by Misti Murphy
“We all have bad days,” I say empathically, as I try to light up my phone screen. Apparently my battery is out of juice. I glance toward the desk. Wonder what the chances of the receptionist letting me use the phone are? It’ll depend on who is at the desk. “I should probably get going.”
“See you around, Ivy,” Rogue says.
“Yes. See you around,” I echo as I walk over to see the lady behind the desk.
Whatever that was, one thing is clear. I made the right decision putting Uma Cookie away. What we did…it shouldn’t have happened. If he knew she was me…I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye after today.
I stand at reception for a couple of minutes before the woman glances up. “Ivy Love? How are you?”
“Good, Elvira.” I lean over the divider. “Any chance I can borrow your phone?”
“Of course.” She puts the handset on the top partition so I can reach it. I bite my lip as I dial Adira’s number and wait for him to pick up. It rings and rings, but he doesn’t answer. I sigh as I hang up. “Thanks.”
“No luck?” Elvira asks.
“It’s okay. I’ll take the bus.” I lift my bag over my shoulder as I turn and make my way outside.
In the parking lot, Ben rests against the side of his car. He straightens to his full height when he sees me. Smiles.
“You waited for me?”
“Thought it would be easier than getting Adira to come get you.” He runs a hand through his shaggy hair. “Did you see whoever you needed to see?”
I nod. Maybe I saw him clearly for the very first time. My chest stings. I knew it would always end badly between me and Rogue. If he ever saw me at all. I didn’t think it would have anything to do with my age though.
“You look like you need a hug,” Ben says. “Can I hug you?”
“Please.” I step into his arms and he wraps them around me. And maybe that’s how it should be. Dr. Keller suggested that I should see how things progress naturally in my new friendship, and while I’m not entirely certain that I’m ready to date anyone, Ben is sweet. So why not see where things lead?
Chapter Fifteen
Rogue
Bianca Del Ray has gone all out. The inside of her expansive home looks like someone ate too much candy and threw up in a Sephora. Black and white walls are punctuated with pops of color. An entire wall of candy colored shelves appears to hold every brand of sweet known to man.
Overhead bright pink chandeliers drip with jewel colored gems. A woman in a pumpkin bikini hands out candy bracelets next to an oiled up dude in a leopard print thong who stands guard near the room full of party bags. Last year we all got a laptop with Bianca’s personal logo embossed in the lid and a thousand-dollar gift card to Pornhub. There’s no way she can top that.
Outside several fast-food vendors serve guests in teensy costumes as they chill around the pool. A guy dressed as the clown from It—complete with red helium balloons—sips his cocktail while he floats on an inflatable unicorn in the middle of the crystal pink water.
Aquaman and Superman seem to be vying for who is going to be the top while playing tonsil hockey with Shakira. I can’t actually tell if she’s in costume or…the real deal.
I stack my gift with the rest of them. Just one brick in the mountain Bianca will have to unwrap later. I bought her flying lessons. She’s totally going to love it.
Linc and Ethan are standing near a cocktail bar that looks like a science lab where Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are brewing poisonous experiments that involve glitter, cotton candy, and copious amounts of alcohol. It’s just one of three themed bars I’ve passed so far. There was also a witch with a cauldron and a tiki bar with a mysterious island vibe where King Kong puts on a show.
“Grim reaper?” I ask Linc. He’s wearing sprayed on leather pants with a spiked belt and spiked gloves. A hooded cape covers his head and arms, but is open to reveal his uber chiselled-for-the-screen torso. He’s darkened his eyes with a shit ton of eyeliner and carries a scythe that looks real enough to be able to cleave someone’s head from their neck.
He smiles over the rim of a smoking skull as I signal to the guy with the top hat and a bird on his shoulder that I want a drink. “Of course.”
“Brrr.” I fake a shiver. “It’s fucking creepy how well your voice goes with that look.”
