Ignite (The Disciples #4) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,74
wants you up front and center.”
“Oh, wow. What’s happened?”
“Rip talked her into doing shots of tequila with orange juice chasers.”
I grab her a bottle of water. She opens it and makes Cindy take it, then swings her hair over her shoulder as she smiles at me, her eyes widening.
“Antoinette.” She puts a hand to her chest. “You look so beautiful, doesn’t she, Cindy?” Cindy stares at me. She’s wearing only a black skimpy string bikini.
“Bathroom, I need it, now.” She pushes past me and the loudest, most horrendous heaving and gagging fill the room.
“It’s ten a.m.” I look at Charlie who doesn’t seemed fazed.
“I know. I need Doug to get his ass over here now. He’s saying he has to wait for Robert, but this is going to be a disaster. I can already feel it.”
Her fingers are like a concert pianist’s as she texts. “And I have to make sure Dewey is okay with Zack.” Looking up at me, she points at the bathroom. “When she’s done, give her some water, then come downstairs.” She stops at the door. “And don’t worry. Because you look worried. It’ll be fantastic.”
She takes a deep breath and leaves.
“Wait.” I run to the door. “Am I supposed to be in a bikini?”
She’s wearing one. A cute red bikini with some skimpy white shorts that show her long, thin legs. Charlie and I kind of have the same shape, only my boobs are even smaller and I’m probably ten pounds lighter.
“Well, it’s a pool party. You swim, right?” She stops at the top of the stairs and I admire her strappy wedge sandals.
“Yes, of course. Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Long story.” She waves her hands. “Eve can’t or couldn’t… never mind.”
She sighs. “Look, I had David text Axel last night asking if you needed a bikini. He said no.” She rolls her eyes.
“He didn’t mention anything about a bikini when he left.” And my cheeks get hot as I remember what we did earlier. He didn’t say much of anything other than giving me multiple orgasms and jerking himself off on my breasts.
She cocks her head. “Antoinette?” She turns and walks toward me. “I know you’ve been hearing all kinds of negative stuff about Axel and the Disciples in general.”
She motions for me to follow her to the window. “Some of it is true, some is exaggerated. But… be careful with Axel. And by careful, I mean guard your heart. He’s… Axel.”
Her words ring in the empty hallway and I bite my lower lip because hearing it from Charlie makes it seem real. And in an instant, my beautiful, happy day is gone, all that happened last night a distant memory. Only because I know she’s right and she cares about me.
She rubs my arm. “I hate having to say that, but I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.” I smile, but it’s tight.
“Oh, Antoinette,” she whispers as her golden eyes scan my face. “You’re already in love with him.”
It’s not a question and she doesn’t give me time to answer.
But am I?
Have I somehow fallen in love with him? There’s no way. He’s exciting, and he makes me feel secure—that’s all. But I’m not delusional enough to fall for him. Right?
Charlie cocks her head. “So, here’s the truth about David and me. I fell in love with David the first time I saw him. I was ten. He came in with his dad and some old-timers to my parents’ diner. He was older, but I didn’t care. I knew he was the one.” She smiles.
“We’ve had a lot of tragedies, setbacks, and pain. But at the end of the day, he loves me as much as I love him. He’s my best friend.”
“That’s so romantic,” I whisper.
“Yeah, sometimes it was. Other times it was ugly and painful, and honestly… I was scared he wouldn’t make it. But I believed. Sometimes it felt like that’s what kept us going.”
She nods and moves toward the stairs. “Keep doing what you’re doing. And yes, you definitely need to wear a bikini.”
“Charlie?” She looks up. “I’m not… in love with him. I can’t be.”
She smiles. “Okay. Still wear the skimpiest bikini you have.”
Clearly she doesn’t believe me. Not that I blame her. It came out rather weak. But I’m not. I know it, and that’s all that matters. What I feel for Axel has to be a passing infatuation. He’s beautiful and smells good. That’s it.