“Never mind, Taylor, I’m needed at home. Have a good night.”
“Same to you, Ashton.”
Climbing out, I jog the few steps from the limousine to the hotel entrance, where the door is opened for me, and I step inside with a smile and a nod to this evening’s doorman. The hotel lobby is vast and lavishly decorated in a gold and black theme. It’s grand and over-the-top and a very precise representation of its pompous owner, Arthur Bishop.
“Ashton,” Andrew calls, catching my eye as I walk past the front desk.
“Evening, Andrew, what can I do for you?” I ask. He’s one of the few employees at the hotel who doesn’t call me sir or Mr. Cole, like I’m somehow superior to them. It made me cringe every time when we first moved in. I was a kid from Brooklyn, and it didn’t feel right being treated as if I was royalty just because my mother married a rich guy, and the feeling hasn’t changed overtime; I’ll always be a kid from Brooklyn.
“Arthur Bishop dropped this off for you,” he explains, handing over a manila file.
Blood running cold, I take it from him as my heart tries to escape my chest. “Did he go up?” I ask, trying like hell to keep my tone calm. A desperation is coursing through me—rage, and a protective need to find my mom and brother.
“No. He’s in the lobby bar last I saw.”
It takes all my effort not to look that way. I can almost feel his cunning smile and triumphant gaze watching me from across the hotel. I let out the breath I was unaware of holding. “Do me a favor, Andrew? Call if he does come up please, so I can get my family out of the way before he arrives.”
“Certainly, Ashton. I’ll be sure to warn you.”
“Much appreciated,” I reply, patting him on the back. “Have a good night.”
Walking away, I head for the elevator which will deliver me to the penthouse, the door opening as I arrive. Stepping inside, I pull my phone from my dark jeans and bring up Grayson’s thread.
Me – Did you know the king of hell is in the lobby bar? We need to make sure the bastard can’t come up whenever he pleases.
I wait for the three dots to appear to tell me he’s replying, but they never do, and when the doors open up to the apartment, I call his name to receive no answer too.
“He’s not here,” Josh says as I walk into the family room to find my brother and mom watching a movie. I can almost pretend we are back in our poky little home in Brooklyn… if I ignore the ridiculously sized TV and state-of-the-art sound system. “Thought he was out with you.”
“He was,” I mumble, bringing up my phone again.
Me – Where are you, Gray?
“What do you have there, Ash?” my mom asks.
I eye the file. “Nothing for you to worry about,” I answer, my attention returning to the phone as three dots appear.
“Come watch the movie with us?” my mom continues.
Glancing up, I offer her a smile. She looks the best she has since the whole Arthur mess; I hope it stays that way. “I will, Mom. Just got to sort a couple of things first.”
Leaving them too it, I head to Arthur’s office, which I suppose is mine and Grayson’s now.
Grayson – Found myself some entertainment on the way home and l already put a clause in the paperwork. Dude, try not to worry. He does after all own the hotel.
Me – I’d like to take that from him too.
Grayson – I’ve been courting that insanity for years. Gonna need some serious dirt to take his company off him, Ash.
Me – Don’t kill my dreams, bro!
Grayson – LMFAO
Me – Are you coming home then or are you balls deep in some chick?
Grayson – A gentleman never tells.
I snort. Me – Since when are you a gentleman, Dark Prince?
The three tiny dots appear and disappear twice, before I give up and decide to open the file Arthur left. I immediately recognize what they are—divorce papers. The fact the asshole has dropped them off at the hotel instead of going through our lawyer just adds to his A-hole status.
“Fucking cunt,” I swear, scanning through the pitiful proposal. If you think we’re agreeing to this, you’ve got a big shock coming.
My phone finally pings.
Grayson – Sorry, I got a little distracted by pussy… Can we finish this convo 2moro, Ash?
Me – You’re gross, man! Try not to catch some nasty disease! And get home early. Your father’s dropped off some papers for us to send back to him in pieces.
Grayson – He’ll get what’s coming to him, Ash. See you in the morning.