Ethan rests a hand on Linc’s shoulder and drinks something bright green from a beaker. His brow furrows as he stirs the gloop at the bottom with a thermometer. “You dressed as a cop? Is Rebel coming as a criminal? I would have thought it was too soon.”
“Yeah, we’re not doing a joint costume this year. I’m hanging out here on my lonesome while he does the couples thing with Summer.”
“That makes sense,” he says. “Still surprised you chose to come as a cop.”
“I have my reasons.” I divert my attention to Dr. Jekyll and order a Split Personality. The dual-colored cocktail comes in a triangular beaker and is strong enough to make my eyes water.
I check out Ethan’s costume. He’s wearing a suit and white makeup. His lips are exaggerated and his hair has been shaded lime green. “Let me guess. Joker?”
He grins toothily before his attention is caught by someone over my head.
“I think I just found my Little Monster,” he says as he stalks off after a Harley Quinn.
“Every year I think it can’t get any bigger and every year Bianca tops herself,” Rebel says as he joins me and Linc, with Summer balanced on his shoulder.
They’re dressed as Prince Eric and Ariel. Summer has a shiny aqua tale, a purple clam bra, and the beginnings of the kind of attitude that tells me my twin has said something dumb.
“Way to go and ruin my Little Mermaid fantasy.” I shake my head at them. Not that I have one, although I did once joke with Uma about what it would be like to do it with a fish. Until recently I was decades behind on my Disney princess knowledge. Now I own every single movie, thanks to a woman I can’t find.
“You’re not serious, are you?” Summer doesn’t know whether to laugh or frown as Rebel slides her down his body. There’s a small opening at the bottom of her tail for her feet. “It’s already bad enough that your brother has decided he needs to haul me around like his prize catch all evening.”
“How big was it?” Ethan jokes.
“Huge.” I spread my arms. “Must have been a shark.”
“You can barely walk.” Rebel ignores us to glower at her.
“I can.” She crosses her arms and gives him back as good as she gets in the facial expressions department.
“Fine.” He rolls his gaze at her. “I just want you close by all the time.”
“You’re so damn cute.” She grabs his face between her hands and kisses him. “But you know I can take care of myself. Walk…by myself.”
They’re fucking adorable. It’s almost sickening.
I’m kind of jealous. Not of Summer, who I adore like a sister and have thankfully only had one weird ass sex dream about. But it’s been weeks now since Uma Cookie disappeared on me.
When I woke up that morning in the park alone, I assumed it would be fine. I knew how to find her. But I figured I’d give her time to come out of hiding.
When she didn’t, I hit up Adira. I thought for sure the drag queen would help me out. All I got from him was a bad mood that I took out on a cute little co-ed who now thinks I’m an ass. I feel like a dick about that.
Oh, let’s not forget the text that hinted I might be losing my mind.
Adira: Uma Cookie isn’t real. I can’t help you.
I have read that text so many times. Is he protecting his friend? Or does he really not know who this girl is, and she spun me a story so good I believed her? I asked a million questions but he didn’t respond, and I’m still no closer to figuring it out.
I even offered to get Bianca to put Adira and his friends on the guest list for her birthday party in the hopes Uma Cookie might show up tonight. It looks like that hasn’t panned out in my favor e
ither. I can’t imagine Adira would be the kind to turn down an event like this one though.
“Ro’s here,” Summer says.
We all follow the direction she’s looking. Sure enough, Ro is with Riot and they’re talking to Bianca who is doing a mean impersonation of Black Widow by the living garden where people painted to look like trees move through a series of choreographed poses.
I blow Bianca a kiss along with a wink. She wiggles her fingers at me. We’ll bump into each other before the end of the night, once she’s finally greeted everyone else.
Ro looks good as She-Ra. Riot is dressed as Batman in a costume that looks like he borrowed it from DC Films’s wardrobe department.
“I’ll catch up with you guys later,” Linc says as he heads toward his movie costar, Kylie Adams. It wouldn’t surprise me if the chemistry on screen is matched by the chemistry off. At least while they’re filming.
