by Lucia Franco
Oh, God. Midnight. I could kill Avery. I had a sinking feeling Hayden was going to try and kiss me when the ball dropped.
Locking lips with him again wasn't on the list for the night—or year. An alligator walking on to my lawn was a higher possibility than that. My lips tingled at the memory and I brought my fingers to my mouth, curious as to what was on his mind. Hayden was a good kisser, but then again, I didn't have many kisses to compare it to.
I lifted my eyes toward Hayden and found him taking in the scene in awe. My home looked like something fresh out of a movie, and the more I studied him, more questions crowded my head. We'd kissed once before when I first moved to the west coast, a memory long forgotten, and nothing I'd thought would ever, in a million years, happen again.
But it did tonight. I didn't resist. I didn't pull away. I didn't question it. The slow caress of his lips said way more than what I was prepared for. Even though he'd been there for me at the drop of a hat when I needed him the most, I assumed he was disgusted after everything that went down with Kova.
I'd been wrong. So, so wrong. Friends don't kiss friends for the fun of it.
Stopping just before the steps to the deck and against my better judgement, I skimmed the crowd of Wonder Breads looking for one person. Wonder Breads. I laughed to myself at the use of Avery's phrase to describe fake, full of shit kind of people.
"Stop," Avery whispered in my ear, and clutched my forearm. I dragged my attention away from the crowd and frowned at her. "Don't make it obvious."
Recognition dawned on me and I gave a subtle, appreciative nod.
"Ana? Ana!"
Glancing over my shoulder, our eyes locked long enough between the flurry of people for Mom to get a glimpse of me. My heart froze when her eyes widened. Despite the rosy blush she'd dusted onto her cheeks, she looked like her oxygen had been cut off.
"I'm sorry your mom is such an asshole," Avery said, only for me to hear. I nodded, chewing my bottom lip, careful not to smear lipstick on my teeth. Inhaling, I drew in confidence and plastered on my social event face she'd taught me so well to wear.
"Hey, Mom," I said cheerily. Her freshly dyed blond hair was perfectly coiffed, her appearance on point. I had to give it to her, she knew how to play the socialite part well.
"Mrs. Rossi, thank you again for allowing me and my sister to attend your party and stay in your home. It's very generous of you and we appreciate it."
"Hayden, what a gentleman." With a tilt of her head, she looked pleased. That was a plus. "You're more than welcome here anytime." Her voice was a perfect lilt of culture and wealth. "There's plenty of food and drinks, so make sure you help yourself to whatever you like. I know you guys are leaving early tomorrow, so if I don't see you, have a safe trip back and I hope to see you again." Just when I thought I was off the hook, she gave me the look. It was all I needed. "Excuse us, I need a word with my daughter."
"I'll see you guys in a few. Ave, keep them company for me, please?" She nodded.
Placing her hand on my lower back, Mom guided us until we were out of view of the wandering eyes and gossiping ears of Palm Beach, then she grabbed my arm and lead me straight toward Dad’s office. Just steps from the door, Xavier turned the corner. Our eyes locked and his face grew grim when he saw the grip she had on my arm. He knew. I tried to smile but my nerves got the best of me. I felt downright ready to vomit.
Two dainty, light taps, and Mom pushed open the door. In a saccharin tone, she asked, "Frank, may I have a minute with you, please?"
Dad nodded. A man I'd never seen before excused himself from the room as Xavier walked in and went straight for Dad’s private stash of liquor. They said nothing as he poured a glass of bourbon and dropped an ice cube into it, but I felt a hundred times lighter with him in there. I knew what was coming, as did he.
"Frank," she huffed, not bothering to disguise her displeasure.
"Joy."
"Tell your daughter to go change her outfit right now. I refuse to allow her to parade around in that scrap of material she calls a dress."
He squinted at me, a crease formed between his eyes. He looked at Mom. "What's wrong with her outfit?"
The white ring around Mom’s eyes glowed, her sharp cheekbones turned beet red. "What's wrong with it? What's wrong is that she looks like a slut!" Her eyes settled on Dad with determination.
