by G. Bailey
"Okay, no worries. How about I go and cook us some breakfast?" Blake asks, still looking a little worried as he and Izzy share a strange look.
"Thanks, I would like that," I answer, and he kisses Izzy on the head as he walks out.
"You going to tell me the truth, now?" Izzy asks the moment the door shuts.
"No, and please just let me talk to you in my own time. I can't. I just can't," I say, breaking into a sob that I can't control. The last two weeks have been so hard to stay strong and get here. The last week has been a nightmare of finding my way here and making sure I couldn’t be followed. My family must have been so worried when they saw the note I left them. I will call them soon when I can tell them.
Izzy pulls me into her arms and says, “I don’t care why you’re here, but when you’re ready, we will talk because I'm worried. I love you, Tilly, you’re my sister, even if we're not related."
I nod wiping my eyes as I pull away.
"I will, I promise," it's not like I can’t tell her, as in a few months, she will guess. Izzy’s phone rings, and she gets it out of her jean pocket.
“Luke, Tilly is here!” she says when she answers. “You remember Tilly? The girl I grew up with, the one who went to France?” She pauses to listen, then continues, “That’s brilliant, and okay, tell him congrats. Yeah, that’s great.” There’s another small pause before she responds again. “Okay, see you soon and I will, bye,” she says and puts the phone down. “Luke says hi.”
She beams at me. "Look you met Elliot, right? Well, he just got news that he can open his new club this Saturday. Do you want to go? It will be great, and maybe you might meet someone," Izzy says with a wink.
But, the thought of finding anyone at the moment only has the adverse effect of reminding me of my ex. “Sounds good,” I say.
“Let’s go and make sure Blake hasn’t burnt the kitchen down.” She laughs, holding a hand out for me.
Chapter 2
Tilly
When we walk into the kitchen, I’m surprised how modern it is with light-wood cabinets and a massive, kitchen island with stools dotted around it. The appliances all look expensive, too, but my attention is drawn to Harley who is sitting on one of the stools. I watch as he loosens his tie a little and shifts in his seat, almost like he knows I’m looking at him. He is concentrating on his paperwork, so he doesn't notice us come in. I sit on a stool opposite him, and Izzy goes to help Blake with cooking.
Harley slowly looks up, my attention fixated on his dazzling, green eyes. There isn't a touch of any other colour in them, just a pure-light green, and it's fascinating. I always thought Izzy’s eyes were a pretty colour. Apparently, she got that from her father’s side.
"I took your bag up to your room," he tells me after an awkward silence.
"Thanks. I'm still paying rent," I tell him firmly.
"No, you’re not," he replies smoothly, almost like he expected me to say that as he puts his paperwork into his briefcase on the table.
"I am," I mutter louder, and he gives me an amused look.
"You can try, and I will just send it back to you," he smirks leaning back in his chair. Even when he’s clearly challenging me, he is so damn attractive.
Someone clears their throat behind me, and I turn to see Blake handing me a plate. I accept it and see Izzy with a small smile on her face as she brings some sauces over to us.
"Why don't you offer her that part-time, reception job? That way you both win," Blake offers as he walks to his own seat and holds a chair out for Izzy. That’s sweet.
"Thanks, Blake, but I can still pay rent," I say thinking about it. It’s going to be bad enough being around Harley all the time, and I’m likely going to do something stupid like try and kiss him. Or even worse, blurt out how hot he is.
"That could work. I own a local gym, and two days a week I need a receptionist to help out. I would drive you there until you sort a car out,” Harley says.
"Alright. That could work around my other job," I say before thinking about it at all. It was like a natural reflex to say yes to him. I mentally sigh and take a bite of the scrambled eggs on toast. Damn, Blake can cook, lucky Izzy.
"What do you do?" Harley asks standing up and putting his briefcase on one of the counters by the door. I can’t take my eyes off him, and I know I need to. Being attracted to my best friend’s brother isn’t a good idea, at the moment. Plus, if my ex follows me here, I need to leave.