“So, a policeman?” Rebel asks me, while we continue to watch our brother and Ro as Bianca departs.
“Is it too soon?” The way Riot and Ro are together has me worried. He has to be into her, doesn’t he? And she’s still a mess, there’s no skirting around it. This situation could implode and make everything so much worse.
I pull the cuffs from my belt. “The costume goes really well with these.”
“You’re still carrying those around?” Summer asks, her voice colored with concern.
“Don’t look at me like that, Sum.” I avoid her face, because she has this way of looking at me that makes me feel bad for making her feel concerned.
“It’s been weeks,” Rebel says.
“And your point?” My jaw tightens. I could froth at the mouth in my current mood. Uma Cookie has to be real. She has to be. She’s going to show up. And when she does I’m going to chain her to me until I get some answers.
“We’re worried about you.” Summer touches my arm. “You went through a seriously traumatic experience. You were shot.”
“I’m aware,” I grumble. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m the popular, charming guy women love. I don’t need to chase anyone, but maybe that’s why… it’s the thrill of the chase. At this point my need to find Uma Cookie could purely be to prove Rebel wrong. Only my instinct is that girl is mine.
“How long are you going to keep looking for this girl?” Rebel asks.
Our gazes lock and snap. Both of us are equally frustrated at this point.
But on this issue I’m stubborner than he is. “I’ll find her.”
“It’s okay to not be okay.” Summer touches my arm.
I glance down at her hand on my bicep and wonder how she can be so sweet and even tempered and be in love with someone who is as much of an asshole as my brother without skipping a beat. “I’m okay, Sum. Truly, I am. She’s going to show up. And when she does I’ll prove to this jackass that I’m not going to end up like our mom.”
“He doesn’t think that,” she argues.
“Actually—”
Summer slaps a hand over his mouth before he can finish what he’s saying. “He doesn’t think that.”
It doesn’t matter. We both know. If I don’t find Uma Cookie and prove to my family and myself that she’s real then I’m probably screwed. Which is the whole reason I don’t do relationships in the first place.
Rebel kisses her fingertips before he lowers her hand to his side. “Say you do find her. What are you going to do? Kidnapping is kind of illegal.”
“I’d say it’s definitely illegal.” Summer looks horrified, which makes sense considering she’s the one who will have to clean up the mess if things go south when I find Uma. “In fact, do not do that.”
“I’m betting my cookie will enjoy a little light bondage.” I smirk.
“Oh my God.” Summer slaps my arm. “You will under no circumstances kidnap this girl. If you find her. If she exists.”
“I damn well will.” I fold my arms over my chest. On this matter I am an immovable rock. Fucking concrete.
“Hey, Rogue.” Ro appears by my side, Riot in tow. “Rebel. Summer.”
“Rochelle,” Summer says as she leans against my twin possessively, her hand on his chest like a steadying weight that soothes him. As much as Summer is aware of the history and Ro’s feelings, she wears a genuine smile as she greets the other woman like they’re friends. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.” Ro’s hands grip her elbows and she darts glances at every corner of the room—It’s been a while since she’s been to an event like this one—before she settles on Rebel. “Can we talk?”
“You want to talk to me?” Rebel presses his finger into his chest.
She nods. “I want to talk to all of you.”
“Okay,” Summer says. Rebel and I nod along.
“Not here.” Ro glances up to the second floor. “Somewhere private.”
“Lead the way.” Rebel’s voice is gruff and thick with emotion. He’s still angry, as are we all. But he missed Ro too and the fact that she’s starting to talk to him again is major.
“Come on.” Riot wraps his arm around her waist and ushers her away from the poolside bar and through the crowd until we’re back inside. I tag along, still hopeful that Adira won’t be able to resist Bianca’s infamous birthday bonanza and will drag Uma Cookie along as his plus one.
Even if Uma Cookie manages to avoid the bash, I’m relying on Adira not being able to resist the celebrity spectacular. I am not against handcuffing a queen and interrogating him.