Just as he'd brought the drink to his lips to take a sip, Dad paused. "Watch what you say, Joy." He tilted his head to the side and gave her a dark, scathing glare that made the hair on the back of my neck rise.
"Mom," Xavier growled, his tone deep and protective. He took a step toward her, his eyes a glossy shade of red. Fury like I'd never seen before exuded off him. I didn't move—I couldn't breathe. "That's your daughter you're talking about," he spat.
Mom stayed silent, a contemptuous look on her face meant just for Xavier. He didn't back down, neither did she, she didn't care that her comment hurt me.
Taking a sip from his glass, Xavier shook his head. "If you think I'm going to stand here and allow you to degrade and humiliate my sister, then you got another fuckin' thing coming." Xavier snapped his fingers at me. I thought he was going to crush the glass in his other hand. "Adrianna, let's fuckin' go."
I sucked in a breath and regretted my existence. I'd never heard that tone from him before and it frightened me.
"Adrianna," Xavier demanded my attention, but I didn't move. He walked over, his eyes trained on Mom as he passed her, like a jaguar ready to pounce. He grabbed my hand.
"Xavier, wait," Dad ordered, then he looked at Mom. He stood up and prowled toward her, stopping less than a foot away, and pointed a finger straight down at her nose.
"If you ever call my daughter a slut again, I will ruin you. Do you understand me? Ruin you. You'll never be able to show your face in this town again." Dad’s voice was deadly calm. Xavier nodded next to me and I almost fainted. He squeezed my hand. He had so much more bravado than I ever did.
Naturally, it didn't tame Mom in the least.
"Ruin me? Not a chance. Not the way I could ruin you." She fought back with a sneer.
Dad glared at her with fire in his eyes. "Don't fuck with me, Joy."
She hesitated for a moment. "But I didn't call her—"
"Yes, you did. In so many words, you did. Don't try and retract your statement now. Did you forget who you're talking to?" Defiantly, she pursed her lips together and propped her hands on her hips. She should've been an attorney. "If I ever hear you call her such a derogatory name again, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
"Is that a threat?"
Dad didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Mom lifted an arrogant brow and shifted her fiery gaze toward me. The tension between them was fierce. "Tell her to change her outfit…please."
"No."
"No?" she squeaked. Any minute now she was going to combust.
"I said, no. I don't see anything wrong with her outfit. A little revealing, maybe, but if she can live on her own, she can pick out her own clothes and live with her choices. Do I think she looks like a slut? Not at all, not even close. I'd never allow my daughter to walk around looking like trash. I think she looks like a young, beautiful woman."
Staring at the floor, I smiled on the inside.
"What will our guests think of us with her walking around like that?"
"I'll go change," I said, my voice barely audible.
"No, you will not," Dad snapped at me. I flinched at the bark in his tone. He looked back at Mom. "If I remember correctly, you used to dress very similar."
"It's not the same. I wasn't a child."
Dad swirled his glass. "Joy, I'm not going to entertain you. This discussion is finished."
Mom's nostrils flared. She pushed her shoulders back and lifted her chin. If looks could kill, he'd be a pile of ash.
Hell, I'd have been one first.
"Ana?"
"Yes, Dad?"
"You're excused."
I hesitated, swallowing hard. I glanced back and forth between my parents. I didn't want to leave. More than anything, I was afraid of leaving because I had a sinking feeling she wasn't through with me yet.
"Go," he ordered. Xavier tugged me toward the door.
Turning the knob, I left my dad's office, and shut the door behind me with a soft click. I flipped my hair to the side, fighting back the tears that blurred my vision. Under normal circumstances, standing up for myself wouldn't faze me, I'd brush off their indifferences. But when it came to my mom, I couldn't do it. I couldn't brush it off because she was my mother and I loved her and I wanted to make her happy.
"Hey," Xavier said softly. I couldn't look at him. I was too embarrassed. I wasn't as strong as I perceived myself to be. He crouched down to get in my line of view, and I chuckled sadly. "We may live miles and miles apart, but I'll always have your back. Don't ever let anyone speak to you like that, not even Mom. Stand up for yourself."
I nodded. Easier said than done.
