The Terms Duet

by Rowe, Ruby

  I dry off and pad to my bedroom. Spotting a note resting on the comforter, I freeze. I’m sure it’s from him, and I’m terrified of what it could say. Biting down on the inside of my cheek, I will my feet to step forward.

  Camilla,

  I want you to leave this morning. I booked a room for you and Liam at Embassy Suites and paid for an early check-in. They have an indoor pool Liam would enjoy, so pack him some swim trunks.

  I’m leaving town at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, and you can return to the house after that. Don't even think about running, or the promise I made to not take Liam will be void. I WILL find you if you try anything stupid.

  Crumpling the note in my hand, I fall over on the bed and bury my face against it. Hearing his cold tone through his callous words springs forth heavy tears. He’s done with me–with us.

  Maybe he’ll find it in himself to forgive me, or maybe he won’t, but in the meantime, I’ll do what I do best; I’ll pick myself up and take care of my child. I’ll go through the motions of surviving like I’ve done all my life.

  I was foolish to think I deserved a better life, but Liam deserves greatness and then some. He’s the innocent one in all this, and at least I know Ellis will be a good father and provide for him. I’ll never have to worry as to how I’ll put food on the table. Not for him, anyway.

  I dress and pack an overnight bag before I walk down the quiet hallway. The door to the room Beatrice sleeps in is open, and the bed is neatly made, so I assume she already left this morning.

  I slip into Liam’s room, and as I rummage through his dresser drawers, I hear him stirring.

  “Momma...”

  “Hi, sweetie.” Turning to him, I force a smile. “I have a surprise for you. We’re going on an adventure.”

  He rubs his eyes with his small fists and grins.

  “Where we going?”

  “To a hotel. It’s this great big building where people have sleepovers, and there’s even a swimming pool inside. Would you like to go swimming like we do in the summer?”

  Clapping, he jumps off his bed. “I wanna wear my superhero swim trunks Boss got me.”

  “Sure, you can wear them.” Swallowing down the hurt, I escape to his closet, where I find one of his backpacks and stuff his clothes inside.

  When I come out, I hear him in his bathroom, peeing like a fire hose, and I can’t help but snicker. I stroll inside to ensure he brushes his teeth and to gather some items for our short trip.

  He stomps his feet onto the bench in front of his sink and turns the water on for a whole two seconds to wash his hands. While I’m squirting toothpaste on the bristles, he holds up a small container of dental floss.

  “Boss says I have to fwoss when I wake up, before bed and after I eat. He’s gonna take me to the dentist.” Pulling out a foot-long string of floss, he holds it over his front teeth and moves it back and forth. Leave it to Ellis to teach him the benefits of good oral hygiene.

  “OK, let’s finish up so we can go.” Dropping the floss, he says, “Hooray,” and I hand him his toothbrush.

  Once we’re packed, we walk downstairs, and I don’t see anyone, but I hear snoring coming from the family room. Crap, from all that happened, I forgot Greyson was here. At least he’s still breathing.

  Needing to be quiet, I decide we should eat breakfast in the car, so I pour milk in a travel cup for Liam and find some fruit and breakfast bars. I think about our stay in the hotel and pack a small cooler of snacks and drinks so I don’t have to waste money on junk food from a vending machine.

  After shushing Liam a half-dozen times, we make it to the front door, where I grab my purse and keys off the table.

  “No, Momma, I forgot my Ninja Turtles and my truck.”

  I sigh, aware that I need to let him take some toys. We can only swim and watch movies for so long. Setting our stuff down by the door, I walk Liam back up the staircase. Reaching the top, I wait at the gate while my little one trots to his room.

  A minute has passed when Ellis steps out of his office to my right and freezes. Liam darts from his room next and is coming toward us with his toys piled up in his arms. Ellis quickly turns his back on us and starts walking to his office.

  “Boss, want to go to the hotel wif us? They have a pool.”

  Ellis’s head lowers to his chest, and he stops again.

  “I can’t today, Liam. You have fun for me.”

