Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tulya
“Court asked me out.” Prim sat on my couch, holding a mug full of tea, legs crossed, the fire burning across from her.
I was puttering around the kitchen, making myself a latte and trying to feel comfortable in Rubia again. It had been a long two days since I returned. Prim had been a mainstay for most of yesterday and it looked like it would be the same for today.
“When?” I turned to face my friend, mixed emotions roaring inside me.
Part of me desperately wanted to be alone; the other half craved company.
Although, if I was being honest, Prim wouldn’t have been my first choice.
I loved her, and appreciated her being with me in this moment, otherwise I’d be crawling out of my skin. But still…the mind wandered.
“The other day, right before you got home. I ran into him at the gym. Ugh, of all places. I was so sweaty and stinky, and of course he wasn’t.”
“Even if he was, would you care?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Probably not. I swear, he’s been smoking hot since he was five.”
We’d both thought Courtney Wellington had been gorgeous since forever. He’d never so much as glanced at me, but Prim was fun and sexy. I was neither—certainly not now.
I sat down in the armchair across from her, careful not to spill my coffee. For the last forty-eight hours I’d tried to hide how much my weak hand had deteriorated. It made me long for my lonely hotel suite and the occasional visit from Marley.
So I tried to move the conversation into brighter pastures… “Are you going to go?”
She looked away. “I’m busy with you right now. This is my priority.”
Swallowing my own bullshit, I spoke. “Prim, look at me.” She did as I said. “I’m fine. There’s no reason for you to hide out here. Especially since Bruno never comes by—you know that. I haven’t even seen him since I’ve been home.”
“I’m not hiding,” she said, barely audible.
“You are, and we both know it. Bruno is broken; he’s never going to be fixed. And if he was, my mother is never going to allow it to be by you. You should say yes to Court.”
She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t want to say yes to Court…”
I tried to subliminally beg her to go for it.
Except my neck began to get hot, and I couldn’t help the “No, no, no” escaping my mouth. I wasn’t sure how I felt about my powers returning, but if Prim was experiencing this type of heartache…
“Bruno and I, we had a thing. That’s why,” Prim began to say.
I nodded, and whispered, “I heard.”
Then I got up, despite knowing better, and moved next to my friend. Why? Her feelings had me burning up.
“Don’t touch me,” she stated matter-of-factly, her gaze boring into me. “I want the pain.” She brought the tea to coral-painted lips and took a sip.
I watched as she swallowed and debated what to say.
“Why? Bruno is not equipped to be with someone. I would blame it on Shelby having a fit many moons ago, but it was all my mother. She forced him to end his engagement with her, and he had no other choice. I’ve experienced Ezza’s sheer ruthlessness firsthand, and she is like an ice pick tearing into soft flesh on a good day.
You don’t want that or him. He’s broken because of it. ”
Closing her eyes, she spoke. “I do only want him. I love him. I’ve always felt this way since I was a little girl. And on New Year’s, I stopped at his place to wish him a good year—”
I couldn’t help but interrupt. “Prim! You did not!”
She smiled like the cat who ate the canary. “Anyway, I know this is weird because he is your brother, but he asked me in for a cocktail. And, well, one drink led to a few more. It was the most blissful night and morning I’ve ever had.”
I reached out to take her hand in mine but she pulled back.
“I will not allow you to touch me. If you take the pain, it will stop me from remembering what I want. So, it’s a no. I love you too, as my closest friend, but you cannot fix this. I’m going to.”
I wanted to admit how much I admired her for going after the man she wanted, paying no mind to the roadblocks in front of her—starting with their age difference and ending with my mother—but I didn’t.
If I did, I would have to explain why. How I fell in love with someone also not attainable.
How my heart suffered, and there was no way to shirk the feeling.
Instead, I muttered, “Okay, but no more details of that night. Sheesh, I cannot listen to that.”
Prim gifted me with a soft giggle. She gulped more tea, and I walked back to my chair and my cooled latte.
“You know, there were some rumors that you and Donovan had a thing.” She spoke to my back, and when I turned, she mirrored my raised eyebrow expression.
“Who said that?” I tried to keep my tone even and expression schooled.
“It was just a rumor. When Donovan returned, he was completely agitated and gone for someone to go help you. He practically dragged the human—”
“Valerie,” I corrected my friend. “Blake’s mom.”
“He spent about twenty-four hours scowling at everyone but his niece. And then, from what I heard, he told Valerie it was enough, you needed help, and they were not going to send anyone until she left. I don’t know what he promised her, but when he grabbed her hand, she went with him to the plane.”
“Well, none of that has to do with me.” I shielded my face with my oversized mug. “I did need help. It was nice of him to advocate for me. And truthfully, the help wasn’t that helpful. A day late and a dollar short, if you know what I mean.”
“I know. Really, I’m glad you are alive, and healed as much as you are.
I’m only warning you that after Donovan left, there was a groundswell.
You know Rubian imaginations run rampant.
There was speculation that you two fell for one another.
Cinder denied it, and Ceci put an end to all the whispering. ”
“That’s good” was my response. More than anything, I wanted this conversation to end.
“Emelee held back the tears, especially when Donovan took Valerie home. When he came back a second time, Ceci met him and explained he would be married by next Christmas. Emelee appeared out of nowhere, and Ceci furnished a ring to give her.”
I couldn’t believe none of this information made its way to me.
Standing, I took my empty cup to the sink, busying my hand, trying to keep any tremors at bay. “Wow,” I admitted. “I didn’t know any of this.”
I turned back toward Prim, and she hurriedly looked away. “Most are now considering you a sympathizer with the human—Valerie. You are not considered to be in the inner circle.”
I wanted to say good, but I held back.
“I care for Blake,” I explained instead.
Like taking my next breath, I did and didn’t want to know about Donovan and Emelee.
“Yes, she is a sweet little thing. I get why Donovan was so in love too. Not just because she is his niece. Anyway, a fight broke out when Donovan returned home and Ceci had moved Emelee into his quarters. And he left…and hasn’t been back since.”
All of it was too much for my heart to bear. I longed to share sushi and feel his green gaze on me. There was only so much I could imagine his touch.
The sad reality settled in my veins. I’d either never see him again, or if I did, he would be living with Emelee. Both options made my body burn with rage and pain, and I wondered if this would be what finally broke me.
Maybe, I hoped.