Sticking the file into the safe, I return to my brother and mom, slumping into the space beside my mother and leaning my head on her shoulder, snagging a handful of popcorn from the bowl in her lap.
“How you are feeling, Ma?” I ask gently.
“Like it’s good to have my boys to myself.”
Sitting up a touch, I press a kiss to her cheek. “Missed you.”
She pats my knee. “You shouldn’t stay out so much then.” She laughs. “Where’s Grayson?”
“Out with some girl. You don’t want to know.”
“How about you? Isn’t there some girl waiting on you?”
Rose fills my mind and I instantly feel like shit for leaving her alone. “I haven’t got time for girls, Mom.”
Sighing heavily, my mom is quiet for a few beats before she takes my hand and squeezes. “You’re doing a great job of taking care of this family, Ash, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, okay?”
And I’d love nothing more than to agree with her, but the mother next to me hasn’t been present in a while, and she doesn’t understand what it takes to make sure we are all going to be okay. I’ve wished for my dad so much over the last few weeks. His help. His guidance. Hell, just a pat on the back would do. But he’s gone and as much as my mother means well, I don’t have such luxuries.
“I’m okay, Mom,” I lie. Because the truth is, I’d love nothing more than to go back to Rose’s apartment and slide into her bed for the night. To beg her to take me back and tell her how stupid I was for being hurt over her releasing the video.
But my needs and wants don’t come first. I am the head of my family, and while Arthur Bishop sits downstairs at the bar, I’ve got no choice but to stay right here, ready to kick the fucker out.
Chapter 22
Rose
Opening my eyes, I stare at Grayson Bishop asleep in my bed. He’s so much softer, younger, alluring, when asleep. There’s no shield between him and the world, no defenses or plot in play. It’s him stripped bare, open, raw for me to see. It’s terrifying… nice… dangerous… but mostly terrifying. Because this Grayson could make me fall so easily, and the last thing I need is to give my heart to two boys at the same time. Brothers at that. Hell, that shit will get messy fast.
He shifts, breathing quickening as he opens his eyes. Dark pools of deepest chocolate watch me as his cheeks crease into the gentlest of smiles. “Hey,” he breathes. “Are you feeling better?”
Nodding, I study his face. Aware of how close we are, the heat of him sinks into my bones, warming me from within. As he held me last night, let me break apart and fall, it finally sank in that Grayson isn’t like this with other girls. It scares me, but not for me… him. Because my heart already belongs to another, and the last thing I want to do is hurt Gray. I trust him, care for him enough that I let my walls down around him and showed him all my broken parts, and he’s still here, smiling at me like I’m the sun after a never-ending storm.
Dangerous, my mind whispers. This is dangerous. And yet after weeks of longing for Ash, after carrying guilt and betrayal and rage, it’s a relief to experience something other than those emotions.
“Do you want to go out for breakfast?”
Yes… no….
But before I can answer, three loud raps sound at my door and my mother hollers my name. Grayson’s eyes widen comically as he shoots upright, his expression fearful, and it’s such an amu
sing sight that I have to slap a hand over my mouth to contain the laughter inside me.
“This is not funny,” Grayson mouths.
“It is a little,” I reply, pinching the air with my thumb and forefinger. “All right, Mother, give it a rest,” I call when she shouts my name again.
“Why is this door locked?” she demands.
Eyeing Grayson, I whisper, “Grab your clothes and stay in my bathroom. I’ll get rid of her. Don’t panic.”
“Is she likely to castrate me?” he hisses.
My lips widen. “Don’t worry, Gray. I’ll protect your precious goods.”
Hopping out of the bed, he grabs his clothes from the floor and dashes into the bathroom, closing the door behind himself with a soft click. Huffing out a breath, I head for my door and unlatch the lock, standing back as my mother barges into the room. Her eyes dart here and there, taking in my bed before landing finally on me.
“You look a state.”
“So lovely to see you too, Mother,” I answer, sarcasm dripping off my every word. “Now do me a favor and bugger off.”