Rebel picks up Summer and tosses her onto his shoulder when we ascend the stairs.
“You’re having way too much fun with this, aren’t you?” She jabs her elbow into his back and rolls her gaze at me.
“Yep.” He lands a heavy hand on her ass and she yelps.
Truly, their love is fucking sickening. If Uma was here I wouldn’t have to watch this perverted peep show.
The second floor is as ludicrous as the first floor. It’s converted every year into a haunted house. Thick cobwebs and fake dust cover every surface of the rectangular hallway that goes all the way around. Bleeding candles line the way. Skeletons dangle from the ceiling. Huge fake spiders peek through the webbing.
A man with a machete jumps out in front of us. Slashes the blade through the air.
Ro screams and pivots into Riot’s chest. He holds her close. Strokes her hair. “It’s all fake, remember? The guy is just doing his job.”
“I-I know.” She pushes her face up from his chest. “Sorry, I don’t think I’ll ever not be jumpy after…”
“It’s okay.” He doesn’t get angry or frustrated or upset. I don’t know how the motherfucker is always so Zen when it comes to her, but it helps her deal. That much is obvious.
“Hey, let’s go in here.” Rebel twists the handle on one of the guest rooms to reveal an open and empty suite.
We file into the bedroom. There’s a big old bed covered in white linen and a seating area by an electric fireplace.
Rebel sits on one end of the chocolate and mint striped love seat and I take the other. Summer slips in between us until my twin picks her up and puts her on his lap. I don’t think Summer worries at all about his attention not solely being on her, but it’s like he wants to prove she’s his everything in every damn way. Like the rest of us don’t already know.
Riot takes the chair and Ro perches on the arm. He holds her hand the whole time. She darts nervous glances at him and he squeezes her fingers. “It’s okay, Ro.”
“What’s this about?” Rebel asks.
“I, um.” Ro inhales through her mouth and blows it out through her nose. “The interview with Marty…”
“I’m going to do it, Ro.” Rebel’s grip on Summer’s waist tightens. “I know you don’t want me to, but—”
“Shut up for a second,” Riot growls, with that deep burr he affects for some of his songs.
We all gape at him. Our youngest sibling is always laid back and chill. He’s never raised his voice to Rebel. Not once that I can
recall.
“Ro,” he says, now that he has the floor.
She smiles gratefully before turning her focus on Rebel. “I’m going to do the interview with Marty.”
“Oh.” Rebel smacks his gums. “Ro, that’s…”
“Good,” Summer says.
“Are you sure?” I scootch to the edge of the seat. Press my palms together between my knees. This is what we’ve wanted since this whole thing started; for Ro to take that prick down for what he did. But it’s not going to be easy for her. People can be assholes. There will be just as many that blame her for what happened as take her side. Baring wounds that are only just starting to scar is such a vulnerable thing to do.
“I’m sure.” She glances away as she steals her hand from Riot to wrap both arms around her waist, but her voice is firm. “I’m so tired of all of this. I’m over being scared and hiding. I’m sick of living with his shadow over me all the time. I want my life back. I need to work and be with my friends. I want…” she cuts her gaze to Rebel, “…to be strong and I want to be able to see you and not think of him. Or at least, I want to be strong enough to deal with it. I miss you.”
Rebel nods and his eyes grow brighter. He swallows hard. “I miss you too.”
Summer’s hand on his quad tightens supportively. “Okay, so what do you need from us? How do we help?”
“You’ve already helped me so much. Your strength is what made me think I can do this,” Ro tells Summer. She glances at each one of us. “All of you have been so supportive. I truly appreciate it.”
“We’ve got you.” I lean forward and squeeze her wrist. “You’re family.”
“Yeah,” Rebel agrees, and Summer and Riot echo the sentiment.
Ro wipes a finger under her eyes. Her eyeliner bleeds a little, but it doesn’t look out of place. “Rebel, will you do the interview with me? You witnessed what happened.”
