Black

by K. L. Grayson

  Happy Birthday, Shae is written in lavender icing across the white cake, and there are several sugar flowers adorning the masterpiece.

  The familiar burn of tears gathers behind my eyes, and I take a deep breath before turning toward Rex. He’s followed me across the rink, and for the first time, I notice the box in his hand. It’s square, wrapped in glittery purple paper, and topped with a giant bow.

  “I can’t believe you did this,” I whisper again, no longer able to keep my emotions in check. I press a shaky hand to my mouth, squeezing my eyes shut, and a few tears trickle over my lashes.

  “I hope those are happy tears.”

  I nod.

  The smile he offers is gentle and sweet, a complete contradiction to the dominant man playing my body moments ago. He holds the box out for me. Without a word, I take it, set it on the table, pull the bow off, and tear off the paper as though it’s the first birthday present I’ve unwrapped since my ninth birthday.

  Which it actually is.

  Rex chuckles as I tear through the paper and peel open the top of the box, finding a pair of purple and white skates.

  I gasp, holding them up. I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I am right now.

  I’ve only known Rex for a short time, but he’s become so special to me, and I don’t really know how to express that to him. No words can explain the magnitude of what his efforts mean to me. So I decide to show him. I set the skates down and wrap my arms around his waist, pressing my face to his chest. I breathe him in. Soak up every bit of kindness and love he’s given me today and hold on for dear life.

  “I don’t know what to say,” I mumble, pressing my lips above his heart.

  No guy has ever gone through this much trouble and planning for me, to make me feel so special. What he’s just given me is something I never thought I’d have again: happiness on the day every year when I’m the saddest. There aren’t enough words to thank him for his thoughtfulness, his kindness. No way to express what he means to me. How in such a short time he’s found a way inside the formidable walls of my heart.

  I expected him to be a distraction, and maybe he is since I’ve been obsessing about him rather than staying focused on that letter my father wrote and retrieving my memories. But he’s helping me make new memories and experience all the wonderful things I missed during my childhood. That can’t be all bad.

  “You don’t have to say anything.”

  “You’re taking me roller skating,” I whisper excitedly. “And you bought me purple skates.”

  With a soft touch, he brushes the hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. “It was on your childhood bucket list of birthday parties, and you can’t skate without skates.”

  “You didn’t have to do this.”

  “I wanted to do this. I find myself wanting to a lot of things for you.” A wild grin spreads across his face, and he lowers his head. “And to you,” he adds.

  I smile, feeling the heat spread through my body, wrapping itself around my soul like a warm blanket on cool winter night.

  “Thank you.”

  He presses a lingering kiss to my lips. “No thanks needed. We have this place to ourselves for the next two hours. What do you say we skate?” He holds his hand out to me, and I slip my fingers in his.

  “I’ve never been skating before.”

  “Never?”

  I shake my head.

  I can see it in his eyes, the question written across his face. What happened to you after your mother’s death? What else have you missed out on?

  But he doesn’t ask, and I’m grateful because I’m not ready to tell him. Not here. Not on such a perfect day.

  Today I want it to be us, surrounded by laughter and fun.

  I can always tell him another day.

  And I will.

  Soon.

  “I suck at this,” I say, toppling to my ass for the thousandth time. My butt hurts, and I probably won’t be able to sit for days, but I’ve had so much fun.

  Rex, pro skater that he is, whirls around, stopping in front of me. He offers a hand to help me up, but when I stand, I fall against his chest.

  “You’ll get the hang of it,” he says. “You just need a little more practice.”

  I glare up at him, trying to stand straight without falling, and blow a chunk of hair out of my face. “I’m starting to doubt you.”

  “Don’t ever doubt me. You’ll get it. You’re already doing so much better than you were in the beginning.”

  “If by better you mean I’m only falling five times with each pass around the rink rather than twenty, then yes, I guess you’re right.”

