“Yeah, good luck with that,” I told her with a dry laugh, only to hear her retching again.
Hanging up to let her be miserable in peace, I tossed my phone onto the bed and jumped up. I sprinted across the room and out the door just in time to meet Arella about to enter her own bedroom across the hall.
My sixteen-year-old sister looked even more like our mother than I did, with the same natural highlights in her dark hair and the sprinkle of freckles across her nose. She’d inherited Daddy’s artistic genes, but it was acting that was her real passion. Something Mom hated, but she had never stood in Arella’s way when she’d started taking classes to improve what was a surprisingly natural talent.
Not even giving Arella time to realize I was behind her, I grabbed her by the back of her hair and twisted my fingers in the thick locks. She screamed in pain and tried to turn around to grab my own hair, but I pushed her into her room and slammed the door shut before flipping the lock.
I dragged my sister across the room and pushed her down onto her bed before finally releasing her. Seeing strands of her hair in my fist didn’t give me the satisfaction it would have during one of our usual hair-pulling fights, though.
Arella turned over onto her back and glared up at me. “What was that for, bitch?”
I bent so I was in her face, and her hot breath steamed up my glasses. Pushing them onto my forehead, I fisted my hands at my sides to keep from pulling her hair again. “Why didn’t you warn me that Daddy is sick?” I snarled.
Her eyes widened then filled with tears. “Be-because they made me promise not to tell you anything. They wanted to explain everything themselves without you doing that crazy brain thing of yours and trying to figure it all out on your own.”
“You still should have told me.” My voice wobbled, and I dropped down onto the edge of her bed. “I thought we promised no secrets.”
She sighed heavily and sat up. She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my shoulder. “It wasn’t my secret to share,” she explained softly. “Mom and Daddy have been stressed enough, and I didn’t want to add more to their plate by going against their wishes and telling you behind their backs.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, wiping at a stray tear that dripped down my face. “I get it.” I pulled the strands free that were tangled around my fingers and let them float to her floor. “Sorry about your hair.”
She grunted. “You should be. The only reason I’m letting this pass is because you’re upset about Daddy and tomorrow is your birthday. Consider my not retaliating my present to you. There. You’re welcome.”
I shoved her onto her back and stood. “Whatever. I’m not scared of your skinny ass.” I flipped her off on my way out of her room.
“What was Arella screaming about just now?” Mom asked as she came up the stairs.
“Nothing,” I told her. “She was just being dramatic like always.”
Back in my room, I picked up my phone in the hope Braxton might have called, but it was free of any messages. Putting my glasses back in place, I tried calling him again, and then again when I went to voice mail.
Realizing I wasn’t likely to speak to him at all that night, I finally sent him a text.
Nevaeh: Today has royally sucked. I really need to hear your voice right now. Please…just call me. I don’t care how late it is. I… Just… Please?
Chapter 6
Braxton
I hadn’t worn a suit in so long, I felt like I was being choked by a toddler with the tie of my tux as soon as I put the damn thing on.
Normal families didn’t require a person to show up wearing black-tie attire for a damn family get-together. My family was anything but normal, however. They flashed their money around like it was an accessory, demanding the world take notice. I’d hated the pretentiousness of it growing up.
After witnessing Mia’s and Nevaeh’s families at their annual Christmas party for the last few years, seeing people who were just as rich as my own parents act like money wa
sn’t the most important thing in the world, I’d looked back on my childhood and hated it even more.
Barrick grabbed a glass of champagne off a tray one of the many caterers was carrying around the lower level of my parents’ mansion and tossed back its entire contents in one gulp before replacing the expensive stemware and grabbing another.
“How long until they make their damn announcement and we can go?” I muttered, wishing I could start throwing back a few drinks myself. But I’d been in pain all day, and I never risked mixing my medication with alcohol.
“Knowing your folks, probably won’t be for hours. Fuck, I’m starving. These canapes are disgusting. Let’s grab some burgers on the way home.” Pulling out his phone, he checked for texts from Mia and muttered a curse when he read something on his screen. “Dude, do you have any missed calls? Mia says Nevaeh is trying to reach you.”
I pulled out my phone, saw a few missed calls and a text lighting up the screen. My eyes scanned over the message and my gut clenched.
Kitten: Today has royally sucked. I really need to hear your voice right now. Please…just call me. I don’t care how late it is. I… Just… Please?
Glancing around, I saw the library appeared empty. As I entered, I shut the door and leaned back against it since there wasn’t a lock on it. Swiping my thumb over her name, I closed my eyes and waited for her to answer.