It took longer for the girls who swarmed on the periphery of Lucas and his entourage’s orbit to realize that trying to drape themselves over me was the last way to get my brother’s attention, but they got the message eventually.
Birthdays were a lot more fun before Lucas hit the big time, and we’d score illegal booze and get drunk in Will’s parents’ pool house.
For the last forty minutes, Caleb and I have been keeping a group of magnificent potted palms company, and once I’ve finished this beer I’m gone.
Mackenzie comes up to us, a look of thunder on her face, and my protective instincts leap into overdrive. No one upsets my little sister.
“What’s up?” I ask her. She’s been flirting all night with Lucas’s mates, plus some celebs he’s friends with, but I didn’t see anyone harassing her. Not only can Mac take care of herself, but who’d be mad enough to try anything on, when Lucas and I would rip them limb from limb?
“I can’t believe what a total tosser Will is.”
“What’s he done to you?” Caleb sounds more animated than he has all night. Although if he seriously thinks Will’s made a move on Mac, he’s drunker than I thought.
Mackenzie scowls at him. “Nothing. He’s currently snogging his third different girl tonight.”
“Huh.” Caleb backs off, apparently satisfied. I give a snort of laughter.
“You know what he’s like. He’s even worse than Lucas.”
She presses her lips together. “He didn’t used to be such a man whore.”
“Sure he did.” I finish my beer. “What’s your problem, anyway?”
“I don’t have a problem.” She sweeps her gaze around the party before zeroing back onto me. “Why didn’t you bring Alice?”
Part of me isn’t surprised by her question, but I have no clue how to answer her, as Alice still seems keen to keep the fact we’re dating a secret. I’m guessing it’s because her mum wouldn’t approve.
“Why would he bring Alice?” Caleb frowns. “That was just a one-night thing for work.”
Mackenzie groans. “You’re both so clueless it’s painful.”
Caleb rounds on me. “Have you been seeing Alice this week?”
I shrug, cornered. “What if I have?”
This appears to leave him momentarily speechless. Which is more than it does with Mac.
“Yes.” She gives a little victory dance. “I knew it. You two are made for each other.”
“Yeah, but,” Caleb says, then pauses, as though that’s the extent of his objection.
“Don’t go telling people. She doesn’t want everyone at work knowing.”
Mac does an elaborate crossing her heart and slitting her throat gesture. “When are you taking her to meet Dad?”
“Jesus, Mac. Give me a chance.” It hadn’t even crossed my mind. Why would she want to meet my dad already? How long do you date before taking your SO back to meet the parents? Sure, I’ve met her mum, but that was accidental and I don’t think it went too well.
“It’ll make his year, knowing you’re seeing someone like Alice.”
“That’s true,” Caleb says, which earns him a scowl from me. “It’s not like Lucas is ever gonna take a girl back home, is it?”
“Just. Stop.” For the first time, I see the merit in Alice wanting to keep things between the two of us. “It’s not happening, okay?”
I place my empty glass on the edge of the concrete palm pot, but before I can tell Caleb we’re leaving, and ask if Mac wants a lift, Lucas and Will stumble up to us, their arms slung around each other’s necks.
“What’re you hiding over here for?” Will disengages from Lucas and sways in front of us, apparently oblivious to the filthy glare Mac shoots his way. “D’you know how many girls you’ve scared off tonight?”
I assume he’s referring to me, although he appears to direct his comment to both me and Caleb.
“Here’s a thought, Will,” Mac says before I can respond. “Some guys are capable of a deep and meaningful relationship that lasts longer than a pint does.”
What the fuck? If she mentions Alice—
“Yep, but not on my watch.” Lucas grins before wrapping his arms around her and giving her a bear hug. “Cheer up. Do you want to know whose heart you’ve broken tonight? Brace yourself. Heath Granger.”
The name means nothing to me, but Mackenzie gasps and Will grimaces as though he’s just thrown up in his mouth.