  “Come on, let’s do this next lap together.” Rex straightens his arms, holding them out toward me. He’s been trying to hold my hand all day, but I’m a stubborn woman and have refused any help, insistent that I can do this on my own. But maybe being on my own isn’t such a good idea. Maybe it’s time I let someone else help for once.

  I can’t think of anyone better than Rex.

  I rest my hands in his, gripping them lightly as he begins skating backward. My legs wiggle and wobble, but with Rex holding on, I know I won’t fall.

  “Isn’t that hard? Skating backward?”

  “Not so much.”

  “It’s not fair,” I say, tightening my grip as my right leg gets too far ahead of my left, threatening to send me to the ground. “You can skate circles around me and go backward, and I can’t master forward.”

  “That’s why I bought you skates. We’ll come back as often as you want and practice.”

  “Really? You’d do that for me?”

  His face sobers, his eyes holding mine as we scoot slowly around the room. “Sweet girl, can’t you see? I’ll do anything for you.”

  As soon as the words leave his mouth, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” filters through the speakers. Neither one of us says another word. As Poison serenades, we make our way around the rink, laughing and giggling. Rex keeps me from falling, and when we make it to the entrance, he guides me to the half wall, and I hold on as I step over the ledge.

  “Done already?” he asks. “We still have twenty minutes.”

  “My thighs feel like I ran a hundred miles, which means I’ve burned a ton of calories, which means I need to eat this entire cake.”

  “Well, then,” he says, chuckling. “By all means, let’s eat the cake.”

  Lucky for us, the workers at The Great Skate have cut the cake, saving the biggest corner piece with the most icing just for me. I grab a fork and am about to dig in when Rex takes the utensil from my hand.

  “Hey! I hope you know what you’re doing, keeping a girl from her cake.”

  “Just wait.” He runs toward the front desk and comes back a moment later to stick a candle in the cake. He lights it and sits down next to me. “Make a wish, Shae.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut and wish with every cell in my body, on every star in the night sky and the very candle in front of me, and then I blow it out.

  Removing the candle, Rex tosses it to the side and hands me my fork.

  “Aren’t you going to ask what I wished for?”

  “Nope,” he says around a bite of cake. “Don’t you know you’re not supposed to tell or it won’t come true?”

  “What would you say if I told you I wished for you?”

  Swallowing, Rex licks his lips and scoops a chunk of cake, holding it to my mouth. I wrap my lips around the fork as he slowly pulls it out.

  “You already have me, so I’d say you wasted a wish.”

  “Well, then it’s a good thing I didn’t wish for you.”

  Scooping another bite of cake, Rex gives me a smug smile, pulls back on the tip of his plastic fork, and next thing I know, a blob of purple icing smacks against my face.

  Eyes wide, I bust up laughing. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

  “Believe it,” he says, swiping a piece off the tip of my nose and popping it in his mouth.

  He reaches for his drin
k, and I use the distraction to my advantage. He sputters, nearly choking on his soda when a slab of icing hits his cheek.

  Without hesitation, he grabs his cake and smashes it against my face, smearing it in. I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe, but I manage to reach for my cake. His hand snaps out, shoving my plate away from me, and he engulfs me in his arms, tickling me as I squirm around, trying to break free.

  “Uncle,” I yell, trying to catch my breath from laughing. “I call uncle.”

  He stops tickling me, but his warm arms stay wrapped tight. Dipping his head, he licks a blob of icing from the side of my mouth, and then his sugar-coated tongue tangles with mine. I moan as the sweet taste erupts in my mouth. His scent is intoxicating. Fisting his shirt at his waist, I pull him as close as our chairs will allow. His hands glide down my back. Palming my ass, he lifts me up onto his lap. His erection pushes against my core, and it feels so good. I grind my hips, and a low growl rumbles from his chest. I can’t take it anymore. I need him.

  Now.

