“Damn straight, woman.”
“Okay. I need to go. I don’t even know what the fuck I’m walking into,” I say, shaking my head.
“Hopefully into a real relationship. Or some damn good sex at the very least,” Gus says, clapping his hands together when an enormous platter of tater tots is set in the middle of the table.
“Eat your tots and stop talking,” Spence demands.
“Text us with updates,” Mya and Emma both shout as I walk away and wave my hand over my head.
I need to focus.
It’s game time.
I nearly turn around and go home when I pull in front of the Dubois mansion. We keep a car around that’s mostly Spence’s, but we all use it from time to time, me probably least of all since I Uber everywhere. I should’ve Uber’d here tonight so I would feel the extra pressure to get out of the car. I’m fifteen minutes early, so I have too much time to stare at the house.
My phone buzzes at two minutes till seven.
I just want to say that these flowers—I am speechless! I’ve never seen anything like them. THANK YOU. I can see you from my bedroom window and am officially letting you off the hook. You do not have to do this. The flowers are more than enough. However, we are having lamb chops with a cognac dijon cream sauce and passion fruit and lemon meringue tartlets if that persuades you at all. I promise I won’t make it as awkward as last night by kissing you in front of everyone. And if you just drive away right now, I’ll completely understand.
I hop out of the car as fast as my body will carry me and try to find which window she can see me from as I walk toward the front door. I find it right before I reach the door and she lifts a hand up to wave, her smile so bright.
I blow her a kiss and she smiles even bigger before disappearing.
I hope you’ll make it awkward as hell by kissing me tonight, I think before ringing the doorbell. I hear yapping right away. Little Louie must be feeling better tonight.
An older, more uptight, non-smiling, not nearly as beautiful version of Cosette opens the door. I’d be ashamed of my thoughts, knowing what it’s like to be compared to my siblings. I’m between Spence and Gus, for crying out loud. And then comes Jesse darling and finally, a girl! I learned early on to not even bother competing for attention. That whole comparison is the death of joy that Mark Twain talked about. I’m okay with catching people by surprise when they realize I actually have a personality too. But the way this woman’s mouth curls as she looks me up and down and doesn’t bother hiding how I don’t measure up—I don’t feel too awful for seeing how Cosette outshines her.
Cosette steps behind her sister and the way she looks at me takes away every reservation I had about coming. I meant it when I told her mom I’d do anything for her. Didn’t fully realize how much I meant that until just now.
“So you met my sister,” Cosette says, motioning for me to come inside.
“Hello.” I nod politely.
She holds her hand out primly and I shake it, which seems to be the wrong move. Her nose crinkles up and I forge ahead.
“I’m Caden Taylor.”
“Juliette Jacobs,” she says. If haughty is a tone, she has it perfected.
“Nice to meet you.”
She presses her lips together and doesn’t say anything else. Louie is still barking his head off, but I don’t see any sign of him. Cosette loops her arm through mine and smiles up at me. Everything feels instantly better.
“Come with me quick. I want to show you the flowers. I couldn’t stand to leave them behind at work.”
She grabs my hand and we go up the stairs and down the hall. The house is extravagant and we walk past room after room, coming to a stop in front of a blue bedroom. Everything is blue.
“Blue is your favorite color?” I ask and she laughs.
“Pink is actually my favorite color, but Juliette claimed that one when we were little.” She shrugs. “So I got the blue room.”
I want to paint the entire room pink right then and there, but I remember she’s wanting to move out. I’d want to move out too if I had to live in this museum every day.
She holds out her arm and that’s when I see the masterpiece. Alice outdid herself. It’s more of an enormous terrarium than a bouquet, with greenery and tiny flowers filling it so that it’s like an exquisite forest. And there, tucked in the moss and miniature ferns, sits a fairy with blonde hair looking wistfully in the distance. Damn, Alice. I need to give her a present.
“I’ve never seen anything so dreamy,” Cosette gushes. “It is so beautiful, Caden. And it came right when my mom was trying to talk to me about this relationship, so perfect timing.” She laughs. “We had nonstop clients all day long, so Maman is dying to grill me and hasn’t had the opportunity to yet. So dinner should be interesting.” She leans up and kisses me on the cheek. “I should’ve known you’d find a way to make this craziness something special.”
My cheeks heat up and I reach out and take her hand. “You make it so easy.” I kiss her hand and the skin beneath her freckles turns rosy. “That was quite the kiss last night.”
Her flush deepens and she looks shy. “I am so sorry about that. You didn’t know the mess you were walking into when you agreed to come.”
“I am not sorry. Not at all.” I smirk. “Here, at your service for as long as you need me.”
“Oh, I’m sure tonight will do the trick,” she says under her breath.
A bell rings and her whole posture changes. I can almost see the strain and stress hit her like a tidal wave.
“Okay. Time for the performance of your life,” she whispers.
I don’t tell her that this won’t be a performance for me at all, to pretend to be interested in her. I find Cosette Dubois completely captivating. I’m already wondering how I can lengthen this role so I’ll have more time with her.
Chapter Four
Cosette
Caden and I walk into the dining room hand in hand, and I get such satisfaction out of seeing everyone staring at us in shock and dismay. Not because I want to hurt my family or even that I want them to pay such close attention to me, but because this has been a long time coming. They have backed me into a corner about Jeremy and I have put up with it for far too long.
Beecham stands behind Juliette’s chair as if he’s guarding her from the new hottie in the house. His ears and his forehead shine, the light bouncing off of his frowning face.
My father doesn’t look much more hospitable, already seated at the head of the table and looking bored. He’s probably tired. He’s getting on up there in years and going by his expression, I’m guessing he didn’t get his early afternoon nap today. He’s been avoiding me every time I make an effort to be alone with him, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s the reason I want to move out of here so badly. His rejection stings. I don’t know what I’ve done, and I’m hoping once he accepts my breakup with Jeremy, this will all blow over.
“Père, this is Caden Taylor. Caden, this is my father, Alban Dubois.”
Caden reaches out to shake his hand and my dad nods before announcing that he has a headache and excusing himself.