  “Ellis, please … turn around,” I beg.

  “I can’t.” In a heartbeat, he’s out of sight, retreating to his safe place, where he works too much so he’s not forced to face his troubles and pain.

  He can’t run from this and be a good parent at the same time. I hope he realizes it and doesn’t punish Liam for my and Tony’s poor decisions.

  I’ll give him a day, a few even, but then we’re talking about the future. I’m not giving up on us that easily. I love him and will fight for him, and even if he rejects me, I’ll still be in Liam’s corner, ensuring that Ellis shows him the love he deserves. I’ll never stop protecting my child. Never.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Greyson

  “Go awayyyy,” I yell and groan after the doorbell rings twice. Fuck, my head might combust. The bell rings again. Who’s at my door on a Sunday morning?

  I sit up, and shit, I’m not at home. Right … Ellis’s … gala of bitches … Pappy Van Winkle … drunkfest. There’s a pounding on the door next, so I get up and stumble my way to it. I swing it open and dammit.

  “Why the hell aren’t you in rehab?” I ask Sasha. Her gaze averts in an instant.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “Answer the question.” Recalling the physical state I’m in, I run a hand through my messed-up hair.

  “I can’t talk about it with you.” Lifting her eyes, she stares into mine, and I’m surprised by their brightness. She looks a hell of a lot better than she did the last time I saw her. Pretty even.

  Her brown hair’s back in a ponytail, and thin strands of it are shaping her filled-out cheeks. It’s good to see less of that hollow look I stared down at the night I carried her out of her apartment. She lifts her eyebrows. “Can I come in? I need to speak to my sister. She’s not answering her cell.”

  I step aside so she can enter. “Of course, but this conversation isn’t over.” I raise my eyebrows back at her as she sets down her two suitcases. “Understood?”

  “I found out you’re the one who paid for my rehab stay, and thank you for that. It was extremely generous, but it was crazy, too, especially when you don’t even know me. I couldn’t run up a higher bill.”

  “Who the fuck’s here?” Ellis shouts, his voice booming throughout the hall. Sasha jumps and recoils, so I scowl and turn around to find out what his problem is. He’s coming down the staircase, and is that a bottle of booze in his hand?

  “Ellis, what are you doing? Where’s Camilla and Liam?”

  “I sent them away.”

  Shit, this isn’t good. Stumbling, he grabs the railing about eight steps from the bottom. He’s in only a pair of sweats, and this is too much for me to deal with while I have a killer hangover.

  “Be careful before you injure yourself again.”

  “Where’s Camilla?” Sasha asks, sounding panicked.

  “Who is that?” Ellis replies, stretching his head out to see, and before I know why the hell I’m doing it, I shield Sasha behind me. Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen Ellis drunk in a long damn time and never drunk and angry simultaneously.

  “Stay put,” I whisper to her. “Where’s Camilla, cuz?”

  “At a hotel.” Holding up his bottle, he points it toward the door beside me. His eyes stare off like they could show me the way.

  “Why is that?” He’s in front of me now, trying to focus on my face. He looks like shit. We’re a goddamn pair, and Sasha’s going to wonder why she’s the one who was sent to rehab.

  “You haven’t heard the news?” he asks, slurring every word.

  “
No, tell me.”

  “Even dead in the cold ground, my brother’s a dick. The fucking bastard.” Damn, and like always with Ellis, this is going to take a while. I turn to face Sasha.

  “Can you wait in the kitchen or living room?”

  She crosses her arms and steps around me.

  “I want to know where Camilla and Liam are.”

  Ellis’s eyes widen for a second before he glowers.

  “How did you get through the gate?”

  “I’m Camilla’s sister, so of course they let me in. Now, where is she?”

  “Why did you–you leave rehab? Did you come to tell me lies, too?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I found out the life-altering secret.” Struggling to bring the bottle up to his face, Ellis takes a long drink, so I jerk it from his hands.

  “Tell us, Ellis. What news?”

  “Tony drugged me a long, long time ago. He drugged Camilla, too.”