  “Take me home, Rex.” I should be embarrassed at how husky my voice sounds, but my body craves his, and it’s a craving I can’t resist. “I want you to make love to me,” I whisper.

  His grip on my waist tightens. “Well, first we’re gonna fuck. Then I’ll make slow, sweet love to you.”

  I swing open the front door of Vault, not at all surprised that it’s unlocked. Rex told me he’s in his office almost every day from eight until two, working on orders and managing the books. He also said I should stop by anytime I’m in the area. Therefore, I don’t feel bad about making an impromptu trip across town to run a few menu options by him for the anniversary party. Earlier in the week we settled on a date, and after his insistence that I make choices as I see fit, I’ve already booked a caterer and ordered the tables, chairs, and linens, as well as the drapes that will be used as walls. Essentially, I’m turning the inside of Vault into a beautiful, outdoor oasis. If you didn’t know you were in a club, you’d think you were standing in a gorgeous white tent in the middle of an open field. At least that’s the vibe I’m aiming for.

  Vault looks different in the daylight, without the colorful glow of strobes dancing across the room. I close my eyes, remembering the lights that twirled around Rex and me at the skating rink last week. For as long as I live, I’ll never forget what he did for me that day, which was so much more than fulfilling a childhood dream. He gave me hope.

  Hope that I can live a normal life.

  Hope that there are still good, decent people in the world.

  Hope for happiness.

  And most importantly, hope for love.

  I’ve held on to that hope—letting it guide me through each day, through every text and phone conversation with Rex, a reminder of how far I’ve come—and today, it has guided me here. With a deep breath, I open my eyes and finish taking in my surroundings.

  Dark wood covers the floor. High tables with matching wooden chairs are scattered along the back wall while thick, tan leather booths line the side walls. A decent-sized stage is set up in the corner, and the entire middle of the club is open and ready for the next wave of writhing bodies.

  But the best part about the club, in my opinion, are the exposed beams that run the length of the ceiling. They give Vault a rustic sort of country feel, and I’m going to use that for the party.

  “Good morning, Shae.”

  I spin around to find Dante striding across the floor. He looks different than last time I saw him. Gone are the sharp clothes, designed to impress, and in their place are a pair of low-slung sweats and a black T-shirt. He looks younger today, more carefree.

  “Good morning. You look happy.”

  “What man wouldn’t be happy to see such a beautiful woman?” He walks up and engulfs me in a bear hug.

  “Get your dirty hands off my girl.” Now Rex is walking across the dance floor. The easy smile on his face does not match the menace in his voice, and Dante chuckles. I smile back at Rex. Without releasing me, Dante spins around to face his brother, and I squeal as my feet are lifted from the ground.

  “What did you expect? Girls flock to me, you know that. Look, your girl won’t let go,” he teases, tightening his hold when I try to break free.

  And did I just giggle?

  Rex steps around Dante to look at me. At the sight of his soulful brown eyes, I can finally breathe again, and I’m certain the smile on my face matches his.

  “I should’ve warned you about my brother.”

  “I resent that,” Dante quips.

  “That’s okay,” I assure him. “I like him. He’s funny, and I can use more humor in my life.”

  “Hear that, Rex?” Dante goads. “Your girl wants me in her life.”

  Whatever comeback I had dies on my tongue when Rex brushes his lips across mine.

  “Did you two just kiss? Because that’s where I draw the line.” Dante sets me on my feet, and I laugh, smoothing out my shirt.

  “I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything okay?” Rex asks.

  “Oh. Uh, you said to stop by anytime.” I hold up the folder in my hand. “I was hoping to finalize the menu for the party, but if this isn’t a good time—”

  “It’s a perfect time.” He glances down at his watch. “But I have a phone call scheduled with my beer rep in five minutes. Can you hang around for a little while?”

  “Yeah, absolutely.”

  “I’ve got nothing,” Dante offers. “I can finalize the menu.”

  Rex lifts a brow. “Perfect. For once, my brother is being useful.”