“And who the fuck is Heath Granger?” Caleb sounds pissed off.
“Do you even live in this century?” Mac laughs, her cloud of gloom vanishing. “He’s the new hot star of Dominion Drive.”
Caleb and I exchange glances. Even we, who have lived the last six years in the Plains of Exitium, have heard of that infamous daily soap.
As Mackenzie proceeds to regale Caleb as to the latest salacious episodes involving Heath Granger, Lucas punches me on the arm. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
I shrug. “It’s not like the old times.”
“Nah.” He glances at the party, which is in full swing. “But this won’t last forever. Might as well make the most of it.”
“That’s philosophical.”
“Coming from me, you mean?”
I did mean that, but something in his tone stops me from agreeing. “Everything all right, Lucas?”
“Yeah, I’m great.” He pauses and we both glance at our sister, where Mac is explaining to a morose Caleb how amazing Heath is, and Will looks like he’s about to fall asleep standing up. “Thing is, I thought it was serious between you and Alice.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I know. It was just a YouTube thing, but that kiss, man. It looked fucking real to me.”
Irritation prickles along my skull. “Of course it was fucking real. It wasn’t digitally manipulated.”
“So, you’re not seeing her?”
Why the hell is everyone so interested in my love life tonight?
Because it’s the first time I’ve had one in six years?
Inevitably, that reminds me how things finished between Clare and me, and even though it wasn’t my brother’s fault, it’s something we’ve never been able to discuss between us.
“We see each other at work every day.” Not a lie. Yet not the truth. But this thing with Alice is too new to share with Lucas—my twin who, before Clare, I held no secrets from.
“Okay.” There’s a brooding expression on his face that is so unlike my brother it’s unnerving. Thank God my phone buzzes with a text from Alice.
Shore Park?
I haven’t been to a theme park since I was a kid. I can’t hide my grin as I text back.
Pick you up at 8?
…
With the help of the GPS, we arrive at the park the following morning without any drama. After I park and we get out of the car, I wrap Alice in my arms and swing her around in a hug. We didn’t even kiss when I picked her up from her house, in case her mum was watching through the windows.
She laughs. “Missed me, did you?”
“You have no idea.”
She loops her arm through mine as we stroll toward the entrance of the park. “What’s Hydra like, then?”
I hide my surprise at her question. I didn’t think she was interested, since she didn’t mention it earlier. We spent the entire journey talking about the logistics involved in relocating Blitz and the possibility of Charlie starting next week, so Alice can show him the ropes personally.
“It’s…big.”
“Big?” She scoffs, clearly unimpressed by my description. “Is that it?”
I rack my brains to think of something she’d find interesting. “Heath Granger was there.”
“Wow. Really? What’s he like?”
I shrug. “Dunno. I didn’t talk to him.”
“Oh.” We reach the gates, and I brace myself for a tussle when Alice pulls out her wallet to pay. It’s not that I have a macho chip on my shoulder about it; it’s because I know she’s saving for university
and although money was never an issue while I was growing up, I do know what it’s like trying to save for a dream. Dad never understood the concept of Exitium and refused point blank to help out financially.
Not that I ever asked him. I just knew.
My argument dies when she waves a couple of prebooked tickets in my face. “It’s cheaper buying online.”
The park is surrounded by water, and as we walk across the bridge I’m relieved a coffee place is right up ahead, since I’m dying from caffeine deprivation.
“Was anyone else famous there?”
We reach the cafe and I hold open the door for her. “Yeah, it was packed.” I had no idea she was interested in celebrity gossip. I should’ve taken more notice. “Actors, sports stars. Models.”
“Sounds like it was fun.”
I don’t think fun’s the word I would’ve used. “I bet you had more fun last night than I did.”
Not that I have any idea what she did, but even watching paint dry would’ve been preferable. At least I could’ve heard myself think doing that.
