Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Rose
The drive to Houston takes a couple of hours, but it passes more quickly than I expect.
When Ezra said that we were going out with his cousin, I didn’t think he meant in Houston, but it makes sense because that’s where most of his family lives.
The close-knit group of cousins all have a couple of apartments in the city, and that’s where we will be staying.
Ezra and Alex fall into an easy rhythm, their conversation effortless in a way that only comes from years of knowing one another.
I catch myself watching them more than I should, wondering what it must be like to belong somewhere so completely.
Spending the weekend with his extended family leaves me equal parts excited and anxious.
If they're anything like Alex describes, I'm either about to have the best weekend of my life or realize just how out of my depth I really am.
Downtown Houston rises around us in a sea of glass and steel.
The afternoon sun catches each building, throwing light in every direction as the skyline stretches higher with every mile we drive.
As we get closer, Alex points toward the building we're heading to, where he has his own room whenever he's in Houston.
It's impossible to miss. Tall and sleek, it blends in with the surrounding towers until you're close enough to realize it doesn't blend at all.
It commands the skyline. To say Alex's cousins have money is an understatement.
Then again, what would I know? I didn't grow up around anything like this.
That doesn't stop me from wanting to be part of it, even if only for a little while.
The lobby is nearly empty, with polished marble floors and soft lighting.
The faint echo of footsteps carries in the large, open stone spaces.
I notice there’s a front desk with security stationed behind it.
Eyes track us without being obvious about it.
Ezra waves, and I hear someone chuckle inside a mirrored one-way enclosure, where more are stationed. I bet nothing goes unnoticed either.
The elevator glides upward so smoothly it's easy to forget how quickly the ground disappears beneath us.
Floor after floor slips away in silence.
Cold air drifts from the vent overhead, raising goose bumps across my skin.
I wrap my arms around myself, staring at my reflection in the polished brass doors.
When I notice Alex watching me, he steps closer and slips an arm around me.
The doors open to a long hallway, and he releases me only long enough to lace his fingers through mine.
As we walk beside one another, our footsteps disappear into the plush carpeting beneath our shoes.
The dim lighting stretches the corridor, making it seem to go on forever.
The doors are spaced so far apart I doubt you ever hear your neighbors, let alone see them unless you want to.
Everything about this place feels private, almost insulated from the outside world.
Ezra searches for his key as we approach a door, but he doesn’t get the chance because the door opens quickly, startling me, and causing Alex’s grip on my hand to tighten.
A raven-haired woman close to my age stands there with emerald green eyes that cut through you as she looks at each of us.
She stops on Ezra, a wicked smile forming on her lips as she stabs one of her fingernails into his chest. “You’re late,” she says, looking at him with annoyance.
Ezra hooks a thumb in our direction as he glances over his shoulder. “Blame the lovebirds. I was at their mercy,” he says coolly before sidestepping her and walking into the apartment like he owns the place. As it turns out, he does. At least part of it. He lives here with his cousins.
“Hey, Rave.” Alex walks over, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek as she turns toward him, kissing the air.
She holds the door open wider, eying me, but doesn’t say anything.
I hear the click of the door shutting as Alex turns around, pulling me into his chest, my back to his front, and arms splayed over.
“This,” he says, placing a kiss on my temple, “is my girlfriend, Rose.”
Her smile breaks free, showing white, straight teeth, and her eyes sparkle with the same mischief Ezra’s do before he’s about to say something Alex isn’t going to like. He groans, already anticipating her remark.
“Well,” she says, sauntering toward us like a cat. She's barefoot, her crimson-painted toes flexing with every step. I watch her curiously, my eyes narrowing as I tilt my head. She catches the movement, follows my gaze to her feet, then back up to me before looking down again.
“I thought I'd never see the day, Allie,” she says with a laugh, waggling her fingers in front of her.
I notice her fingernails are painted the same color, giving me a better look. “I’m not really a waitress,” I blurt out, and Alex swings his head in my direction. He reaches over to me, cupping my neck.
“Of course not, baby,” he coos. “You’re an amazing doctor. No one thinks that.” He looks at me, confused, and a frown pulls at his lips. “I’d love you even if you were,” he says with the utmost sincerity, and I open my mouth and close it a couple of times before Raven shrieks.
“I knew I was going to like you! We are going to be besties for sure,” she says as she pulls me into her embrace, hugging me tightly for such a small woman. Alex is forced to release me, but the look on his face is priceless.
“First of all, you oaf,” Raven says by smacking Alex with the backside of her perfectly manicured hand, “that is a lot to unpack right there, but she’s talking about this.