"I'm almost sorry for encouraging you to wear that dress now," Xavier continued. "I didn't expect Mom to act that way. I mean, I knew she would flip a lid, but it never occurred to me she'd call you names and take it as far as she did. For that, I'm so sorry."
I looked away.
"Hey." He pushed, his voice full of concern. "She doesn't usually talk to you like that, does she?"
"She's never called me a slut, but you’ve seen how she treats me, how she’s picked on my weight, what I wear, how gymnastics is a joke to her and I should be doing what she does. I never do anything right in her eyes. I guess it was a matter of time before she took it a step further."
Xavier's gaze fell deadly. He stood and pulled me into a hug. He pressed a brotherly kiss to the top of my head.
"From now on, you better tell me when something happens, and I'll take care of it. Watching her insult you like that really has my blood boiling. It's wrong and I don't fucking like it."
I half-smiled against his chest. My big brother being protective was adorable.
"I can take care of myself, you know."
"I know you can, but you're my little sister, and that's what I'm here for."
I nodded and pulled back, drawing in a comforted sigh, and stiffened when that all too familiar scent drifted past me.
I knew that smell. I knew it well. Too well, in fact.
My stomach quivered, anticipation rose inside me. Kova was nearby, and as much as I wanted to find him, I knew deep down I couldn't. Avery's words echoed like a blow horn in my head. "Don't make it obvious." My chest tightened, but I heeded her advice. I had to. He'd be with Katja.
Chapter Thirteen
After making sure I was okay, Xavier left me to make a quick run to the pool house. I straightened my back and turned to scan the sea of faces when that recognizable smell hit me again. My skin prickled with awareness. I knew he was nearby, I didn't know where, but I could feel him watching me. Before I could take another step, I recoiled at the sound of my name being called out.
Drawing in a confident breath, I turned around.
"Yes, Mom?" Mommie Dearest was more like it, but I wouldn't push too far today.
"Ana," she said in a honeyed voice that churned my stomach. She gave me a condescending smile as she tilted her head. Cupping my arm, she stepped close to my face. "Make me look like a fool in front of your father again, wear something like that scrap of white trash fabric you call a dress, and you will regret it. You are a Rossi. You come from money and class. Act like it." Her nails bit into the underside of my arm and I flinched. "If you don't, I'll take away the one thing you love most." Blood drained from my face and her nails dug deeper into the back of my arm. I tried not to make it obvious, but it hurt and my face contorted into a pinch of pain. Mom glared. Any harder and she would break the skin.
"Mom," I whispered a plea. My heart was pounding a mile a minute. She gave me a toothy grin and stepped closer to pat my cheek with a tenderness aimed for a baby.
"Do you like the life I give you? Being able to do gymnastics and live on your own with a credit card you don't pay for?" Her eyes hardened. "Then you'll do as I say."
She let go and walked away without a care in the world. I held my arm where she dug her fingers into my flesh and felt the half-moon imprints she left behind. Steadying my breathing, I needed a moment to myself, but I'd already left my friends alone longer than I anticipated and needed to find them.
As I made my way toward the backyard, my steps slowed, and I cupped the back of my neck. I skimmed the guests, faces of entitlement and wealth, surrounded in that citrus and cinnamon fusion I associated Kova with. I didn't see him, but I had a notion he saw me.
Shaking it off, a black-tie waiter wearing white gloves ambled toward me carrying a tray of champagne flutes. I plucked one off and kept walking, adding a little sway to my hips. I downed the bubbly and placed it on a counter before I stepped outside, allowing the crisp air to cool my cheeks.
Scanning the crowd, I found my friends and watched them from the veranda. They were laughing and smiling, having a good time. My heart was lighter as I took in the moment.
I walked across the pool deck filled with twinkling holiday lights, passing friends of my parents until I reached the circle. All eyes were on me.
"Everything okay?" Hayden asked.
"Are you all right?" Avery asked at the same time.
I gave a careless shrug. "Oh, you know. Typical Joy having a coronary."
Avery frowned. "She flipped out over the dress, didn't she?"
