With Us (The Amato Series Book 1)

by Layla Frost

  “Even though it’ll be a while before Theo is able to do any work?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “They don’t seem to care. Someone tried to hack into Amaric’s files to get the waitlist information, likely trying to poach the work while Theo is unavailable. Luc is working it from a tech angle. He wants my side to go through the security footage with a careful eye.”

  “Shouldn’t you be there helping them?”

  “Watching hours and hours of security footage isn’t exactly the chaos and excitement I thrive on. If they find something good, I’ll get involved. Otherwise, there’s a pizza waiting with my name on it.”

  “Hey!”

  “Fine. Our names,” he amended with a dramatic sigh.

  As he spoke on the phone to someone about the security tapes, I tried to find a way to gently steer the conversation to Theo and what was happening. Similar to how I redirected small talk conversations, I needed to choose my phrasing carefully. It was only when I began to listen closer did I realize how vague and guarded his responses were. I could hear the muffled voice on the other side speaking a lot, which meant Ben wasn’t watching what he said to them.

  He was watching what he said in front of me.

  So much for all the openness.

  Bringing my feet up onto the seat, I wrapped my arms around my legs and rested my cheek on my knee. The city was passing by outside at a slow crawl as we moved through traffic. The streets were filled with people leaving work. Forgetting about my life for a while, I people watched and made notes of new places I wanted to go.

  It didn’t make me feel completely better, but it did a lot to help.

  ···

  “Run that by me again,” I said, hoping I’d heard wrong.

  Wendy’s lips pressed together as she shook her head. Her big eighties hair and multiple scarf headbands swayed with the movement. She looked like a mix of a hippie, Jack Sparrow, and Axl Rose.

  And I thought I had fashion identity issues.

  “I’m sorry, Dahlia. You know I adore you. But Mystic Stone said I need to close. Caffeine is bad for the body, and that’s bad for the soul. That dark cloud is tainting my aura.”

  Maybe this was something you could’ve decided on earlier than Friday, and not after I worked my full week.

  I’d already been leaning toward quitting. As in, leaning so far I was practically horizontal. Finding out Java Brew was closing, however, left me no safety net.

  Maybe that was a good thing. A needed thing.

  I’d declined the grocery store job offer because I hadn’t wanted to be complacent. Having Java Brew around would have allowed me to continue in my rut.

  “I just signed on a new building that I’m going to completely renovate and turn it into a spiritual wellness center. Hot yoga, aura readings, spiritual advisement. I’m going all out so I can clear my karma for polluting bodies with that poison. Maybe once I get set up, you can come work there? Quinoa bars, kale smoothies, things like that?”

  I couldn’t fight my grimace at the idea of serving someone a kale smoothie. “I appreciate the offer, but I hope I’m all set by then.”

  “I really am sorry,” Wendy said, pulling me into a hug.

  “It’s okay,” I said, meaning it. I returned her patchouli scented hug, only half meaning it.

  With Java Brew closing, I couldn’t be complacent anymore. I needed to make a decision about what I wanted to do.

  I gathered my things and looked around. While I certainly wasn’t going to miss the ridiculously early mornings, the crowds, or the psychic opinions, the place held a lot of good memories. I could almost hear the beans crunching under my feet as I thought about meeting Theo that first morning.

  Walking out of the building for the last time, I expected to feel a weight on my shoulders. The pressure and panic that came with the change.

  I didn’t.

  There was an odd peace that settled around me. A giddy excitement. Anticipation.

  And a tiny sliver of hope.

  I’d clearly lost my mind.

  Whistling, I headed out to where the SUV waited for me.

  Luc climbed out, eyeing me as I approached. His sour expression showed he was still upset I continued to deny his invitation to see Theo. He looked around me to Java Brew then back at me. “What’s going on?”

  “Wendy is closing Java Brew.”

  Brows up, he opened my door. “And you’re whistling about that?”

  I shrugged. “Being angry wouldn’t change her mind. Her karma has already spoken on the matter.”

  “Her…” He shook his head. “I’ve got nothing.” He closed the door before going around to the driver’s side and getting in. “When’s your last day?”

  “Today. Once Mystic Stones told her how dark roasted her aura was, she rushed over to close up shop.”

  He watched me closely. “And you’re okay with everything?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It isn’t like it was my dream job. It was time to move on, and that was the shove I needed.”

  “Good. Does that mean you’ll be free to see Theo on Sunday?”

  “Can’t. Plans with the girls.”

  “That’s tomorrow.”

  “I plan on still being drunk on Sunday.”

