5. Wrong Idea
CHAPTER FIVE
WRONG IDEA
Since Dane was spending some quality time with Danilo once again, that left Inari with too much on her mind and nothing to do.
She and Moose parted ways at Soiree because he had to get to the shop and check on things.
The two agreed to link up later, so she hit Ayla up and decided to join her at the park and hang for the day.
She pulled up, parked, and hopped out of her Lexus when she spotted her sister on a bench, watching Kara and Kyro play.
Ayla was so far gone in her own thoughts that she never even saw Inari appear at her side.
“Okay, I let it slide at the café, but what is wrong with you?” Inari sat on the wooden bench and turned to her.
Ayla’s wounded stare left her holding her breath. She knew that look. Only the hurt from a man could put that kind of somberness in a woman’s eyes. She reached for her sister’s hand, empathy filling her light brown eyes when she gave it a squeeze.
“What happened?”
“I slept with him,” Ayla admitted, avoiding her sister’s stare as she looked off to where Kara had run to the swings.
She loved that Kyro was never far behind his little sister. Always her protector. He stepped up to push her.
“And now he says it shouldn’t have happened, then he left to go check on another woman.”
“Oh, Lala.” Inari draped her arm over her shoulders and pulled her in.
“I just… I don’t understand, Nari.” She wept into her shoulder.
“Girl, men are dogs. Some are well-behaved, others are volatile and cruel, real animals. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you got those rose-colored glasses on.”
“I thought he really cared or liked me.”
“I don’t doubt that he does.” Inari sighed.
She could kick Kong’s ass for this. She only empathized with him because she knew what he’d lost and that had to be hard on him.
It didn’t give him a complete pass, but she didn’t want her sister to be a casualty because he didn’t know how to handle her.
Grabbing her phone from her purse beside her, she texted Moose to let him know she wanted to fuck his brother up.
He was obviously confused, and Inari left it at that for now.
“Then why is he doing this?” Ayla sniffled.
“Because he’s stupid,” Inari declared. “A real dumb ass. But that has nothing to do with you. You hear me?” She pushed her sister off her and looked into her heartbroken eyes. “You are smart, creative, and beautiful. Any man who fumbles you is a fool.”
“You’re my sister. You have to say that.”
“It’s also true,” Inari assured her. “So, what are you going to do about your job?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I kind of need it, right? I don’t want to go backward. I only have a semester left in culinary school. One more year of college for my degree. I also love working at the estate.”
“Well, that’s completely up to you. I got you either way. You can come back home and go to school. Don’t stay because you feel obligated, especially if it’s going to fuck with your mental being around him.”
“I was gonna go and prep dinner for tonight. You want to come have some wine with me? Coast is already there, but she can’t drink.”
“Girl, damn the wine. This calls for something harder, and I just so happen to have some za with me too.”
Ayla allowed the kids to play for another thirty minutes or so, giving Inari time to roll up so they could be ready to blaze when they arrived at the Blackmoor home.
About an hour later, they pulled up the winding driveway and parked behind a Maybach and a Bentley.
She shut off her car and got out as Ayla did the same with Kong’s G Wagon and unloaded the kids.
The two of them raced ahead down the sidewalk to the large double front doors.
“Damn. This is nice,” Inari complimented, impressed by the structure. “They got a pool?”
“A pool, tennis court, basketball court, even a damn pool house that’s like an apartment.”
“You feel like taking a dip? It’s a hot enough day.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t gotten comfortable like that around here. Audiemar says it’s perfectly fine and to make myself at home, but… I don’t know.”
Yasmine opened the door for Kara and Kyro, and they rushed right past her, little feet stampeding against the marble floor until they reached the stairs.
“I’m going to play with my dollies,” Kara announced, her little chubby legs taking on the stairs slowly with Kyro behind her.
“I’ll be in the kitchen if you two need me, okay?” Ayla called after them.
“Okay!” they both squealed in unison.
“So, what’s for dinner tonight, and how can I help?” Inari asked when they entered the massive kitchen together.
Surprisingly, Audiemar was seated at the counter, laptop open, paperwork beside him, and a pair of thin framed glasses covering his face.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were here.” Ayla paused with her sister at her side.
“Who’s your guest?” He turned to them both, peering at them over the top of his glasses.