"Flipped out is an understatement. She was a raging lunatic. Luckily my dad and brother both sided with me and backed me up." I glanced at Holly and Hayden and smiled. "Sorry about that, guys. I don't want to talk about it anymore, it’s finished. Let's just have fun and enjoy the night."
"We're here for you," Holly offered with a gentle smile, and then added, "Let's make this the best New Year's ever!"
"Yes! Let's!"
The band began playing a light tune in the background. They were calling up my family one by one to the stage. I groaned inwardly. I didn't want to go up there and pretend to be the perfect family, especially after what just happened.
"You best get moving. We'll be here."
I rolled my eyes at my best friend. "Do I have to? Can you step in for me?"
"And stand next to Dragon Lady and not kill her? No way, Jose."
I turned to Holly and Hayden with an apologetic expression. "Sorry, guys. Duty calls. I'll be right back…again. This should be it for the night, after that, I'm all yours!"
Carefully, I made my way to the stage on four-inch toothpicks with three glasses of champagne streaming through my blood and loosening me up. I smiled, feeling good. Now that was a drink I could get on board with, unlike that disgusting vodka. I shuddered at the thought. Not that I had time to drink or anything, but it was delicious and went down easy, which wasn't a good thing.
Xavier held out a hand and guided me up the steps. One would never guess he'd been drinking and smoking from the way he held himself, but stand two inches from his face and look into his eyes and the evidence was plain as day. He must've filled up in the guest house after he left Dad’s office.
I stood between him and Dad, with Mom on the other side, thankfully. With the microphone in hand, Dad spoke to the crowd like a well-versed politician. He thanked everyone and meandered on about something so boring in the real-estate world that I lost interest. Xavier became fidgety next to me. I stood poised and graceful, exhaling as I browsed the crowd of regulars. Roughly one hundred people were dressed in dark attire or glittery colors, except one person who caught my attention.
Katja.
She was wearing a virginal white cocktail dress that accented her curves. She was all wide hips, narrow waist, and heavy breasts, which were about to spill over. The dress stuck to her like glue and I was instantly filled with envy when I noticed a flat hand sitting low on her pelvis from behind.
I tried to
balance my nerves as I studied her. Huge, full lips, the kind women in Hollywood paid for. A straight and sharp nose, high cheek bones, sparkling eyes, and tousled waves—Katja looked fresh off a runway.
It wasn't long before my gaze shifted upward. Locking eyes with Kova, all air left my lungs. Sound faded, twinkling lights disappeared. Faces dissolved into thin air and all that was left was us. I couldn't stop staring at him. His eyes were on me, though uninterested, like he was looking through me. I swallowed back hard. I hated that look. It was one I knew all too well, given to me by my mom. It conveyed that I was as insignificant as a fly on a wall. It was a you don't matter look.
Kova was devastatingly handsome, and I despised that he had the ability to make me feel two inches tall while my heart pounded for him. I was enthralled with this man and I had no idea why. A man who purposely set out to hurt me knowing full well I couldn't fight back. An underhanded move that was meant to hurt me. When I let myself think about the intention behind Kova's decisions, it hurt me, but what killed me the most was that even after all he's done to me, I was still spellbound by him in an obscene way I couldn't comprehend. An equation that didn't make sense. I couldn't connect the dots the way I could a sequence on the balance beam. It confused me more than anything because my feelings exceeded an emotional level so high I wasn't experienced enough to grasp the severity of them.
Another few minutes on the microphone, and Dad had finally finished speaking. As Xavier helped me down the stairs, my friends headed my way.
"Incoming, ten o'clock," Avery said from the side of her mouth. Hayden scowled under his breath when he spotted Kova and Katja as they made their way over to our small group. He walked to stand near me and placed his hand at the small of my back.
"Konstantin, glad to see you could make it," Dad said with a handshake. He moved to kiss Katja's cheek. "Katja, stunning as always."
My mother stiffened and dragged her sharp eyes down Katja’s body. If I hadn’t known any better, I’d have said Mom was envious of her, or intimidated, but that was ridiculous. Joy Rossi envied no one.
"Frank, forever a pleasure," Katja said with a husky lilt of her Russian accent.