"I'm a book editor, it's a work at home job most of the time. I have a few clients that I'm working with currently," I tell him as he gets a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Impressive for someone your age," he comments, seeming more interested in looking at me, now.
"It's impressive to own a successful business at your age," I compliment him back because it is. He can’t be much older than I am, and he owns his own business as well as looking after his brothers and sister, from what Izzy has told me.
"I have to get to the office, hope you settle in well," he says before walking past me. I swear I feel his fingers lightly touching my back as he passes me, but I could be imagining things. Or hoping.
"I’ll be back tonight, Iz. Are you staying over?" Harley asks from the doorway.
"No, I can't because I have class in the morning, and I can't miss it. I’ll be back tomorrow after class for a few days," she says, turning slightly to wink at me.
"Alright, Luke and I can keep your guest busy, tonight," Harley sighs, sounding like he would rather be doing anything else.
"Forget it, I’m tired. I’ll just go to bed early," I say a little too harshly, and I know it’s not really much to do with him but more of my hate of being in this situation. Harley picks up on my tone straight away and smiles.
"See you tonight, Tilly." With that, he walks out of the room, and we hear the front door shut not long after. Did he not just listen to me?
"You'll like Luke, he has a thing for tattoos, like you," Izzy says around eating her eggs. I remember Izzy telling me that Luke is her younger brother and that the twins, Elliot and Sebastian are only a little older than her.
"I don't have a massive thing for tattoos," I protest.
"You have four, and one is all the way from the top of your back to your bum," she points out, and she is right. That’s my biggest tattoo, and it’s a mixture of small vines and flowers of different colours. It took over a month for them to do, as it’s so detailed. My other tattoos are much smaller, like the one in the middle of my wrist which is a fox, like my last name, Fox. All my siblings have one in the same place, and it only fills me with regret that I couldn’t speak to them before I left. That I couldn’t explain why I need to hide from my ex, their best friend.
"Well, you have one, too," I whisper knowing some of her brothers don’t know Luke did a tattoo on her ribs a while ago.
“What’s your real name? As I’m guessing Tilly is a nickname?” Blake asks as we all finish eating.
“I don’t tell people my name, it’s horrible, so it’s Tilly,” I tell him.
“What happens when you get married? Everyone will hear it, then,” he replies, picking up the empty plates and taking them over to the side.
“It’s not that bad anyway,” Izzy says and laughs when I glare at her.
“It’s horrible, and I’m not getting married anytime soon . . . so no one will know,” I say, making them both laugh.
"Anyway, let me show your room," she says.
I stand up and take my empty plate to Blake as he turns the water on. "Okay," I reply as I smile at my oldest friend. I didn’t realise how much I missed her because she has always been more like a sister to me than a friend. I love my brothers, all three of them, and I’ve felt the same kind of love for Izzy.
Izzy leads me up the giant, wooden stairs and to a long corridor. There are quite a few doors and little personality as it’s all paintings of flowers and beaches by the looks of it. I can see another staircase at the end of the corridor, and I wonder what’s on the next floor. Izzy lea
ds me straight to the right and opens a door. The bed is the first thing I see as it's huge and takes up most of the room with its big, wooden frame, and there is a large wardrobe in the one corner. There's a matching wooden box at the end of the bed and a chest of drawers under the window.
"This one has its own bathroom, so that’s why he gave it to you and not a spare room." Izzy opens the door to show me a small en-suite shower room with a toilet.
"I have to pay rent, now, this room is incredible," I say looking around and seeing the cardboard boxes in the corner with a bed store name on them. The bed must be pretty new.
"Harley is the most stubborn man I've ever met, but what did you think of him?" Izzy asks me, a slightly calculating look running over her face.
“Handsome, smart, and well, kind to invite me here, but he clearly isn't aware of how stubborn I can be," I say as I cross my arms, and Izzy chuckles.
"I guess not," Izzy laughs coming over and going serious for a second. "You sure you’re okay?" she asks as she pulls me into a tight hug.