She tuts at my words but doesn’t comment. “Why was the door shut?”
“I don’t know. Must have locked it when I stumbled in drunk.”
She studies my face. “Rose, I’ve never commented on the parties or the drinking before, but I feel it’s my duty as your mother to mention that it’s getting a bit much.”
“Duly noted.” I smirk.
“You came home early last night. Why?”
“Checking up on me, are you?”
“I’m your mother, Rose.”
Yeah, if you say so. “What does it matter?”
“I’m just making sure you didn’t leave because of some boy and bring him back here.”
I close my arms, my face hardening as I attempt to contain my annoyance. “And if it was the one specific boy you asked me to please, would that be a problem?”
“Rose, I told you to befriend him, not bring him home and sleep with him.”
“Whatever,” I rasp. I eye the door. “We done here? If it’s all the same to you, I’ve a killer hangover and I’d very much like to go back to bed.”
“No, we are not done,” she snaps. “The concierge told me Grayson Bishop was here last night.”
My stomach flips. Those fuckers. But I don’t allow my apprehension to show on my face. I’m the master of indifference, and I also have the perfect line of conversation that will have my mother running from the apartment faster than I can speak.
“So what? Gray brought me home, yes, and do you know why? Because it was my father’s fucking birthday yesterday, and I couldn’t stand to be at that party a moment longer, so he took me home.”
She sucks in a breath, but I’m not done.
“Yeah, you forgot, didn’t you? You know, I’m beginning to think that you never loved him at all, and I’ll let you in on a little secret, Mother. The reason I look like shit is because I cried myself to sleep last night.”
Taking a step back, my mother grips the door as she studies me, emotion playing over her face. It shouldn’t, but the sight of her dismay has a smile gracing my lips.
“I’m sorry,” she finally squeaks.
I wave her away. “Can I go back to bed now?”
“Yes,” she answers softly. “I’ve got a meeting this morning, so I’ll be out.”
Turning my back to her, I trudge toward my bed. I was in good spirts when I woke, but she’s draining the life out of me; she’s good at that.
“It’s with Elizabeth Moor,” she continues.
Flopping down on the mattress, I mumble my response into the sheets. “Wonderful, I can ditch Declan now.”
“Actually,” she says, her voice stronger, “I haven’t acquired the event yet, so I’d rather you not upset her son just yet, Rose.”
Rolling over, I lean up on my elbows, anger renewed. “You’re kidding, right? The guy makes my skin crawl, Mum.”
“It’s just a few more days, week tops.”
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I narrow my eyes. “Get out! You’re so bloody classy, mother. One minute you’re berating me on my drinking habits and who I bring home, the next you’re forcing me to spend time with a boy I detest. So next time you feel the urge to lecture me, how about you don’t?”
“Rose….” Her words trail off.
Yeah, nothing to say to the horrid truth, is there?
“Go to your meeting, Violet. I’ve become rather tired of this conversation, but when this all goes tits up, remember, I did warn you.”
“I’m only asking you to be his friend, just until Elizabeth can see what I can do for her. We need this…. I need this.”
“Declan isn’t interest in being my friend, Mother.”
“Play hard to get, it’s only a week.”
Her heels click as she retreats, and I fall back onto my bed with a sigh, leaving her with one more parting gift. “Keep telling yourself that. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
The apartment door slams on her exit, vibrating through the apartment, and a moment later, Grayson is crawling on the bed next to me; I’d forgotten he was in the bathroom for a second.
“I knew it was your mother forcing you to talk to that dick,” he says, pulling the arm I have pressed over my face away. “I can find dirt on him, Rose, you don’t have to do that to yourself. It’s what I’m for.”
“It’s only another week, Gray. Just forget you heard any of that. I don’t need people to fight my battles.”
“It isn’t your battle. It’s your mother’s.”
“Pen was at me to bring the football players back to our group anyway. Giving Declan my attention has fixed that problem too.”
“So would giving Ashton your attention. He is the captain.”
“Ashton isn’t going to fawn all over me like Declan. If it was that easy to fix us, I’d have done that already.”
