LAILAH
NINETEEN
“Why the fuck would we do that? I get to leave all you fuck heads for three weeks, and you want us to come back a week early? Hell no,” Micah growled, stabbing his knife into the dining room table.
“Micah, no matter how upset you are, please do not take it out on the furniture,” Beth chided, giving him a look that made him remove the knife.
“If Micah wants to stay behind at home, then let him. The rest of us have already agreed,” Hudson said, settling the issue.
I looked around the dinner table, smiling at the interaction that was now becoming strangely normal.
The past two weeks had flown by in a blur of studying, finishing papers, and projects for finals.
I was thankful that no other strange happenings had occurred, and I was able to find a new normal living in The Manor.
Jay was making sure that I was swimming laps and working out with him to help me adjust to the added power I now had from bonding with Brayden.
It took me a few days to stop jumping at shadows, worried that the girls would be even more vicious against me because I’d moved in.
Then I found out the school had taken action against those who did the prank, quieting them for now.
Tonight was the first dinner we’d had all together in a week, and I’d missed them.
Even though one of them was with me all the time, our group hangouts didn’t happen as often.
It was strange—in one way, I felt like we were one big family, and our dynamic was growing stronger.
Then other times, it seemed that there was no way some of them could get over themselves and get along.
“We have one day left to survive each other before we all go our separate ways for the holiday,” I said, drawing everyone’s attention. “What will you three be doing?”
Parker grinned with excitement in his eyes.
“My dad loves Christmas and goes all out. We host parties, go caroling through the neighborhood, and eat a shit-ton of food. Oh yeah, and of course, there’s the presents to open too.
We compete to see who can give the best gift. I’ve won the past four years running.”
“Okay, now I wish I was going to your place,” I tease, giving Brayden a wink. “What about you, Hudson?”
“My parents are divorced, so my siblings and I will be doing Christmas Eve with one and Christmas day with the other. We don’t really do a whole lot, but it will be nice to spend time with everyone,” Hudson informed, and we all turned to Jay.
“We don’t celebrate Christmas,” Jay said, shocking me. “I’ll be in Tokyo visiting my mom.”
My ears perked up at this new information about his family. He said so very little about his mom that I jumped on any tidbit I could gather.
“Did you grow up in Japan?” I asked, hoping he would answer me.
“Yes,” Jay said, flicking his eyes up to me. “Until I was thirteen.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile, pleased that he’d given me just a little more information about himself. Was it dumb that I felt moments like this were a victory of sorts, that each step in him opening up was like winning a new level?
“Remind me why can’t we leave sooner? I’m done with my classes, and Brayden, you’re done tomorrow morning,” Micah asked.
“Lailah has a final later in the afternoon. I figured it would be better to leave Friday morning instead of rushing,” Brayden answered for me.
“You have your own private plane. How is it rushing when it comes and goes when you tell it to?” Micah challenged.
“Just leave it. Twelve hours won’t make that big of a difference,” Brayden said, fixing Micah with a glare.
Micah’s answer was to mutter something under his breath, shove his chair back, and storm out of the room.
While I was glad that he wasn’t going to pick a bigger fight, him running away didn’t ever fix things.
He was the only one that didn’t do anything with me one-on-one.
He was only around when it was a group setting or something Beth mandated he needed to be at.
I secretly was hoping that in the next two weeks, we might be able to grow our friendship from someone he had to tolerate to maybe an actual friend.
“Oh, is Micah not having dessert? I made his favorite,” Sarah said, holding a plate with what looked like a large tart on it.
“He needed to cool his head,” Brayden said with a sigh.
“I see. Well, I’ll just make sure to save him a slice,” Sarah said, putting the dessert down and serving us each a slice.
“What is it?” I asked, curious to find out what Micah could consider a favorite.
“It’s a dark chocolate truffle tart with sea salt,” Sarah said, handing me a plate.
“Of course the bastard would only like bitter chocolate,” Parker grumbled, but still took his slice.
“Brayden, you have your own plane?” I asked him to come back to that tidbit of information.
“Technically, it belongs to my dad’s company, but when it’s not in use, then we do that over flying commercial,” Brayden explained.
I couldn’t keep from jumping in my seat. I was going to fly on a private plane for the first time! “It’s crazy. Sometimes I forget that you guys are from some of the biggest families in the eastern hemisphere. Then I find out you have a private plane.”
“Trust me, it has more downsides than up,” Hudson said.
“Yeah, but a private plane is one of them,” Parker grinned, shoving Hudson with his shoulder. “Let Trouble be excited about the experience, would ya?”
Hudson looked back over at me and gave me a small smirk. “If you think a plane is cool, then you should see the yacht my dad has for his ocean research projects.”
“What are the chances of him letting us have a party on it over the summer?” Parker asked, pouncing on the idea.
“Depends. Are you coming?” Hudson asked Parker with a raised eyebrow.
I felt my mouth fall open, then started to laugh. “Oh my God! Hudson just made a joke!”
The whole table broke out into laughter, and I wasn’t sure if it was from Hudson’s joke or if they were laughing at me.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up everyone. See if I get a super badass toy and share it with you all. Ungrateful assholes,” Parker said, pouting.
“Lailah, are you going home for the summer?” Hudson inquired.
“Yeah, since it will be for three months, I decided that would be best,” I said. “I could use the work at the diner for more spending money.”
The guys all looked at each other as I shared this information, and I could tell they didn’t love the idea. Yet none of them said anything about it and let it drop, moving on to other subjects.
As everyone dispersed throughout the house, I took the plate Sarah set aside for Micah and took it with me.
I paused outside his bedroom door; I saw the light was on, but the room was quiet.
