“Yeah, that’s enough to mess with anyone’s head.”
“Right? And you know, the worst part is that I feel like I’m keeping them in the dark about something when, really, it’s actually none of their business.” I sighed again and rubbed my forehead. “Gosh, listen to me. William has promised not to say anything, so there’s really no reason I should treat this as a problem.”
“Again, Cara, your rationality astounds me. I wish I were half as level-headed as you.”
I released a humourless laugh. “Honestly, I’m all talk and no trousers right now. Truth is I’m still all over the place.”
“But the fact that you’re aware of that obviously means you’re slowly coming to terms with things. As you said, you’ve had quite a shock. Let it settle first. Once it subsides, I’m sure you’ll be able to go about your business as usual.”
Her words fuelled my motivation to move past this sooner rather than later. “You’re right. Of course I will.”
“That’s the Cara I know and love.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Livy. Thanks for listening to my rant, and for existing.”
She laughed. “Right back at you, darling. I’ll see you in a bit, then.”
“Yes.”
§ § §
I thought I deserved an Oscar for how well I’d handled facing Aaron. There was both a positive and a negative side to that, however, because while it had enabled me to maintain harmony, it also meant I was a skilled liar. The latter wasn’t something I took pride in, because I despised dishonesty. However, I reminded myself that there was a difference between being honest and being open, and there was no need for me to be transparent, which meant being both. Had I been confronted by either Aaron or Jason, I’d have told the truth without hesitation, but to tell them unsolicited? I couldn’t see what good it would do other than relieving my conscience.
It was nearing nine o’clock when the three of us decided to leave campus. Olivia had stayed behind for longer than usual, and I suspected it was because she wanted to help me carry the burden of entertaining Aaron after today’s events. She’d never know how much I appreciated that.
By the time we’d parted ways, Aaron had been in a delightful mood. It was clear he didn’t suspect a thing. I hoped I would handle facing Jason equally well, but part of me doubted it. There was something about my friendship with Jason that was completely unique, because I genuinely regarded him as a sibling. Total transparency was something I’d practised in his company ever since the first time we’d met. To look him in the eye, while knowing how his actual sibling performed in bed – as well as against the wall, or on the dining table – wasn’t something I looked forward to because of that. However, I would have to, and I hated it. This was the first time ever that I was keeping something from him, and I prayed it would also be the last.
Slight panic grabbed hold of me when I unlocked the front door to discover him right behind it. From his attire, I could tell he’d only just come home from work. Blinking in surprise, his tall figure turned towards me.
“Cara?”
“No, it’s Santa.”
Smirking, he knelt to untie his shoes. “Then I’ll let you know I’ve been a good boy.”
I chuckled and stepped in. “I already knew. First-hand experience. How was your shift at the hospital?” I closed the door behind me.
“Hectic, as usual.”
“I can imagine.” Apprehensive, I scanned his body language for any sign of veiled anger or disappointment but came up empty. He didn’t look like he had the slightest clue. Had William kept his promise?
All of a sudden, a wicked smile claimed his mouth. With a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes – eyes that were insufferably similar to his brother’s – he met mine and stretched back up.
Perhaps William had told him after all.
“I heard you met my brother today,” Jason began and slowly took off his shoes.
Had William told him that?
To hide from his gaze – and potential wrath – I faced the wall as I untied my coat. “Yeah, I did. Impressive man.”
A short laugh escaped him. “Really? You’d call him ‘impressive’? Perhaps I should have warned you, but he can be a bit of a dick. You get used to it, though, and if anyone can hold their own, it’s you. Anyway, I wasn’t aware you’d been hired for the job as his legal assistant. Dad told me just today.” So it was John he had spoken to. I found relief in that.
“Neither was I,” I replied. “Safe to say I was surprised.”
“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know him before you start. We tend to hang out on the weekends to watch football together. He was actually meant to come over last Friday, but I had to cancel because I was asked to take a shift at the hospital.”
Since I could only imagine the shock that situation would have made for, I counted my blessings. Jason would certainly have learnt the truth had it turned out that way, so I thanked the heavens for small mercies, because thus far, he seemed unaware.
“Right. Looking forward to it,” I replied.
“He’s a great guy. I actually think you’ll get on really well.” Far better than he knew. “You’re sort of similar in a lot of ways.”
“Yes, I got the same impression when I met him,” I agreed. After hanging up my coat, I grabbed my bag and headed for my bedroom. “Anyway, I’m knackered, so I think I’ll go to bed.”
“Would you mind if I had a shower first?”
“Go ahead,” I said as I shut the door between us. Leaning against it, I sank to the floor with a heavy breath. What a day. It was tempting to never leave my bedroom again. At least here, I was safe.
Or was I? With Jason as my best friend, would I ever truly be rid of William? I had a feeling he’d always be around, looming in the shadows.
“Fuck,” I groaned and rested my weary head in my hands. I was definitely in need of my bed. Perhaps after sleeping, I’d feel better.