  “Fuck off.”

  They share a laugh, and I hand Dante the file. He lays it open on the bar and starts flipping through the papers.

  “I don’t care who finalizes it,” I say.

  “Good.” Rex kisses my cheek. “Stick around, and after the meeting we can grab lunch.”

  “I’d love that.”

  “I have some of your birthday cake left over in my refrigerator—”

  Dante makes a gagging noise. “Get out of here. You’re going to be late for your phone call.”

  With a final peck on my cheek, Rex crosses the floor and disappears around the corner. I turn toward Dante. One hand propped on the bar, the other looking through the folder, he’s whistling an unidentifiable tune.

  “What’s her name?” I ask, pulling up a barstool so I can sit down.

  Dante grins, his eyes still scanning a paper. “Fiona.”

  I open my mouth to ask what happened to Felicity, but he shakes his head.

  “And that’s all I’m going to tell you, so don’t even think about it. This,” he says, tapping the folder, and changing the subject, “is impressive.”

  I’ve got everything for the party sorted and color coded, along with a final spreadsheet of prices.

  “I didn’t realize how much goes into throwing an anniversary party,” he says, shaking his head.

  “It’s been surprisingly easy. The Ambrosi name must be wildly popular around here.”

  Dante freezes, a paper gripped between his fingers, and he looks up at me, his smile gone. “Why do you say that?”

  “I—” I shake my head. “I didn’t mean anything bad by it. I just meant it should’ve been more difficult to book some of these vendors on such short notice, but as soon as I mentioned who the party was for, most people were bending over backward to accommodate me.”

  He nods, his eyes darting to something over my shoulder. “You don’t know who my parents are?”

  “No. Rex has told me a little bit about them, but not much.”

  “Probably for the best,” he says, his eyes finding mine. “My father can be…difficult. It’s probably a good thing we’re having the party here. This way Rex and I can escape to our offices if we need a break.”

  Cocking my head to the side, I ask, “Why would you need to escape your parents’ anniversary party?”

  I can’t put my finger on it, but something flickers behind Dante’s eyes. Does h
e regret his words? Or maybe he wants to tell me more? For whatever reason, it seems he can’t.

  Or won’t.

  The uncertainty behind his gaze disappears. “I bet you have great parents,” he says smoothly. “They probably tucked you in every night and went to all of your little league games. I bet they call at the same time every week just to check on you.”

  If you only knew.

  I’m usually good about staying tight-lipped, but this time I give Dante a fraction of the truth.

  “That depends on which family you’re asking about. My biological parents, yes, they were perfect. At least in my eyes.” Others might not feel the same way. “Unfortunately, they died when I was a young. My adoptive parents, now that’s a story for another day, and yes, I would need time away from their party. But I highly doubt I would’ve been invited to begin with.”

  The air around us is calm, much different than the war raging inside of me. I’ve never spoken ill of my adoptive parents out loud, and it feels good. So damn good. Like a weight has been lifted. The way they treated me is a burden I’ve carried for years. Not even Erin and JJ know how horrible the Blacks were. For the longest time, I felt bad that I hated them because they’d given me safety when I should’ve been dead. But when they walked out on me on my eighteenth birthday, I let whatever guilt I had go.

  “I’m sorry,” Dante whispers. “About your parents. That must’ve been hard, losing them as a child. I might have issues with my parents, but at least they’re here, and they care…in their own unique way.”

  “Shae?”

  Dante and I turn at the sound of Rex’s voice. He’s standing in the mouth of the hallway, hands stuffed in his pockets, and I wonder how much of my conversation with his brother he heard.

  “Can I borrow you for a second?” he asks.

  “Yeah, sure.” Glancing at Dante, I nod toward the bar. “Pick out which menu options you like, and I’ll make it happen.”

  He smiles. “I will.”

  I slide off my stool and make my way across the floor.

  “Shae?”