Page 71 of Reckless
At breakfast, a place had been set for me next to him.At brunch, someone handed him my coffee order.
“How do they know how I take my coffee?”I asked Avril.
“Maman asked Xerses who I guess knew, and then she told the staff.”
“He knows how I like my coffee, but that is a terrifying chain of command.”
“That is a Persian mother with a mission.”
Hope slid into the chair beside me.“You look settled.”
“I look like a woman who got handed the right coffee without asking.”
“Kelly.”Hope’s voice went soft.“You’re allowed to be comfortable here.”
“I’m allowed to be a guest here.There’s a difference.”
“Is there?”
“Yes.Guests leave.”
Hope found my face.Then she stole my sugar cube for the coffee.
“I wanted that,” I said.
“Consider it a belonging tax,” she said and dropped it in her cup.
The terrifying part was how quickly I adapted.
On Saturday afternoon, Roxanne organized one of those family outings that somehow felt casual while still involving enough logistics to invade a country.We were all heading into town for a late lunch, some pre-graduation shopping, and whatever other emotional nonsense this family could wring out of Virgin Cove on a sunny day.
The foyer became a tangle of people collecting bags and sunglasses and children’s jackets not for children but because Roxanne apparently traveled like weather.
I came down the stairs adjusting an earring and found the room already in motion.Hope and Avril by the front console.Miley on her phone.Charlie trying to steal sunglasses from Jeff.Britney talking to Michael in the low, concentrated voice she used when deciding whether to be kind or destructive.
And Xerses.Waiting.He had his jacket over one arm, sunglasses in hand, looking like he had all the time in the world and had chosen to spend exactly this stretch of it on me.That hit harder than it should have.
My steps slowed for half a second.
His eyes moved over me once, like he was allowing himself the luxury of seeing me.
My friends noticed too.
Hope’s mouth started to curve.I met her gaze from halfway across the foyer and shook my head once.
All my attention went back to him.It was like we were alone in a crowd.By the time I reached the front hall table for my bag, Xerses had stepped closer.
“You took your time.”
I studied him.“I own mirrors.It’s very difficult to compete with your family.”
“There is no one else as magnetic as you.”
The low pulse in his throat told me he’d heard all of that.
He held out my sunglasses.I stared.
“You had them on the breakfast room side table,” he said.