“This is my sister, Inari. Nari, this is Mr. Audiemar Blackmoor,” Ayla introduced them.
“Hi.” She waved to him.
“I was just finishing up some work.” Audiemar used his mouse to close out of everything before folding his laptop closed and removing his glasses. “Coast and Mozzi came in here arguing, making all kinds of noise.”
Ayla tittered. “Yeah, those two are something else. I was just going to prep some dinner. Inari wanted to join me for a glass of wine. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you. I ate some of your leftover pastries from yesterday and had egg whites and coffee. I am capable of fending for myself.”
“I have no doubt about that.”
“You two should enjoy the poolside today. It’s nice out. Maybe we can even order in for dinner tonight? I know it’s been a rough few days for everyone.”
“I don’t mind,” Ayla replied. “It keeps me busy and my mind off other things.” She marched right over to the fridge and yanked one of the glass doors open.
She’d been marinating two whole chickens that she planned to roast with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans plus homemade dinner rolls.
“Very well.” Audiemar slid off his stool.
“I’m going to head over to the hospital.
Phoebe called. Nay is being moved to a more comfortable room, but she really wants to bring her back here to recover instead of staying in the hospital.
I’ve had Yasmine make up a room for her, so be prepared to add another plate at the table for the foreseeable future. ”
“Okay,” Ayla whispered, feeling like she’d been sucker punched.
Audiemar grabbed his things and piled them all together before tucking them under his arm and fleeing the room. Ayla lifted her gaze to her sister when she joined her on the opposite side of the counter.
“They’re bringing her back to stay here?”
“Girl, you need to abort! Uh uh.” Inari objected, shaking her head. “Do not do this to yourself, Lala.”
“What else am I supposed to do? Come home, go to school, and sit around with no money? I told you I wasn’t going to do that with you, Nari. I need to be an adult and handle my own shit.”
“Not by torturing yourself around here!” she hissed in response.
“I’m fine,” Ayla insisted, a sharp glare meeting her sister’s across the counter.
She didn’t need her overreacting on her behalf.
“You a bald-headed ass lie!” Inari called her out and threw her hands up. “But… if you say you can handle it, who am I to push? Say the word, and I will help you move out of here and find another job, though.”
Ayla turned the oven on to preheat and went to grab wine from the rack on the counter along with two clean goblet glasses.
“How about we go enjoy ourselves poolside?”
“Absolutely,” her sister agreed.
“Oh, Kong! Thank God you’re here!” Nayelli sat up while the doctor examined her.
He’d passed her mother in the hall, pacing on the phone while conversing with her insurance company. Nay’s bright brown eyes sparkled.
“Can you please get me the hell out of here?” she pleaded, glaring at the doctor. “I swear they’re trying to kill me.”
Removing the stethoscope with a sigh, he removed the cuff from her arm.
“I assure you, we are not.”
“Is she stable enough to be moved?” Kong queried.
His father insisted that he bring Nay to the house to stay and even had Yasmine make up a room for her.
Initially, Kong was against it, but given how things were going with Ayla, he thought Nay could be a good distraction.
He’d fucked up, and if Ayla hated him, he couldn’t be mad at that.
Sleeping with her was not the right thing to do, no matter how good it felt in the moment.
Nayelli had already been hurt because of a call he made, and the last thing he wanted was for Ayla to become a victim.
Having her too close meant she became another liability he couldn’t afford on top of everything else going on.
“I can sign off on it. I just want to make sure she’s going to have someone there to take care of her,” Dr. Hampton declared.
“We have a doctor on staff at my estate. I can hire an additional nurse if that’s required.”
“I’ll go work on her discharge paperwork.” Grabbing his tablet from her bed, the doctor moved toward the door.
“Thank you so much!” Nay steepled her hands together like she was praying. “I can’t wait to get out of here and sleep on real sheets without that antiseptic smell in my lungs and pores.” She turned her nose up and Kong chuckled.
“What’s wrong?” Nay pried, watching him shake his head and slip his hands into the pockets of his slacks.
“Nothing. The staff is already preparing things for your arrival. Is there anything in particular you would like to eat? I can let our chef know.”
“Ugh, anything has to be better than the broth and salad they’ve been serving me.” Nayelli groaned. “Ma’s out there dealing with the insurance, but do you think you can help me get dressed? She brought me some clothes in that duffel over there.”