Page 63 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

The dogs ran to greet us when we entered the house. I squatted down and let them lick me to death. I laughed as Hailey rubbed against me, and a streak of glitter transferred onto her fur.

“Well, that’s going to earn me some questions from Fawn,” Titus said, stripping off his long white coat and hanging it up.

I sighed as I kicked off my shoes by the door. It felt like I was being led to the principal’s office as I followed him into the kitchen. Hailey seemed to understand that I needed a friend and padded after me, nails clicking softly on the floor. I sat on one of the island stools, and she leaned against my leg. My fingers trailed softly over her head as Titus grabbed two mugs.

“Tea or coffee? You look like you need it.”

“You mean I look drunk?”

He glanced at me. “No, you look tired.”

I looked down at my hands. That was worse.

“Tea, please.”

We stood there in silence as he filled the kettle and set it on the stove. The small sounds felt comforting, like a warm hug.

With my arms folded tightly around myself, I replayed flashes of the night I couldn’t scrub away. I didn’t know what I thought I would accomplish by going to Euphoria and making Goran jealous. All I knew was that no matter what I did, my father’s words always followed me, like a stalker living inside my mind.

My phone rang on the counter. I ignored it, knowing exactly who it was. It stopped, then started again. I sighed and closed my eyes.

“Let me guess. Father?”

I looked at Titus. “How did you know?”

“You look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.” Titus stepped up to the island.

The phone stopped again. I barely had time to breathe before it started for the third time. I didn’t move.

Titus picked up the phone. “Hello.”

The volume was loud enough that I heard my father’s angry voice.

“Titus? What are you doing answering Kaylani’s phone?”

Titus looked at me. “She is here with me, but she is asleep.”

“Asleep? What world do you think I live in? That girl is no more asleep than I am. I want to speak to her now.”

Titus remained quiet.

“Titus, did you hear me?”

“I heard you. And I told you she is asleep. You either speak to me or no one.”

There was a long string of swearing on the other end of the phone in both English and Russian.

My heart beat faster, and my pulse climbed as if I were being led to an executioner’s platform. Titus looked completely unaffected by Father’s tantrum. He pulled the kettle off the stove as it whistled and poured the water into our cups.

“What the hell is wrong with her?” Father snarled. “Do you have any idea what she has done tonight?”

Titus handed me my mug and set the milk and honey on the island before leaning back against the counter entirely at ease.

“Lower your voice. I don’t like your tone. And from what I saw, Kaylani was acting like a twenty-year-old and having fun with friends in a safe environment. Ronan, Nathaniel, and I have all done far worse.”

I pressed my lips together. God, I loved my brothers. Well, two of them, anyway. Ronan had some less desirable qualities.

“She embarrassed this family,” Dimitri continued. “There are videos everywhere. My phone has not stopped ringing. Dancing on tables like some⁠—”