9
THE WAY OF THE WORLD
By Friday, I was no longer anxious about William’s inevitable presence in my life. The process of coming to terms with it had been aided by the fact that I hadn’t heard a word from him since Monday, and Jason hadn’t shown any signs of being aware of our sensual past either. Clearly, William had kept his word so far. Besides, considering how busy Jason currently was with work at the hospital, I’d gathered I wouldn’t be seeing his brother all that much anyway. In the end, Jason barely had time to catch his breath between shifts. The A&E department was clearly no joke. I hadn’t ever seen him this exhausted.
“Shit,” I muttered when I eyed the time. Lifting my head from Aaron’s bare chest, I sat up in his bed and put my phone aside. “It’s half six already. I should go.”
“You might as well sleep over,” he suggested and gently brushed his fingertips across my pale skin.
I shook my head and climbed out of his bed to recover my clothes from the floor. “No, I didn’t bring my things. Besides, I’ve got to assemble my new wardrobe and desk. I’m in dire need of a quiet place to revise, and I honestly can’t be bothered to head for uni every time, especially with our first exam coming up next Friday. I’d save so much time reading at home.”
“Course you can’t,” he remarked amusedly.
Turning, I caught him admiring my state of undress.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked and pulled my blouse over my head.
He met my eyes as a smile climbed to his kiss-swollen mouth. “I mean you’ve always been a devout subscriber to efficiency. I’m sure you’d buy a new microwave if it meant you could save ten seconds heating your meals.”
A laugh snuck out of me. “Well, who’d want to lie on their deathbed knowing they’d wasted hours that could have been minutes waiting for their meals to cook?”
“People who don’t permanently reside in the fu
ture.”
“I can live in the moment,” I disputed.
He didn’t look convinced. “If that were true, you’d spend the night.”
My shoulders sank. “That’s not fair.”
He sighed. “Maybe.” Pushing himself up, he crawled out of bed to reach for his boxers on the floor. “Mum was wondering whether you’d like to come for dinner on Sunday.”
It had been over a month since I last saw his mother Mary-Anne, so I was slightly disappointed that I’d have to decline. After all, Mary-Anne was one of few role models in my life; I admired her resilience as well as her strength. Because of that, I adored spending time with her.
I’d met her for the first time over dinner two years ago, and I’d learnt then that Aaron’s father had been both an alcoholic and an incorrigible gambler, so Mary-Anne had eventually been forced to leave him when Aaron was only four. While he hadn’t been present in Aaron’s life since then, I was vaguely aware that he had taken out substantial loans during their marriage to settle his gambling debt, and that he’d also spent a considerable amount of the sum that Mary-Anne had set aside to finance Aaron’s eventual education on his troublesome habits.
With barely a penny to her name, Mary-Anne had raised Aaron to be the exemplary man he was today. Through hard work as a waitress, she’d given him the most comfortable life she could. Her story inspired me, and so did her character. In fact, upon meeting her, I’d quickly realised where Aaron had inherited his patient and constructive nature from, although Mary-Anne was slightly more forthright than her son.
As I pulled on the black stockings that I’d worn under my grey pencil skirt, I cast him a glance. “I’d love to, but Jason’s parents have already invited me for dinner that day. If she’s got time next week, tell her I’d love to come then instead.”
“Right, I’d forgotten that. I’ll ask her.”
“Good.”
After he’d pulled on his boxers, he sat down on his bed again and reclined to rest on his forearms while he watched me dress. “Suppose I won’t see you anytime soon then, now that you’ll be revising at home.”
“Jason’s working on Monday. His shift starts at two, so you could always come over and revise at my place then.”
He nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Mind if I invite Livy?”
“Of course not.”
“Shall I invite Cassie as well?” My tone had been playful, but truthfully, I’d asked because I wanted to confirm that I wouldn’t lose him as my bed partner any time soon.
“Don’t be a tit,” he grumbled, rolling his eyes, and that was all the reassurance I required.
§ § §
With a screw in my mouth and Foals playing in the background, I was sitting within the frame of my new wardrobe when I heard a key being inserted into the front door. Frowning, I placed the manual screwdriver aside. Was it half-past eight already? Reaching for my phone, I saw that it was only eight.
Leaving the screw on the floor, I called, “Hiya. You’re home early.” I stood. “How was work? I’d planned to cook dinner for you, but I started assembling the wardrobe I ordered from IKEA instead,” I said as I walked towards my bedroom door to greet Jason, “so I thought we could just order something since—” I gasped as soon as I turned towards the front door. It wasn’t Jason at all.
“What are you doing here?” I asked accusingly while my heart began to pound. Heat flooded my face all at once, and I dared not imagine its new colour. As adrenaline heightened my senses, I became hyperaware of his presence.
William was the last person I’d expected to see, so I hadn’t been remotely prepared to endure the power he exuded, nor had I been prepared to regard the gorgeous view of him.