I knocked and waited but didn’t hear anyone moving around.
I knocked again, louder, but still no response.
I sighed and almost turned to walk away but changed my mind, squaring my shoulders.
I grasped his door handle and pushed the door open.
I found Micah laying on his bed in just boxers and headphones.
His foot tapped to the music as he was lost in the song, eyes closed.
Looking around his room, I was amazed. The walls were a dark slate gray with black and white photos of concerts and bands covering the walls.
An electric guitar hung on the wall with an amp under it.
His desk was covered in clothes, clearly unused.
His room told me more about him that I had learned in the months I’d known him.
Unsure of what to do, I decided I’d already made the choice to leave the dessert in his room, so I entered.
Walking over to his desk, I shoved aside some clothes and set the plate down.
I was just going to walk out of the room, but I felt Micah’s gaze on me.
Glancing over at the bed, I saw his deep sapphire eyes trained on me.
Frozen like a deer in the headlights, I wasn’t sure what to do.
Suddenly, this seemed like a horrible idea.
Slowly, he pulled his headphones off and settled them around his neck. “Who the fuck told you that you could come into my room?”
“Sarah said this was your favorite dessert, and I didn’t want Parker to eat it all, so I brought you the last piece,” I rambled. “I did knock, but you didn’t answer, so I thought you might not be in here.”
“Which gives you the right to come into my room?” Micah challenged.
My shoulders sagged in defeat. “I’m sorry, you’re right, I shouldn’t have come into your room without your permission.”
Micah brushed his hands through his hair, which was loose and fell past his shoulders. I didn’t think I had ever seen it down before. “Fuck, it’s fine, just don’t do it again.”
I gave him a sharp nod and hurried out of the room.
“Lailah . . .”
Looking over my shoulder, I saw Micah standing by the desk. “Thank you. It is my favorite.”
“You’re welcome. Sleep well,” I said, giving him a soft smile and closing the door behind me.
Thursday came and went. Cami and I spent most of the day together since I wouldn’t see her for the next two weeks.
She helped me pack for staying at Brayden’s, which I was thankful for, not being a fashionista.
Cami warned me that there might be fancy dinner parties and other posh events I hadn’t even considered.
Slowly, Cami was adding to my closet, trying to even out the trendy with my sassy saying shirts.
“Girl, what are you wearing tomorrow? This is a big deal, after all. You only get to meet your in-laws for the first time once,” Cami said, hands on her hips, looking over the options we had laid out.
My stomach clenched at her words. For me, it was still hard to wrap my head around the fact Brayden and I were dating, let alone bonded for life. “You pick, I think I’m going to throw up.”
Cami just rolled her eyes at me. “It wouldn’t be so bad if you had told me that the only winter coat you had made you look like a damn green Michelin Man.”
“That jacket will keep you warm in negative degree weather, I'll have you know,” I said, defending myself. “How was I supposed to know I would need to worry about dinner parties?”
Cami grabbed my hand and dragged me out of my room and down the stairs. We went past the library into the other side of the house that I really didn’t go into. Stopping at a door, Cami knocked, and without waiting for an answer, she flung the door open.
“Cami, how many times do I have to tell you the purpose of knocking is to let the occupant answer you?” Beth said, looking up from her tablet, seated in an overstuffed wingback armchair.
“Lala needs a winter jacket for her trip to Brayden’s. I know you have like fifty of them, and you're closer to her size than I am,” Cami said, marching right into Beth’s closet.
Shaking her head, Beth went back to reading as if this was a normal occurrence.
“I’m sorry, Beth, I keep telling her I have a winter coat and that I don’t need to borrow another one,” I said apologetically.
Beth looked up at me with a gentle smile.
“It’s quite alright, Cami isn’t wrong. The Dolton family is a prominent family, and the chances of you going to a party are high.
Brayden is the heir to the Dolton estate and will be expected to be there as well.
You being his significant other means you will attend with him, so you’ll need the jacket. ”
I gulped. “You make this sound like I’m dating royalty.”
“In a way,” Beth said, setting aside her tablet and giving me her full attention.
“All of the boys are from the five most influential families on this side of the world. It is the purpose of the Elementi to be present where demons would most likely attack. We can gain access to almost anywhere with the connections we have from the five boys alone. Add in the network of thousands of other Elementi placed all over the world, and we are unstoppable.”
Even with all the extra studying I’d done with Professor Phillips, I’d only seen the tip of the iceberg of the influence this society has.
“When you get back from holiday, we will get you more up to speed,” Beth said as if reading my mind.
Cami popped back out of the closet with two jackets in her hands, and both of them looked classier than anything I’d ever owned.
“What do you think, Gucci or Burberry?” Cami asked, holding them out for approval.
Beth didn’t answer, she just looked at her sister for a moment.
“You're right, she needs both,” Cami said, folding them over her arm and heading back out of the room.
Beth chuckled at whatever expression was on my face and waved me to chase after her little sister.
“Thank you, Beth,” I said before leaving her room.
Back in my room, I took in the two large suitcases and my carry-on pack, all ready to go. “I don’t think I have ever had this much luggage for a two-week trip before.”
“Then you have been vacationing all wrong, Lala,” Cami pointed out from where she was lounging on my bed, eating popcorn.
“I’ve only been on family vacations, and we are not the type to do anything crazy. Really, we were lucky to get one since my parents had the diner to run.”
“What if I came out this summer and we went on a girls’ trip?” Cami suggested.
I flopped on the bed next to her. “Really? Oh man, that would be amazing.”
“Lovely. Because it was going to happen whether you liked it or not.”
Grinning, I took the whole bowl of popcorn, dumped it on her head, and ran out of the room before she could retaliate.