“I wouldn’t bank on it. We went to a local club, but one of Hannah’s friends threw up in the loo, so we had to leave.”
As we find a table and sit down, I give her a sideways glance. Weird, I never thought she was into clubbing before. “We could make up for it tonight. Do you want to see if I can hunt down a couple of tickets for Hydra?”
The thought of going back there tonight kills me, but if it’ll give Alice a thrill then what the hell. It won’t be as bad as last night was without her.
“You’d do that for me?” There’s an odd inflexion in her voice I don’t get, because of course I would.
“Sure. I have contacts.” I grin at her, and she smiles back and takes my hand.
“Thanks. But it’s okay. Clubbing isn’t really my scene.”
Relief floods through me. “Same here.”
...
It’s been ages since I’ve been to a theme park, and I’d forgotten how much I love them. The adrenaline’s pumping, but it’s got more to do with the fact that Alice clings on to me than the gravity-defying rides. We plunge from the top of the drop tower, and with Alice by my side it feels new and crazy, like I’ve never done this before. On the ghost train, she slaps a hand across her eyes and peeks between her fingers, which makes me laugh.
Three hours later, we stagger into the closest food outlet, which happens to sell pizza and pasta and is packed. Alice clutches my arm and grins up at me.
“I’ve not had so much fun in years.”
We join the end of the queue, which is snaking out of the door.
“We used to live in theme parks when we were kids. Lucas and I would dare each other to eat in every outlet and go on every ride until the loser vomited. Good times.”
“I’ve only been to a couple, and that was years ago.”
“It was the highlight of every school holiday. Although I always enjoyed visiting the ancient ruins Mum insisted was essential for our education. Guess even then I was subconsciously hoarding all the experiences to use for Exitium.”
She’s silent as we shuffle closer to the food, and my stomach grumbles.
“I know it happened a long time ago but…” She hesitates for a second, and her cheeks turn pink. “I’m sorry about your mum. I don’t know what I’d do without mine.”
Although I’ve not told her about my mum, it doesn’t surprise me that she knows. It’s mentioned in all the early interviews Lucas gave, and they’re all over the internet. And as we were only nineteen, the press seemed to think it made great copy.
Vultures…
I pull myself back to the present. I never talk about her and don’t know what I’m expected to say. I miss her so fucking much that I try not to think about her? “Thanks.”
“I don’t want you to think I’ve been, like, stalking you online or anything.” Her cheeks are bright red now, and she squeezes my hand. “It’s just, you know—”
“It’s all over the internet.”
“Yes.” She sounds relieved that she doesn’t have to explain it. Not that I expect her to. Why are we even talking about this?
“It’s okay.” I shrug as we edge ever closer to the food.
“It’s sad she didn’t see you become so successful.”
I look at her, and there’s a wistful expression on her face, and the tightness in my chest eases. This is Alice, not some dickish reporter, and don’t people share stuff like this when they’re together?
“I’m not sure she’d consider me that successful.” I give a faint smile that hurts my heart. “She wanted me to follow her into medical science.”
“Not everyone who’s brilliant goes into science.”
I nudge her arm. “Are you calling me brilliant?”
“Yes, I am, because you are.” Her smile dissolves the lingering ache in my chest, and I tug her closer. “And not just because both your parents are professors.”
I like how she uses the present tense, without stumbling over details. “Even if medical research had been my passion, I’m not sure I could’ve followed through after what happened.”
She stares at me, but there’s no inkling that she understands what I mean. And since there’s no way Alice wouldn’t see the irony, she can’t know all the details.
But the details are in all those interviews, in lurid hyperbole.
“What happened?” she whispers.
In five years, I’ve never talked about it. Never needed to. Everyone I hang out with knows what happened. But Alice wasn’t around five years ago, and it doesn’t matter how fucking hard this is. I want her to know. “She was a leading research scientist into brain cancer. We were in Paris—she’d been awarded the European Laureate. It should’ve been the greatest night of her life. Instead, she was hit with meningitis.”
