yeah. Thanks." I need a minute to myself. And if he's downstairs, he'll be the first to face the traitor. Win-win. Even if I want to ask why he's drinking so much coffee. Yeah, he loves coffee, but he doesn't love it this much. "I'll meet you down there."
"You can get that suitcase down the stairs okay?" He says it without a hint of condescension. All help. No superiority.
Even so, I don't like the implication. "You're right. I need my big, strong man to carry it for me."
"You asked for my help."
Right. I'm being a bitch. "Thanks. If you want to labor for me, you can. I'll meet you downstairs. Drink the coffee. Watch as you do my bidding."
He chuckles you would. Then he moves down the stairs.
I find my silver makeup bag. Gather the essentials. Then the non-essentials in a tote. My razor, soap, shampoo, dye, hair product.
Daisy has most of this stuff, but I don't want to smell like her.
I gather everything I can in the one suitcase and two bags, then I sit on my bed. Stare at the familiar walls.
My home for the last nineteen years.
The place that's supposed to be safe and comfortable.
This place that's supposed to belong to a happy family.
And now it doesn't.
I stare until a sound interrupts me.
A door opening. Footsteps.
Allison greeting Oliver.
I guess this is it. Time to see if my shield really can protect me.
Chapter Ten
Oliver
I'll say this for Mrs. Locke: the woman has impeccable taste.
The wine fridge in the corner of the room is filled with good shit. Expensive bottles that make collectors ooh and ahh.
I never developed a taste for wine. I'll drink it, but I don't have the palate. It's all the same to me.
I guess it doesn't matter now.
This is one time, I don't have to find an explanation for why I'm not drinking.
Or maybe I do?
I'm twenty-one. Mrs. Locke is polite. It's not out of the question.
I hold up my mug. "I fixed coffee. Would you like some?" There. That should stop any offer.
Her gaze flits to the stairs. Luna's room. "If there's extra." She looks to me. Smooths her blazer.
She's in a deep red suit. It's dramatic, with long lines and all sorts of presence. It matches her slick straight hair and her intense eyes.
She has the same grey eyes as Luna, but her hair is almost black and her features are chiseled.
Luna has that sharpness, but she has a softness too. A perfect mix, really.
"You take it black?" I ask as I pour a cup.
"Like Luna." She nods as she takes it. "Thank you, Oliver." She holds my gaze, even as she brings her cup to her lips and takes a sip. "Excellent."
"Thanks."
"She's staying with you for a while?"
"Yeah. Dad said he called."
She nods he did. "I suppose she told you what happened?"
"It's none of my business."
Her lip corners turn down. "She did."
"Shit happens."
She just barely nods. "You two are friends?"
"Yeah."
"Only friends?"
"Only friends." My voice lacks conviction.
I try to find it in my coffee. Fail. I guess that doesn't matter.
Luna is my friend. And I know how it feels to want to avoid your parents because they're tearing your life apart.
Sure, as far as I know Allison is a pretty good mom. But it sounds like she's the one leaving.
She might have a good reason. But I doubt that matters to Luna at the moment.
"We promised to make dinner, actually." If I can spare her from this pain, I will. "So I should probably make sure she's ready. Head out."
Allison nods. "Luna's cooking?" Her lips curl into a wistful smile. "Divya always loved teaching her."
"Yeah. She takes instruction pretty well." My thoughts jump to completely inappropriate places. "In the kitchen." That doesn't help. Only fills my head with images of her bent over the counter, her jeans at her knees, binding her legs so she's powerless to do anything but take me.
"Sometimes." Her laugh is sad. "She's a headstrong young woman. The same as I was at her age."
"Not anymore?"
"I guess it's the same now. But age brings experience. And experience brings certain wisdoms. Sometimes, it's easier to give up one thing to gain something greater."
Uh-huh.
"Sorry. I shouldn't go on." She looks to the stairs. "Luna, please, will you come down here? Say goodbye. I'll get out of your way after that."
Fuck, she looks like Luna did last night. Like she's about to burst into tears. It's different on Allison. She's so restrained. Seeing her on the verge of falling apart—
Maybe I shouldn't