It’s at this moment that I’m grateful I’m alone and Liam isn’t here because I certainly would’ve forgotten myself and fucked him senseless, ignoring the fact I’m still upset with him.
Sighing at the reminder of their betrayal, I turn away from the bookshelf, striding toward my bed. It’s only then I see a brand new tablet with a pen. Sitting on my bed, I push a button, lighting the screen. Liam must have put some high-tech shit on it because it unlocks as soon as my face comes into view. Some pre-installed apps appear on the home screen, but I ignore them all once I notice the one for graphic design.
I reach into my pocket, pulling out my phone. It barely rings before his face appears on the screen. “Making appointments and infiltrating my room to have a gaming system installed. Is ordering doctor’s visits and sneaking into a woman’s room to install things a kink, Liam?” I ask, quirking my brow.
Not looking the least bit apologetic, Liam’s heated stare meets mine before replying, “You know exactly what my kinks are, Dove. Should I bring my ropes over to remind you?”
I feel the blush rise up my neck into my cheeks and my traitorous pussy clenching at the thought of his rope against my skin again. The last few times weren’t nearly enough.
Liam’s eyes follow the sweep of my tongue as it glides over my lips. His nostrils flare before the lust in his gaze melts, quickly replaced by his usual stoic mask. “You’ve been under an enormous amount of stress. The kind that, according to my research, can bring on preterm labor. We can’t have that,” he states, and a big part of me wants to push his buttons, riling him up until his composure cracks. I love it when Liam’s carefree. He’s always carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. They all are.
“As Dr. Jaffri so aptly reiterated,” I grumble, and he smirks.
“You know she only means well. We all want to make sure you’re supported and taken care of. For so long, we had to do it from the sidelines,” he frowns.
Shifting on the bed, I lean back against my pillowed headboard. “From the sidelines?” I echo as confusion knits my brows.
Liam’s lips curl into a sly grin. “You haven’t made it to that part of the journal yet, I see.” He pauses, and I hear his fingers flying over a keyboard. “I think we should all be on the phone for this part,” Liam explains before four more faces join the call.
“Angel,” Karl groans. “You always look more fucking beautiful than the last moment I saw you.”
Rolling his eyes, Liam blurts, “Chill out, Romeo. You can Rico Suave her on your own time. I added you bums to the call for a reason.”
“Hater,” Karl retorts, and I laugh.
“Definitely a hater,” August adds without looking away. His hazel eyes drink me in. “Isn’t he, Love?”
I’ve missed this.
The reminder of why I’ve had to miss anything glares like a beacon, lighting the path to my frustrations. Do I understand why they made the decision?
Absolutely. That doesn’t negate that no one felt I was strong enough or smart enough to navigate our current situation. I’m still sitting in the dark without all of the details, for fuck’s sake. I snort. “Don’t you dare put me in the middle of this.”
“What if in the middle of us is exactly where we want you to be?” Sebastian quips, shocking me.
Five sets of hungry eyes convey just how on board they are with that plan. “Oh, that sounds like a fantastic idea,” Karl gleams.
Clearing my throat, I refocus the conversation. If I stay on much longer, I’m sure I’ll end up where they want me, and they haven’t earned back that right. “You’ll have to entertain each other. A nice circle jerk.” My nipples harden at that image.
August zeros in on my mouth just as I bite my lip. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you, Love? All of us getting each other off to thoughts of getting you off?”
My entire body’s on fire. My already swollen breasts feel even heavier while the urge to slip my hand between my legs and make them watch rides me. The bitch-ass devil on my shoulder whispers, ‘Do it,’ and I have to turn my head to break the spell.
“Turn it down a few notches, Wy. That’s not why we’re here,” Liam mutters. “Emma wants to know what I meant when I said we’ve been supporting her from the sidelines.”