  “You could sober up on the drive.”

  I bit my cheek to keep from agreeing.

  Already agitated, my silence pushed Luc over the edge. “Look, if you’re out, then be out. No one is forcing you to stay. You want to end things with him, then fine. I’ll even be the one to pass along the message. But if you’re going to keep ignoring his emails—”

  “I haven’t gotten any emails.”

  “He’s sent them,” he shot back, more defensively than necessary. “You’re pissed you’re in the dark, and you want answers. I get it. We all get it. Fucking Theo gets it, he’s just asking you to be patient. But if you’re just dragging this out as a punishment—”

  “I’m scared!”

  In the beginning, I’d told myself I didn’t want to see him because he wouldn’t be able to fully talk to me. As I sat awake night after night, alone in the giant bed, I couldn’t deny that wasn’t the full truth.

  I threw my hands out as much as the cramped space would allow. “I miss him. I’m worried about him. It’s not like I don’t care. I just hate secrets.” For some reason, I lowered my voice to barely a whisper. “We both know…” I shook my head, not finishing the thought, but Luc got what I was saying.

  And crazily enough, he smiled at me. His body relaxed, his expression softening and warming. He even reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “Theo would fucking kill me if he’d heard any of that. None of us want you gone. Things at Amaric have me stressed, but that’s no excuse. I’m sorry. If you want, I’ll see if I can find the emails on your phone tonight. And think about Sunday, okay?”

  I hadn’t expected another showdown with Luc. Nor had I ever thought I’d hear him tell me to leave. Toss in his sudden about-face, and I was left with mental whiplash.

  We sat in silence for a couple minutes before I broke it, saying, “Ben said Amaric is extra busy. You guys don’t need to stay with me at the house. Or drive me places. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, and everyone has more than enough to handle. You don’t need to worry about me.”

  “It’s what family does.”

  I closed my eyes and let those words penetrate, increasing the sliver of hope.

  ···

  “Luc!” I called out, touching the screen and home button on my phone. “This stupid thing is broken!”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, taking it from me.

  “That!”

  “I’m not seeing a problem.”

  All of Theo’s emails popped up on the screen, one after another. I couldn’t exit out of them. After the tenth time through, pictures started coming up with them. Theo at work. In the car. In his orange jumpsuit.

  I gasped as a new one showed up, his face bloody and beat. “That’s what’s wrong,
” I cried as another, more painful looking picture replaced the last. “It’s stuck on those screens. I can’t get out.”

  “Well neither can Theo. What’d you think it’s like in there?”

  My heart was going to burst out of my chest as I tried to look away, but Luc held my face.

  “You know this isn’t a misunderstanding,” he whispered. “You know whatever his reason, it isn’t going to ease your mind. His aura is his shadow, and yours it growing darker by the day. Can you handle that? Can you step into the darkness with him?”

  “No, he’s good!” I fought his hold, twisting and turning. “He’s a good person!”

  “Not all good people are good.” Luc’s lips tipped up in an apologetic smile as he showed me a picture of a pissed off Theo. “Why else would he be in there? You need to accept it. Wake up and face the truth, Dahlia. Wake up. Dahlia, wake up.”

  Pulling away, I fell, landing with a loud thud.

  “Whoa, you okay?” Luc asked, reaching down to help me up.

  Accepting his hand, I stood before sitting on the side of my bed. Gus sat his fluffy butt next to me. It was still dark, only the hallway light shining in.

  Luc’s eyes went to my cell on the bed then back to me. “You were shouting about your phone.”

  I rubbed my palm down my face. “Bad dream.”

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll let you get back to sleep.”

  He was almost to the door before I spoke.

  “It’s not a misunderstanding, is it?”

  Luc didn’t turn around, but he did stop in his tracks.

  When he didn’t respond, I continued. “And the truth won’t make me feel any better, will it?”

  “Get some sleep, Dahlia.” Without even glancing back, he left the room.

  I picked up my cell, opening my email. Luc had transferred the emails from Theo out of my spam folder and into my inbox.

  They were vague, quick messages that let me know only a few things.

  He missed me.

  He loved me.

  And, whatever the truth was, he was worried about how I was going to react.

  Which meant it was worse than I’d let myself imagine.

  I read through the messages a few times again, thinking about my dream.

  How much darkness could I accept? Where was the line?

  I had no clue. Not really. I did know, if I even had a line, it was a lot farther away than it should’ve been. Because, in the dead of night when I was too tired to lie to myself, I knew I’d be okay with a lot more than I should.

