She leans into the doorway. “When you say a few new outfits, like how many are we talking, girl?”
“I’ve got nothing.”
She claps her hands, grinning from ear to ear. “Let me bring you some of my favorite items.”
“Thank you.” I smile back at her, having way too much fun already.
I strip off the first outfit and slip on a soft chiffon dress in a floral baby blue.
The skirt is flowy and layered, and the neckline is a little lower than I would normally go for, but it shows off my curves nicely.
And now that I don’t have Valentine looking over my shoulder, I can get away with showing a little cleavage.
She knocks at the door again, and I open up. “Yes, girl, love that on you as well.” She hands me a bundle of clothes, and I hang them on the rack. Then she’s back with some ballet flats, edgy sneakers, and a couple of pairs of strappy heels.
For the next hour, the two of us play with different combinations until I find five new outfits I’m in love with.
Shoes, bags, belts, jewelry, and all. I feel like Vivian from Pretty Woman when the nice sales assistant finally helped her.
And if I told this girl how I’m paying for all of this, she would think I was her.
“Do you mind if I leave one of the outfits on?” I ask, not wanting to get back into my old stuff.