“So you haven’t gotten to that part of the journal,” Rowan states, and I nod, confirming. “It means that once you returned and we knew you were carrying our baby, we’ve been sending you gifts and ensuring any craving or want you’ve had is met.”
I freeze, my heart stalling in my chest as I remember all the stuffed animals, the fruit baskets, pillows, and baby gifts. “That’s been you guys?” I choke out, not sure I can manage to say anything more.
“We only wish we could’ve done more. Fuck, we should’ve been with you from the very start,” Karl growls.
“Another reason the Senator and Samantha are dead,” Rowan spits.
My eyes narrow to slits at the mention of her name. “What exactly does a college student freshly out of high school have to do with any of this?”
“Finish reading,” Liam instructs, and I’m thankful a screen separates us because, of fucking course, I don’t get a straight answer.
Rage suffuses my skin, crawling up my limbs until I’m suffocating in it. “There are always hoops to jump through only to get half-ass answers with everyone in this fucking town. I’m so sick of it,” I seethe, clenching my teeth so hard that the muscle in my jaw causes my left eye to twitch.
I spring from my bed, my chest heaving as I try and fail to regain my composure, but I can feel my blood pressure boiling past its tipping point. “Why can’t anyone give me a goddamn straight answer that’s not riddled with vagueness?” I snap, waiting for someone to answer me, but they all remain silent. Varying looks of sympathy are etched on each of their faces. Hitting my threshold for bullshit for the day, I glare at them and then end the call.
ROWAN
The spot where I keep my journal remains vacant, reminding me that it’s with Emma, and she’s getting an unfiltered glimpse of my soul. Rubbing my forehead, I try to remain positive. After hanging up on us during the video call, she hasn’t spoken to anyone. It’s been radio silence for three days. I need her to understand why remorse isn’t an emotion I feel in this situation.
“Rowaniel.” I spin my computer chair at the sound of my mother’s voice. A bright, warm smile is on her face as she enters my room.
Guliana Calloway is dressed impeccably-cranberry pants that taper at her ankles with a cream-colored off-the-shoulder cable knit sweater and matching heels. Thin gold bracelets adorn her wrist, pairing well with her wedding ring and diamond stud earrings.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” I inquire, standing to hug her.
She steps back, pulling from my embrace. “Do I need a reason to come and see my son?” she counters, turning to survey my room before her eyes find mine. “You haven’t been home this entire fall break.”
“I just needed a few days to be alone,” I explain, rubbing the back of my neck. “There’s still over a week left of break. I promise to come home this weekend.”
My mother’s knowing gaze tells me there’s no need to explain further. She’s the only other woman I let my guard down for. “This will be over soon enough, Rowaniel. You rid yourself of the lecherous viper. Now, the real work begins-earning Emma’s forgiveness.”
“I know.” I sigh. “But it’s easier said than done.”
Amusement fills my mother’s features. “If love were meant to be easy, so many people wouldn’t get it wrong,” she insists before sitting and crossing her legs. “More people are in relationships disguised as love. So the first chance their love is tested, it doesn’t weather the storm.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I say, trying to get her to understand. “I spent months trying to run Emma from town, and I spent even longer denying there was any attraction.” A fact I’ll take to the grave. I gave August and Karl shit for their obsession with Emma, but in truth, I was enthralled-am enthralled. The day I received her file, I studied it until I memorized every detail. I did it under the guise of knowing my enemy. “But the minute I allowed myself, it was so effortless to love her.”
My mother’s lip quirks. “I’m going to impart a little wisdom on you. Falling in love is easy. Staying in love takes more effort, but growing in love takes work. If you’re unwilling to do the work, Rowaniel, you’ll need to let her go because Emma is not a girl who’ll accept half-assed effort.”
I ruminate on her words before I profess, “Emma is my forever. I’ll do more than whatever it takes to love her like she deserves.” Then I peer down at my mother, waiting for her to meet my eye before I declare, “But there isn’t a scenario where I’ll let her leave me.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.