“Oh my God. I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”
She’s so obviously horrified, I kiss her and she winds her arm around me. “It was…brutal.” The images of Mum lying in that hospital bed, unresponsive and fading before our eyes, haunt me. “It all happened so fast. One minute we were all together. The next—it was all over.”
For all the amazing breakthroughs she’d made in understanding one devastating disease of the brain, only to be struck down by another, unrelated, one.
Didn’t make any fucking sense then, and still doesn’t now.
The world might’ve lost an eminent research scientist and humanitarian, but it was our mum who died, and the gaping hole she left behind in our lives will never fully heal.
Alice doesn’t say anything else, just holds me tight, and that’s all I need anyway. When we have our food and find a table, I ask her what I’ve wanted to ask her for the last week.
“Can you stay over tonight?”
Chapter Eighteen
Alice
I agonize over the text I send Mum, letting her know I won’t be back tonight. When I was at school, lots of the girls used to sneak around to meet boys without their parents knowing and thought it was so much fun.
It’s not as though I even need the subterfuge, considering I’m nineteen, but fun is the last way I feel about keeping Mum in the dark. Especially since she’s now broken our unspoken no guys rule.
Except I’m certain Brian’s going to be a permanent fixture in Mum’s life from now on, whereas this thing with Harry has an expiration date of just under two weeks.
It’s not worth the upset of discussing it all with her.
Although I’ve basically stuffed my face all day, he insists on stopping off at a fish and chip shop on the way back to his apartment. As I sort out the food on the breakfast bar, he opens the bottle of wine he bought. He even got me a toothbrush and refused to let me pay since I’d got the tickets.
“Today was really good fun.” I’m not one for selfies usually, but I wanted plenty of photos to go with my memories.
“Yep. You’re full of good ideas.” His grin, as he places two glasses in front of me, is total
ly addictive. Luckily, I caught his dimples on camera a lot today. We clink glasses. “Here’s to plenty more.”
One week and six days remaining. Don’t think about it.
“I’ll drink to that.”
…
It’s early the following morning when warm dreams of being wrapped around Harry merge into hot kisses and silken touches. I stir, my eyes still firmly closed, reveling in the knowledge I’m in his bed, and even after making love twice during the night, he can’t keep his hands off me.
It’s more than just sex. Yeah, sure…I’ll keep that to myself.
He brushes my hair from my face, and his overnight stubble tickles me as he trails kisses from behind my ear, across my jaw, and along my throat. I sigh and turn my head on the pillow, giving him easier access, and his lips tease my breast.
I dig my fingers through his hair, and he manacles my wrist and pins me to the bed. My eyelids fly open and I peer down at him. He gives me a wicked grin and lazily swirls his tongue around my erect nipple.
“Morning, gorgeous.” His voice is husky and so damn sexy I’m hot and needy for him already.
“Morning. What’s this, then?” I waggle my fingers at him. It’s kind of thrilling the way he’s holding my arm in place, even though it wouldn’t take much effort to escape.
He doesn’t answer, just keeps on teasing me until I’m melting. His fingers slide between mine and I grip him tight. I love what his mouth’s doing to me, but there’s something unspeakably romantic about the way we’re holding hands.
If this is the way he likes to wake up in the mornings, I’ll stay every night until I leave for Durham.
That sweet fantasy ripples through my mind, and I stir restlessly. I want to kiss him, want to feel him inside me again. “Harry…” My voice is slurred, but instead of raising his head, he brushes a feather soft kiss right there.
Shock ricochets through me, and I grasp his hair with my free hand. He looks up at me then, and I’m speechless. Because Harry, the sexiest, most gorgeous guy in the world, is naked, between my spread legs, and gazing at me as though he wants to eat me up.
Yes, please.
“If you don’t like it, tell me to stop.”
Cinderella and the Geek (British Bad Boys) Page 15