Intoxicated By You

Yeah, I’d have to move.

Again, there was no time to respond before she said, “So, I’ll let you know the details of the welcoming party. I imagine we’ll do it at our home. It’s a lovely place, more than fitting to welcome the new doctor. And Chazz agrees.”

Chazz. Chazz. Chazz. My temper soared, and I felt the burning heat on my neck that often accompanied this level of fury.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page, Alexa. I’ll let Chazz know and get the details to you.”

I stepped out of Drake’s embrace and addressed my sister. “No, Raquel, we are not on the same page at all.” She was not going to dictate my life. I fisted my hands to remain calm, but when Raquel tilted her head and raised her eyebrow condescendingly, I lost it. “Does Chazz wipe your ass, too, Raquel? Because it seems like you’ve lost any independent thought since marrying him.”

She gasped and put her hand to her chest again with a staggered, dramatic step backward. I rolled my eyes. If there had been anyone else there besides Drake, she’d have fainted for the attention. “I have never heard such crudeness.”

“Well, it’s a legitimate question, Raquel. Are you able to take a shit in private?” I held up my index finger. “Wait, don’t answer that.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Dad would be so disappointed in you for acting like this. I’m trying to help.”

On the inside, I was shaking with rage. How dare she bring Dad into this! How dare she! There was a bucket of dirty water two feet away. Stay calm. Don’t let her bait you. I took a deep breath. “Raquel, I think it’s time you left.”

From the flash of victory in her eyes, Raquel knew she’d hit a nerve. And now she was going to go in for the kill. With a sinister smile, she added, “Does the truth bother you, Alexa? I know if my father didn’t approve of my choices, it would haunt me.”

Lies. It was all lies. And manipulation.

Anger surged through me. Nothing had changed. Raquel would say anything to get her way. Anything. In the blink of an eye, I was a teenager again, hurting from all the terrible things she used to say.

No more.

I picked up the bucket and tossed the dirty water at Raquel. “You have always been a bitch.”

She screamed while I fumed. If I’d had ten buckets, I would have dumped every single one of them on her. “Never, ever, bring up Dad to me again. Do you understand? In fact, just avoid me altogether.”

I stood, gripping the empty bucket while Raquel shook with hate. Oh, I’ll be getting a phone call from Mom tomorrow, no doubt. But tonight, I had set a boundary with my sister. I waggled my fingers the way she had done to me so many times. “Run along now, Raquel. Go tell Mom. But I won’t warn you again. Never mention Dad to me again or I will make it my mission to create more fodder than you could ever dream of. Chazz wouldn’t like, considering his plans to run for mayor. Do you understand me?”

Raquel’s nostrils flared while she opened and closed her mouth, unable to speak. Without another word, she turned and huffed out of the place, dripping nasty, dirty water. I threw my head back and sighed. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have walked away. Tomorrow, there would be hell to pay with my mom. Raquel had deserved it, without a doubt, but now I’d have more stress.

And the mood had effectively been ruined. Bitch.

I turned to Drake and he said, “None of it’s true. You know that, right?”

A lump formed in my throat, and I nodded stiffly. Drake gently put his hand on my cheek. “Don’t let her poison you. Your dad was proud of the person you were. Never doubt it, Lex. Don’t let her win.”

Weary, I closed my eyes for a second. Dad loved me. I know this. I grabbed a towel and began to clean up the water. Silently, Drake helped me.

“I’m ready to head to your parents’ place.”

Drake nodded and escorted me to the door. “She’s not worth it.”

I flicked off the lights. “No, she’s not. I bet Chazz would agree.”

Drake’s deep chuckle helped ease some of the stress. “Maybe we should invite her to sing at Hollis’s welcome-to-town party? Unless her vocal cords are too stressed. Who knows, maybe there’ll be an agent there to sign her.”

Since the moment I’d met Drake, he’d been able to bring light to the darkest of situations. He kept me grounded. I laughed, and he smiled down at me.

After locking the door, I headed to my truck. Drake opened the door, but we remained there, staring at each other. How did I stay away from him for so long? He traced his finger down my jawline, and something raw flickered in his eyes. Maybe we’d be able to recapture what had been about to happen earlier. I still wanted to know what he’d been about to say.

“Lex, I—”

Blingbring. Blingbring. Blingbring.

“Damn it all to hell,” he cursed.