"I am, now, that's all that matters," I whisper, and I feel her tense pulling back to look at me.
"Right. Well, I have to get back to my apartment to study, so I’ll see you tomorrow?" she asks.
"Tomorrow," I nod. With another hug, she lets me go and shuts the door behind her. Finally, I let the tears fall not because I'm upset but because I know I'm safe, for now.
Chapter 3
Harley
"Elliot, leave," I say as I hold the door to the basement open, and my dad looks over at me as my loud voice echoes around the room. Elliot is twelve fucking years old, and dad is beating the shit out of him. Elliot raises his head off the mat as dad’s fist stops mid-air at my comment, and I know I'm about to get fucking hell for stopping this. They pull apart as dad stands up, as does Elliot but far more scarily. His dark hair is matted to his head with sweat, and blood is pouring out of his nose onto the blue mat on the floor. Elliot's arms hold his chest, and I know I will have to make sure nothing is broken later. I'm sure dads 'training' could have been worse if I hadn’t come back sooner. I only went out on a bloody date for one night. I should have known dad would take the chance to teach them without me here to stop him. He always does this because he knows I will stop him, and then he will have to punish me instead, which I think he is getting bored of doing since I’ve gotten older. And stronger.
"Go on, little boy," dad taunts, walking away as Elliot rushes past me out the door, not making any eye contact. I will have to call the school tomorrow and tell them he isn't coming in for a few days until his ribs, or whatever the fuck else dad has done, have healed. The fact he moved so quickly out of the room gives me hope that nothing is too wrong.
"You never learn, Harley. Always protecting them like the little shit you are," dad says, walking over to me as I shut the door behind me. The last thing I need is for the kids to hear any of this.
Dad grabs his bottle of whatever and drinks a load while he watches me, clearly calculating something.
"Tomorrow, you’re fighting for me. You won't lose," he tells me, before pouring himself another drink.
"What?" I ask in horror as I hope he doesn't think what I think.
"Don't act fucking dumb, Harley. You’re the best I've seen, when you fight those boys I find for you. Your brothers can't last two seconds," he spits out.
"That's because they are against adult men who fight for a living. They are kids, dad. Don’t you give a shit about us?" I shout.
"You will do it, and they will learn," dad shrugs, drinking some more.
“Are you not even going to answer my question? Are we just something to win fights for you in the Cage? Is that the only reason you kept us around after mum left?”
“Don’t talk about that bitch,” he says, throwing his glass into the wall. I don’t even flinch as it smashes.
"Tomorrow," he says walking past me, and the reek of alcohol nearly makes me choke as he walks past. He stops as he opens the door and looks back at me.
"After all, it's your birthday, son. Don’t say I don’t care. I remembered," he chuckles to himself as I hear the door slam behind me, and I pray I make it out alive for no other reason than my brothers need me.
"Man, just go and knock on her door," Luke bumps my shoulder as he carries two pizza boxes into the lounge, and I snap out of the memory. I have no idea why I’m thinking about it, now. Isn’t it bad enough that my memories haunt me when I sleep? I continue to pace, getting more pissed that Tilly hasn't come downstairs since Izzy left earlier today. She must be hungry, and I'm ignoring the part of me that is begging for a chance to stare at her more. The red-haired siren is going to be the death of me, I think as I walk out of the lounge and head upstairs. I stop when I’m standing outside her bedroom, which is opposite mine. I groan internally considering how that was a bad idea to have her so close. I could have given her the guest room next to Izzy, but I'm a selfish bastard who wants to see her first in the morning, even if I can't be the one she wakes up next to. I would be no good for a girl like her. I’m too messed up to offer her anything.
I knock a few times before the door is opened by a freshly showered Tilly. Her red hair is down, and she is wearing a green-silk pyjama shirt and trousers. The colour complements her pale skin and her hair, making her more bloody beautiful. I swear this siren was sent here to tease me.