  “You know?” Sasha asks before she covers her mouth.

  I grab the back of my neck. “Somebody tell me what’s happening.”

  “Long story short–Liam’s my kid.”

  Sasha gasps. “I told her I thought you could be the father.” Pointing at her, Ellis squints.

  “She knew all along, didn’t she? Camilla’s nothing but a liar.”

  “Ellis, she didn’t remember you had slept together until right before I left for rehab, and she didn’t think it was possible that you were Liam’s father. She always believed it was Tony.”

  “You had met Camilla before?” I ask, shaking my head.

  “Yes. She was always the lady in red; the woman from my dreams.”

  Shit, this is gettin’ weird and personal. “Sasha, can you give us a minute? I’ll find out where Camilla is.”

  “Fine. Um, I’m really tired after the long bus ride. Could I lie down for a while?”

  “No, she can’t,” Ellis spouts, so I give him a shove.

  “Stop being a dick. Kitchen now. I’ll make us some coffee. Sasha, there are spare bedrooms upstairs. Just pick one.” Ellis wanders off, mumbling shit, so I rub my hand over my hair.

  “This is exactly what Camilla worried he’d do … push her away,” Sasha says. “She never meant to hurt him. Tony was the mastermind behind it all.”

  “I still have no clue what happened, but I can tell you that Ellis is never trashed like this. He was the one taking care of my drunk ass last night, and he’d never hurt Camilla or Liam. I’ll find out where they’re at for you.”

  Cocking her head to the side, a smile branches from her lips.

  “You’re being nice to me, and I sense it’s genuine. Why is that?”

  “Do you ask every person who’s nice to you that question?”

  “Aside from Camilla and Liam, people aren’t kind to me unless they have something to gain.”

  “Were the people at rehab not kind to you? Because I donate a shit ton of money to that place, and I’ll call—”

  “Stop, they were kind, but they also needed their jobs.”

  “Maybe they were being genuinely nice.”

  Her forehead scrunches in this cute way, causing her golden-brown eyes to squint, but then she shakes her head.

  “No, I don’t give people a reason to be nice to me.”

  “Yet you’re sensing I’m being nice to you.”

  Her gaze flits to the wall. “Well, yes, and that’s why I’m confused.” I grab hold of her shoulder, but she pulls away. “Please don’t touch me.”

  “Sorry, my bad.” I bring my hands up in front of me. “I was just going to say that you’re Liam’s aunt. That means something to me.”

  “Right … I get it now.”

  I clench my eyes shut. “No, you’re not getting it. Liam’s not the only reason I helped you. Look, I haven’t had coffee yet, and you need sleep. Come down later, and we’ll talk then.”

  She stares at me like I’ve grown two more heads for being nice.

  “OK…” Walking over to the staircase, she looks up it. “Wow,” she mumbles before taking a step.

  Wow is right. She’s different, and I don’t like how I can’t read her. It’s usually so easy for me with women. Shaking the frustration off, I head to the kitchen to face the other person who’s striking a nerve with me today.

  Sasha

  Making it to the top of the floating staircase, I come to a stop and look around. I’m blown away by the size of this mansion. There’s one room to my right, and I hope it’s a spare bedroom so I don’t have to snoop down the long hallway to my left.

  I walk over to the doorway, and as soon as I peek inside, I see it’s an office and quickly turn back. I guess I’ll be exploring this place.

  I head the other direction and discover Liam’s room on the right. I stare inside, amazed by how perfect it is. He’s never had his own space. Reality is, neither Camilla or I have ever had a bedroom that looked like this.

  His toys and furniture are new and shiny, and seeing items he loves makes me miss him. I took his presence for granted when we lived together, treating him more like a nuisance when he loved me like no other person had besides my sister.

  Suddenly sad, I yearn for sleep. It’s my only form of escape if I don’t use drugs, and I don’t want to. I mean, I do want to, but I won’t. Not this time.