It really wasn’t fair that anyone should be so attractive, and especially when considering our circumstances. In his navy suit, he looked nothing short of edible. To think I’d seen him stripped of it, naked in all his glory – I could hardly believe it.
All at once, the anxiety I’d managed to overcome since Monday recovered in full.
An amused and crooked smile emerged on William’s mouth, and as I studied it, all I could think of was how masterfully it kissed. “It’s lovely seeing you too, Cara. I’ve missed you.”
I hadn’t thought my cheeks could become any hotter, but he proved me wrong.
Since I remained speechless, he took the opportunity to add, “I’m charmed you thought to make me dinner. Work was fine, by the way.”
“You’re such a knob,” I finally grumbled, but that only made him laugh.
“Sorry,” he said, and when he raised his hands as if to claim innocence, I saw a keychain hanging around his index finger. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m here to watch the match with Jason.”
“Match?” I echoed, bewildered, and recoiled a step.
“Chelsea’s playing at eight. I came straight from work, so Jason said to let myself in. He should be home soon, so you won’t have to endure me on your own for long.”
“You’ve got a key?”
Lowering his hands again, William proceeded to store the keychain inside his suit jacket. “I’ve had a key ever since he moved in.”
With arched brows, I stated, “Good to know.”
“He didn’t tell you I’d be coming over?”
“No. Must’ve slipped his mind.”
“He’s been rather stressed lately,” he justified.
“Clearly.”
Unsure of what to do with myself, I folded my arms and glimpsed my bedroom door. “Well,” I murmured, “make yourself at home then, I suppose.”
“Thanks,” he said and shrugged out of his jacket before he bent to loosen his brown leather shoes.
Though I was reluctant, I reminded myself of the hospitality he’d shown the morning after our first encounter, so I said, “I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”
Still bent over, he turned his head to glance up at me, and regardless of how much I hated to admit it, the smile he wore made my heart throb. “Really? I’d have thought you would bolt the door.”
I’d wanted to seem indifferent, but his comment made it impossible not to smile, so I hurried to face away. While heading back to my room, I warned, “Don’t push your luck.”
“Is that Foals I hear?” he asked then. Surprised, I froze in the doorway before I slowly turned to regard him. Did he share my taste in music as well? If he did, I wasn’t certain I’d ever discover a single flaw in him.
“Might be.”
As he stretched up to kick off his shoes, he gave me a winsome grin. “You’re into rock?”
“Among other genres.”
“Which is your favourite?”
“By Foals?”
“No, genre.”
Eyes darting, I shrugged. “Probably rock.”
“And I thought you couldn’t get any more perfect.”
At this rate, red was becoming the permanent colour of my face.
“Have you got a favourite band?” he continued to query as he took the liberty of coming closer.
“What’s it to you?”
His responding smile was playful. “Oh, come on, Cara. Don’t be like that.”
I pursed my lips in an attempt to suppress my smile, but it was ineffective. “It’s hard to say. I’ve got several, and I can’t choose between them. Though, right now, the band I listen to the most is probably Arctic Monkeys.”
He came to a halt next to me and nodded. “Excellent choice.”
“How about you?”
“Well, I feel similarly, but Pink Floyd is the band I always return to, so perhaps I should go with them.”
I chuckled. “Old-school. Nice. They’re at the top of my list as well.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
His lips spread apart into a full-blown gri
n, which revealed a straight row of pearly white teeth. “Then I propose you come over to my place one day. We can listen to old vinyl records together over a glass of wine.”
“Of course you’d propose that.”
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a definitive no.”
“Gutted,” he jested, although I suspected he was slightly serious.
“You’re relentless.” I laughed in comical despair and entered my bedroom.
“I’m also shameless.”
“Which I bet you use to your advantage.” Glancing at him over my shoulder, my breath caught. A faint smile swam in the corners of his mouth while his eyes gleamed above, intensely.
“You’ve read me well. Though, I prefer not having to.”
Gulping, I looked away. “Don’t we all?”
Lingering in the doorway, his eyes scanned the chaos on my bedroom floor. “I see you’ve abandoned Sandra to become Bob the Builder instead.”
The amount of wit his tongue ceaselessly whipped around was rather impressive, and it had a direct line to my sense of humour. Before I knew it, I was laughing from the bottom of my heart. “William, oh my God. Show mercy.”
He smirked and tucked his hands into his pockets while he leaned against the doorpost. “Glad I amuse you.” After glancing at the stacks of neatly folded clothes in the corner of my bedroom, he directed his attention back to me and asked, “Need any help?”
After finding a seat within the frame of the wardrobe again, I steered my eyes to his with a sceptical look on my face. Upper class as he was, I doubted he’d ever done similar work. “Do you even know how to use a screwdriver?”
From the expression that crossed his face, it was apparent that I’d offended him. “Of course. It’s not exactly rocket science, is it?”
Skin of the Night: Book One of The Night series Page 13