"Do you need something?" she asks me, raising one perfect eyebrow in suspicion as her eyes drop to my body before meeting my eyes. She, apparently, caught me checking her out. Not that I care if she realises.
"Dinner is here, come downstairs," I reply.
"No." She goes to shut the door, and I stop it with my foot before pushing it open a little more, so I can see her face in the dark room.
"That's rude," I comment, almost amused by her need to get away from me so quickly.
"Me? You didn't say please, so you’re clearly the rude one here," she says, hiding a small smile.
"You must be hungry," I shrug off her comment, not wanting to admit that she might be right.
"Nope, I wouldn't want to bother you," she crosses her arms, making her large chest bounce up. It takes me way too long to pull my gaze up to her eyes, and she glares at me.
"Please come and eat with us. If you don’t, I swear I’ll put you over my shoulder and carry you downstairs," I tell her, meaning every word. I don’t like the idea of her sitting up here hungry and alone.
"You only had to say please," she huffs, slipping past me and walking towards the stairs as I stare at her fantastic ass.
"I don't say please often, siren, you might as well just do as I ask," I say, and she looks over her shoulder at me before she laughs. I really won't ask her nicely again. Clearly, the little siren isn't going to listen to me. I run my hands over my face looking away from Tilly's ass as I try to calm the fucking hard-on I have down. I fucking love it when women don't act like cowards, but I can't have this one. Man, she must be four years younger than me and my sister’s best friend, to boot.
"Well, hello there," Luke says to Tilly as she walks into the lounge. I walk in as he openly checks her out before looking at my face and smartly looking sheepish. I try not to glare at him, but it doesn’t work. I already want to get him to leave, somehow. What the hell is wrong with me?
"You must be Luke," she says before sitting on the opposite sofa to Luke. I don’t even want to admit how relieved I am that she chose not to sit by him. I take the seat next to her despite her glare in my direction.
"You must be Tilly, is that short for anything?" Luke asks, flipping the channel to some music that he likes.
"Maybe, but that's like asking a woman's age, I won't tell you," she jokes, eyeing up the pizza.
"Help yourself, there's a four-cheese pizza and a pepperoni one." I wave a hand.
Luke thinks about what she says before saying, "It can't be that bad of a name."
"It is," she laughs taking three pieces of the four-cheese one, and I help
myself to a mixture of both.
We eat in a comfortable silence before Luke starts asking more questions.
"So, why isn't your family here?"
"It's complicated. We are all moving here in three months anyway. I just needed to leave a little early," she says, shifting slightly in her seat and keeping her face blank. Most people wouldn’t think she was lying. That’s one thing I’ve always been good at; spotting when people lie, and I know the siren is right now.
"Why?" Luke asks not caring how Tilly tenses and looks away.
"She doesn't have to answer that," I point out.
"So, I've eaten, and now, I'm going to bed." Tilly stands and moves surprising quick out of the room. I have to jog to catch her at the end of the stairs.
"Wait," I say, and she halts on the stairs, turning to face me.
"We are going to watch a movie if you want to stay. I promise to stop Luke from being a nosy fucker," I grin. I step a little closer to the stairs, and she watches me as I gently push a stray curl behind her ear and move my hand back, as I realise what I just did. Fuck, I shouldn't have done that. Her impossibly blue eyes widen, and her cheeks flush red.
"I'm tired, so thanks, but goodnight," she stutters some of her words and quickly runs away from me up the stairs.
What the fuck was I thinking standing so close to her or touching her fucking soft hair? I don't do relationships. I walk into the lounge and sit down.
"Bro, she is hot," Luke says, leaning back on the sofa and watching me for some kind of reaction. I look over at him, noticing how he has grown up recently, looking older than I’ve ever seen him.
"Watch it," I say, opening a beer that Luke has on the table.
"You like her," he says, looking a little shocked.
"No, I don't," I end the conversation because, honestly, I need to get her out of my head. She reminds me of things I can't have because of my past, like a happy, normal future.