  Too much money was spent for only the short time I was in rehab to ever use again. I have to find a way to recover. I owe that much to Camilla and Liam … and now Greyson and Ellis.

  I bet they feel obligated to help me because of Camilla, but regardless of the reason, I owe them my life. I don’t know the details, but Camilla got me out of that apartment where I’d reached an all-time low with Rusty.

  The door across from Liam’s is closed, so I crack it open. The room is beautiful, but I don’t notice any personal belongings, so I stroll inside.

  There’s a queen-size bed, dresser and nightstand. A lone chair sits off to the side, but otherwise, there’s nothing else. Spotting a couple of doors, I go to them and look inside. One’s a closet and the other a spacious bathroom.

  It’s awkward being here, especially without Camilla, but it’s not as strange as it was to be in that lavish rehab facility where I didn’t fit in. I roam around the room, and Greyson steps inside the doorway.

  “Here are your suitcases. I thought you might need them.”

  “Oh, thanks. If you think it’s OK, I’ll probably shower after I rest.”

  “It’s no problem. I’m going to be a while with Ellis, anyway. He has to sober up before we can talk.”

  “I hope Camilla’s OK. It’s not like her to ignore my calls.”

  “I’m sure Ellis put her and Liam in a suite at their hotel.”

  “Her physical safety isn’t what I’m worried about.”

  Greyson scratches the back of his head, and now that I have a good look at him, I smile. There’s a black bowtie hanging around his neck over his wrinkled and untucked white shirt. He’s in black dress pants and socks, and his hair is a hot mess. What’s unnerving is how sexy he looks like this.

  “What’s with the smile?” he asks, wearing one himself.

  “You have a bowtie hanging around your neck. I don’t see that every day, and I assume you slept in it?”

  He yanks it off and looks down at it. His skin is pink and smile broader, revealing adorable dimples.

  “Yeah, we were at this obnoxious benefit gala last night.” He pushes back the top of his hair that’s wavy and longer than the rest. “I guess I should go shower, too. Uh, just come down later. I’ll have answers, and we’ll get you something to eat.”

  “Thank you … for everything.”

  “No problem.” He strolls to the door, and I try not to look at his firm butt. Stopping, he turns, and I hurry to bring my gaze up. “Why did you take a bus here? I can’t imagine how long that took.”

  I shrug. “It’s all I could afford.”

  Nodding slowly, he looks as if he’s tr
ying to wrap his brain around that concept. He leaves me alone with my humiliation, and I try to wrap my brain around this lifestyle.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Ellis

  I’ve been staring at the TV for some time now after waking up from the nap Greyson forced me to take. I’m sitting on the sofa where he was passed out only hours ago. What a role reversal. My coffee mug is cold in my hand, so I set it on the table in front of me.

  “Are you sober enough to talk now?” he asks after strolling into the family room.

  “I guess.” He’s wearing a pair of my athletic shorts and one of my t-shirts, and his hair is damp.

  “I see you snooped around my closet and helped yourself to my shower.”

  “Yeah, and if you hadn’t been a drunken ass this morning, I could’ve gone home to my own shower.” He glances down at his attire. “I would’ve preferred jeans, but you and your long giraffe legs made that impossible.”

  I fall back against the sofa. “Thanks for handling Sasha. Where is she?”

  “Upstairs.” He takes a seat in the chair to my right. “Did you confront Camilla last night about having met her before?”

  “She brought it up. I guess the guilt was eating at her.”

  “When did you meet?”

  “Tony hosted a party over four years ago for the sole purpose of drugging me so that he could come here and get into my safe to steal a flash drive. It had classified government documents on it. He and Camilla were dating at the time, and he used her to distract me.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No, I’m not. He offered her twenty-five grand, Greyson, which she said she was going to use to help Sasha. She claimed she didn’t keep the cash after she discovered he’d drugged us by adding GHB to our bottle of champagne. It fucked us up, and we had sex.

  “I’ve been having dreams about it since after the party, but I couldn’t see Camilla’s face in the dreams, so I thought it wasn’t a real occurrence.”