” She waves her hand, palm down, fingers moving like she’s playing a difficult classical air composition.
The look on Alex’s face is priceless, and I can’t help the chuckle that leaves my mouth.
I decide to save him and talk about his declaration of love in front of his cousin in private at a later time. “It’s nail polish, babe. The red color is called I’m not really a waitress,” I say, nuzzling into his chest, and he sighs with an eye roll.
He lifts my chin before bending to kiss me. It ends far too quickly for my liking, leaving me wishing for more before he steps back with a smile.
“Great,” he says. “Let’s introduce you to everyone else.” He lets me go just as Raven slips her arm through mine.
“Yeah, Rose, let’s introduce you!”
I’m led into a room that opens up into a large room with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the downtown area.
The sun is setting, painting the sky in an array of pastel colors of pale pinks and blue hues.
It’s Friday evening, the end of the work week and the traffic that is beginning to flow.
The city is alive with cars that seem to be suspended in time, barely moving.
My enjoyment of the scenic view is short-lived as I walk into the room and my attention is immediately pulled to a woman making her way toward us.
Unlike Raven, she is tall and lithe. Her movements are graceful, and she glides with a fluidity that makes me think of a dancer.
She stops in front of us, hugging Alex before she steps back, smiling at me and doing the same, and forcing him to release me.
He huffs in annoyance, causing a couple of guys around Ezra to laugh.
“See?” He hits one of them, and they laugh until tears spring free from one man that seems to be a little older than the rest. “I told you, he’s all growly with her. ”
Alex groans, leaning forward. “I can’t help it.
You make me wild, baby,” he whispers before he introduces me.
“Everyone, this is Rose. Rose, this is June.” She waves her fingers in the air, similar to Raven, but I notice her nails are a pale pink, barely there in color, which is a stark contrast to Raven’s, with the red, pearly shine.
“Over there is River,” he holds his hand up, and Alex continues, “Raven’s twin brother, and June’s older brother, Kaden, is standing next to him.
” He also lifts his hand in a small wave.
“And of course you met Ezra…” He trails off.
“Who doesn’t need any introduction,” he finishes, making us all laugh.
Raven walks over. “We have some beverages chilling in the buckets there, and a charcuterie board if you’re hungry,” she points over at this large harvest-looking table that is placed off to the side before you get to the kitchen.
I notice there are also barstools on the large island that sit eight people. I nod, looking over to Alex.
“Do you want to get some food or get settled first?” he asks.
I look over at the food, and he laughs. “I’m hungry too.
Let’s grab some food, and then we can get ready to go out.
” He motions over to Ezra, who walks over.
“We’re going to grab our stuff from the car, and I’ll put it in our room.
You okay if I leave for a bit?” he asks, not looking at anyone else but me.
For some reason, I feel comfortable here with his family, so I nod.
As soon as they leave, Raven and June walk over, pulling me toward the food.
“Come on girl, you have to tell us everything about how you met our cousin, who swore off romance,” she laughs.
I glance at her, curious, as she pours herself a glass of champagne and offers me one.
I hesitate, studying it for a second. Then I take it because I feel safe here.
A small smile forms on my lips. I’ve never liked drinking.
Not really. Especially when I didn’t trust the people around me.
Some drinks make things slip loose, pull me somewhere I don’t want to go, back to memories I’ve worked hard to keep buried.
I’ve worked hard to keep my father and everything that came with him contained.
Locked away where it belongs and I’d like to keep it that way.
Still, I nod, accepting the glass as the others lift theirs, and we share a quick toast.
“To family,” Raven says first, as June brings hers to meet Raven.
“To being besties,” June adds, looking at me as I raise my glass.
“To champagne for my real friends, and pain for my sham friends,” I say as I clink my glass to theirs. June’s eyes go wide, and Raven tosses her head back, laughing so hard tears spring to her eyes. I take a sip of my drink, letting the bubbles roll off my tongue and rise to my mouth.
“Um. That’s good.” June is laughing and looks at me, just about to say something when Alex walks in with the bags.
Ezra disappears while Raven calls out to Alex, "You gotta keep this one," she says, pulling me in at her side as she guides us around the beautiful spread of cured meats, cheeses, fruit, crackers, and spreads arranged across wooden boards. Then I hear the reply behind me.
“Oh, I plan on it,” Alex says from behind me. “Whether she likes it or not.”
My eyes find his, and I see nothing but certainty there. For the first time, I let myself believe I might be capable of loving someone, despite the caution tape still wrapped tightly around my heart.