He falls onto the bed beside me, matching my position. “I was sure he’d come up with you last night. Guy’s an idiot.”
“He wanted to, but he also didn’t want us to do something we might regret in the morning. There’s a lot of shit in our way, Gray. It’s not as simple as falling into bed with one another.”
He rolls his eyes. “Well, it should be.”
Sitting up, laughter bubbles out of me. “Of course, you’d think that. You solve all your problems with your dick.”
He grabs his junk, smirking. “Want me to solve your bad mood with it?”
“I need a shower,” I say instead of answering him, jumping up off my bed.
“Great, I’ll join you.”
Turning in the doorway of my bathroom, I pause, grasping the door with one hand and the frame with the other. Grayson’s face is alight with mischief, but though he said the words, I can tell he’s joking. We’ve moved passed casual sex; there’s too much unsaid emotion between us.
“Coffee would be great,” I reply sweetly.
“Not sure why I was worried your mother would castrate me. You’ve already done the job,” he mutters, turning on his heels and exiting my bedroom.
Laughing, I close and lock my bathroom door, before starting the shower and getting in. And though my mother had shattered my good mood with her unreasonable demands, Grayson has somehow managed to make me smile despite that. A feat I wouldn’t have thought possible months ago.
***
Refreshed and dressed for the day, I leave my bedroom to the amazing smell of coffee and find Grayson in the kitchen his own mug at his lips.
“Coffee as requested,” he purrs with a sweep of his arm. “Do not breathe a word of this to anyone. Grayson Bishop does not run around after girls.”
I cock my head, lips pursing. “No? Just me then?”
He smiles. “Just my friends.”
A knock at the door interrupts us. My head whips towards it before swiveling back to Grayson.
“Shall I hide?” he asks.
“Na. My mother won’t be home for hour
s and she has a key. Besides, we aren’t doing anything wrong.”
Heading to the door, I open it to find a man I vaguely recognize waiting with a brown paper bag in one hand and a milkshake in the other. The smell of food hits me, before I register it, he’s passing them over to me.
“Rose?”
“Y-Yes,” I reply, taking the milkshake and bag with a frown. “What’s this?”
“Ashton asked me to—”
“Taylor?” Grayson opens the door wider, coming to stand at my side.
“Oh… erm… Master Bishop, I….” Taylor clears his throat. “Ashton asked me to bring Rose breakfast,” he eventually clarifies.
Grayson eyes the bag and milkshake, then Taylor, and I can’t decide if he’s annoyed or not.
“I hope that was okay, sir?” Taylor adds.
“Yes, yes, fine. Actually, can you wait downstairs? I’ll be along shortly.”
“Certainly, sir.” Taylor studies me. “Miss Rose.” He nods, before departing.
Closing the door, I eye Grayson and then give in to the temptation and open the brown bag. A smile spreads over my face, my heart kicking up a beat. Taking a long drag on the milkshake, I moan with pleasure, wandering back to the kitchen to take a seat.
“Guess I won’t be taking you out for breakfast now. He’s beaten me to it.”
Splitting open the bag, I take in the pancakes Ashton had Taylor pick up from Brooklyn and brought to me. It would have been even better to have Ashton bring me breakfast himself, but I’m not going to complain. What he’s done is pretty sweet.
“Sorry, Gray, we can go another time if you like?”
“Yeah sure,” he mumbles. There’s no mistaking the telltale signs of disappointment on his face.
“Wanna share?” I ask, hoping to lighten the mood.
He eyes me, then the food, focusing on the restaurant’s logo. “That place is in Brooklyn, right?”
“Yeah,” I answer, sticking a mouthful of pancakes into my mouth. They aren’t as hot as they normally are but are still delicious. “It’s the place we used to eat at as kids.”
His face falls neutral. “I sometimes forget there’s so much history between you two.”
I shrug. “Not all of it is good.”
The Resurrection of Us: A High School Bully Romance (Albany Nightingale Duet Book 2) Page 11