“Are you sure?” he questions, sitting up and pulling me up with him. “You don’t have to go. I can take the day off and we can stay right here until your mom comes and busts my balls for being a bad example and keeping you from your education.”
I shake my head, so clearly able to picture Mom doing just that. “No, it’s fine,” I tell him, raising my hand to his cheek and feeling his warm skin brush beneath my fingers. “The past few weeks have been so insane. I just want everything to go back to normal … or at least, whatever normal is now. Besides, you have so much to do. I’m not going to be responsible for putting you behind.”
“Hey, I’m the CEO, remember? The man in charge, the fucking boss. I make the rules around here and if I want a day off with my girl, then I can take a fucking day with my girl. The work can wait.”
I lean into him and brush my lips over his, so fucking thankful to have him in my life. “Thank you,” I whisper. “You have no idea how much that means to me, but I’m fine. I can manage a day at school without causing issues or trying to kill anyone. You don’t need to babysit me.” Colton raises a brow and I roll my eyes at his silent lack of faith. “Really. I’ll be okay. What’s the worst that’s going to happen? I fall asleep during my classes and get detention?”
Colton sighs and gets out of bed before striding across the room and peeling his shirt off. “Okay,” he calls, stepping into the bathroom. “But don’t say that I didn’t warn you. You’re going to have a better day with me, but if you insist on suffering through calculus then that’s on you.”
I roll my eyes and follow him to the bathroom. I stand in the doorway, watching as he drops his pants to take a shower. “I’m going to go.”
“Okay,” he says, walking over to me in his six-foot whatever deliciously naked glory. A somber expression filters over his handsome face as his hazel eyes zone in on mine. “I’m going to run down and check on Jude. I’ll let you know how he’s doing.” I nod and he continues. “You know you can call me, right? If your day sucks or anything. I’ll come and get you.”
My hands fall to his strong chest as I push up onto my tippy-toes and gently kiss him. “A girl could really get used to this sweet version of Colton Carrington.”
“Sweet?” he laughs. “Jade, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m just reeling you in. Getting you exactly where I want you and then when you’re too invested to walk away, the real me will come out.”
“Ugh,” I groan, stepping out of his arms and turning away. Just as I go to start walking, a delicious sting hits my ass followed by the sound of his joyful laughter. I walk to his bedroom door, trying my hardest not to allow him to pull me back in. “You killed the moment.”
I look back over my shoulder to find him watching me with a sparkle in his eyes. He winks and everything south of the border clenches, making me walk faster because if I stay here a second longer, I won’t be emerging from his room until we’re both utterly exhausted and raw.
“What can I say?” Colton grins, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. “That’ll teach you to call me sweet.”
I roll my eyes and push out of his room before I decide to show him just how sweet I can be, but as I step out into the hallway, I instantly regret my decision not to spend a little longer with Colton.
One of his bratty twin sisters strides down the hallway and her glare instantly settles on me, but more importantly, the room I just stepped out of. “What do you think you’re doing in there?” she snaps, her eyes dropping to my hands to make sure I wasn’t trying to steal something.
I resist rolling my eyes and push out in front of her, ignoring her lethal stare that tears into my back like a deadly laser beam. My hands pump in fists by my sides as I take three slow, calming breaths. I had completely forgotten about the bitch twins and their fearless leader, Momma Carrington. Colton briefly reminded me of their existence last night, but they’re just so forgettable. It was like going in one ear and straight out the other.
Maybe it’ll be better to stay home with Colton after all. I can only imagine how his sisters are going to make life for me at school. Though unluckily for them, I have the girls at school tied around my little finger and unlike the bitch twins, they like me for me, not for what I can offer.
I practically race down the stairs, determined to get as far away from Colton’s little sister as possible. That’s probably going to be my life now. They’re going to be everywhere that I go so I’m either going to have to learn to keep my mouth shut or avoid them at all costs. Seeing as though biting my tongue is like asking for world peace, the avoiding thing is going to be my best option.
I hear her ridiculous heels on the marble stairs behind me and I roll my eyes. She’s dressed for school, but does she seriously think those heels are going to get her far? She looks even more stuck up than ever before. She just needs to pair it with a Birkin bag and she’ll be all set to head to school in her over-the-top McLaren 720S.
Geez, how simple would life be to be one of the rich and famous? Imagine never having to worry about paying bills or getting through every day knowing you’ll be coming home to a hot meal, warm water, and electricity.
Damn. How do I get myself there without selling my soul?
Ignoring the frustrating heels clicking against the marble floor, I make my way through the mansion then have to physically restrain myself when I hear her high-pitched wail coming from the kitchen. “Where’s my breakfast? Maryne always had it ready for me. You’ll never be as good as her.”
I clench my jaw. That better not be my mother she’s talking to.
I pause, my feet coming to an abrupt stop as I listen, waiting for a response. “I’m sorry, Miss Cora,” one of the maids hurries out. “I will get it for you right away.”
Cora’s scoff is audible even from two rooms away, but knowing it’s not my mom has the fire easing within me. Though don’t get me wrong, that shit still isn’t acceptable, but it’s not my fight. I have a feeling I’ll be having plenty of rounds with the twins so the more I can put it off, the better. Besides, those maids have had to learn to have the Carrington’s comments bounce off them, though it’s been a while since they’ve actually had to deal with them.
Keeping myself moving, I head out to the pool house and although I spent a good hour sitting in the shower yesterday, I find myself desperate for another. I dump my clothes in the doorway of the bathroom and hurry through a quick shower, washing my hair and scrubbing at my body as though I can still feel his blood all over my skin.
Twenty minutes later, I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the floor to ceiling mirror, and feeling like a stranger in my own skin. So much has been going on, so much change that I hardly even recognize myself anymore. I’ve had to grow up a lot since coming here just over a month ago, but the person I’m becoming? I don’t think I know her.
Today is a chance for a fresh start. I’m going back to school now knowing everything there is to know and I can finally start to put it all behind me and focus on my future. You know, apart from the whole ‘who killed my father and Charles’ thing, not to mention that I still don’t know why the Widows’ mark was on the front of that folder.