Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Audrey
Much to Ace’s displeasure, he was kicked out of his own penthouse when his grandmother threatened him. To anyone else, it would have been laughed off, but after what Alexei told me about her and how many times she came at me with her cane, I knew better.
Nana got there and it seemed to even everything out. She decided that she was going to stay in the room across from Grandmother’s. Neither one of them wanted us to address them by their names, but at least Nana was friendlier. I could handle Nana, but Grandmother? Not so much. At least they were friends and kept each other busy.
Carina and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to have a sleepover and so I moved most of my belongings into Ace’s spotless space. The next day we would be headed to upstate New York and the day after, Brian would be headed right for me. I didn’t know how I felt. I didn’t know how I was going to mesh these lives together. Thankfully, Alexei stayed away but thinking of seeing him the next day had my brain on a tailspin. What was I supposed to say to him? How was I supposed to act? Obviously, I was supposed to act indifferent and like what he said hadn’t caused heat to pool in my lower belly.
On my fourth spoonful of ice cream, Carina hit the bowl out of my hands. The bowl hit the bed and thankfully, none of the contents spilled out. But I did look at her like she was psycho.
“What was that for?”
“You haven’t said anything to me since you got in yesterday. Every word out of your mouth has been monotone and weak. You are anything but weak. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I ran my tongue over my front teeth. “I don’t know.”
“Are you nervous about Brian coming into town?”
I shrugged.
“Wait a second, Alexei was here with you. He didn’t just leave you with Grandmother . What happened?”
I stared at her.
She jumped on the bed and crawled toward me. There was a murderous glint in her eyes. “I’m serious. I haven’t seen you like this since that one time you accidentally ate a gummy and you didn’t even know you were high.”
I snorted out a laugh. Oh man, my first experience with pot when I was 13. That kickstarted many wild days and nights.
“What did Alexei do?” She whispered as if anyone could hear through the walls of the soundproof room.
I chewed on my bottom lip. “It’s not what he did, it was what he said. It’s been playing on a loop inside of my head. He told me he couldn’t stop thinking about me.”
“Gasp!” She threw herself off the side of the bed. I didn’t need to even check on her, her black hair all disheveled popped up on the side of the mattress. Her dark lips were open as she stared at me from the floor. “What else?”
“He said it’s driving him crazy not knowing who I was before Brian told me who I was supposed to be.”
She threw herself back dramatically again and then popped back up, her hair even crazier than before. “This changes everything!”
I rolled my eyes and stared down at the melting ice cream in my bowl. “It changes nothing, I am still engaged. I still love Brian.”
“But are you in love with him? You refuse to answer that part of the question. You can love him all you want, but sometimes love isn’t enough.”
I knew this conversation very well. It was something her mom told her when her father left them. Her mother loved her father more than anything, but as she told Carina love is not enough.
“I thought he was everything I could have ever wanted. He has a stable job, he works hard, he’s passionate about his career…”
She interrupted me. “But is he passionate about you?”
The thought of him making a face when I asked him to eat me out popped into my head. “Does every relationship have passion?”
She climbed back onto the bed and smoothed out invisible wrinkles on the blanket. “It should. He should ignite you.”
Later that night as Carina lay in bed beside me, sound asleep, I thought about what she said. Brian did not ignite me, but he was stable and he would be a good father. I wanted someone like that for my future children. I didn’t want to have to go back into the cesspit that was dating. I didn’t want to have to weed through the masses again. I wanted to be done. I wanted to be ready.
But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, I knew that I wasn’t.
Emeline greeted us with wide arms while Sinclair was absent. He’d been gone more and more these days. “I hope your flights were uneventful and I hope you are ready for more partying.” She winked at me and my face flamed. She’d definitely been watching from her cameras. I couldn’t blame her, though I was embarrassed. At least I hadn’t had any alcohol in my system.
“Both of your rooms are all made up. With Grandmother here this weekend, you will not be sleeping in the same room as your significant others, but they will be across the hall from the both of you.” She grabbed both of our hands like we were dear friends to her. “I hope that’s alright, Grandmother is a bit… old school.”
“I’m totally okay with that,” I choked out. “She’s scary enough.”
Emeline kissed the back of my knuckles as she chuckled. “Yes, Grandmother had a hard life, but she means well. She only wants the best for her family.” She twirled us around and led us up the steps. “She will be here any moment, which means… You mustn’t tell her that you both don’t have any money or influence. Keep that part out of the conversation at all costs necessary.”
Carina’s brows dipped. “What do you mean?”
“Arranged marriages are very common in our circles, in fact,” She dropped our hands and looked into Carina’s eyes with sympathy. “Marrying someone under your social society standard is very frowned upon. I do not mean this to hurt your feelings, but it is simply how it is around these parts. Marrying for love is not very common.”
Carina didn’t seem to be phased. She nodded her head and when Emeline pulled her into a hug, she accepted it graciously. “I understand.”
“I wish that weren’t the way it was, but unfortunately it is. I wouldn’t change it for my life, but I always wanted more for my children.” She patted Carina’s hands and led us up the front steps. “I’m sorry to hear your mother won’t be joining us.” The again was understood. Once again, Carina’s mother made up some excuse to not be able to make it. She didn’t accept Ace and she wouldn’t accept this life for her daughter.
My best friend’s face fell. “I’m sure she would have made it if she could.”
If she wanted to.
If you were marrying anyone else.
“We will have a full staff this weekend, so please use them for whatever whim you both need. Whatever the occasion, they are here to serve you.”
She disappeared into the house and we were left feeling deflated. Carina could try to hide it all she wanted to but I knew better. The reminder of her mother not coming and the fact that she didn’t belong here hung heavily on her shoulders.
I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m here for you. I know it isn’t the same, but at least you aren’t alone.”
She nodded. We would get through this together.