  Hitting reply on the last email, I let myself type without overthinking it.

  Theo,

  I’ll see you Sunday.

  Yours,

  Dahlia

  After sending the message, I sent a text to Luc.

  Me: I want to see Theo on Sunday.

  My phone chimed within seconds.

  Luc: Good.

  Pulling my blanket up, I turned my phone off and tried to sleep.

  Surrounded by darkness.

  ···

  “Okay, so Dahlia won the night.”

  I looked over at Julie as I cleaned my paint brush, nearly dipping it in my wine glass.

  Again.

  Rosa had picked one of those boozy paint classes to do for girl time. Since wine wasn’t my drink of choice, we’d pre-gamed at a cocktail bar across the street.

  It was amazing how much more tolerable wine became when I was already tipsy.

  “Whoa. You’re good at this,” Rosa chimed in, eyeing my painting. “Have you taken an art class before?”

  I shook my head. “Not since tenth grade in high school.” I leaned back and looked at my painting.

  Everyone was doing a generic path with trees scene. Instead of bright and sunny, though, mine had brightness that shadows were encroaching on.

  It seemed fitting.

  Adding a few quick details, I set down my brush.

  “That really is lovely,” Rachelle said, wiping at my nose with a napkin to remove some stray black paint.

  Motherly.

  Everyone else finished up their paintings, leaving them to dry and moving into the lounge area. Plopping down, I sank into something that reminded me of an upscale beanbag chair. It was insanely comfortable.

  I wanted ten.

  Tina handed me a full wine glass and sat next to me. “Oh boy. You’re going to need to help me out of this thing. It’s like a cloud.”

  A surprisingly, and suspiciously, quiet Julie sat across from us.

  “I’ll stick with the regular chair.” Rachelle dragged a neon green plastic chair over. “I’d have to roll out of one of those.”

  Rosa gracefully lowered herself onto one. “Oh, I could use like ten of these.”

  I laughed. “That’s what I was thinking.”

  “Maybe I can get them for Amaric instead of the regular waiting area furniture.”

  “But could you get away with adding a nap time into the day? Because no way could you sit on one of these and not fall asleep.” Just saying it had me fighting a yawn.

  “Good point.”

  Conversation took off, controlled mostly by Rachelle and Tina. Since Mar had taken to using some creative methods to try to get out of school and chores, it was a highly entertaining afternoon.

  The topic of Theo was pointedly avoided. When Tina mentioned him briefly in a Mar story, her words were carefully chosen. There was something different about the way everyone reacted to his name. It was almost…

  Respectful with an edge of trepidation.

  Whether that was directed at him, my reaction to his name, or something else, I wasn’t sure. However, like Ben and Luc, his family seemed to have their orders about what to discuss with me, and they were sticking to them.

  When more than a couple empty bottles of wine lined the table, Tina took out her cell. “I should text Gabe. He took Mar and Kat out, and I get the feeling if I wait much longer, there won’t be any room left in the car for me.” She looked up from her phone at me. “Mar is a stubborn and mischievous child for everyone else, but she’s a perfect angel for her dad. Total daddy’s girl. And he’s been crazy about her since he saw her on the sonogram, so the feeling is mutual. It’s beautiful. But it also means she has more clothes and toys than any kid needs.”

  Julie snorted in an attempt to hold in her laughter.

  “Hey,” Tina said, her smile reminding me of her daughter’s. “I don’t know what you’re laughing about. You know Uncle Gabe loves Kat. And they’re near the American Girl store. How many dolls is she up to?”

  “Oh, God,” Julie groaned. “And she’s had her eye on this ridiculous horse and stable set.”

  “He’ll call it an early birthday present. I think that means we’re covered until she’s one hundred.”

  “And then some.”

  We all stood and made our way to pick up our paintings.

  “I’m going to use the restroom before I go,” I said, setting mine back down.

  After using the bathroom, I opened the stall and yelped.

  Julie was standing near the sink, not making any move to use one of the other empty stalls.

  “You scared me,” I said, moving to wash my hands. I caught her eyes in the mirror. “What’s up?”

  “When you know… everything, come talk to me. Don’t flip out or let your emotions take control. I know what it’s like to come in from the outside, I can help. At the very least, I can listen.”

  “I’m going to see him tomorrow,” I shared. I’d been dying to say something to them. The more drinks I had in me, the closer to the tip of my tongue the words had gotten.

  I felt alone.

  I wasn’t used to it anymore.

  And it sucked.

  Solitude wasn’t my defense like it had been when I was growing up. It wasn’t my choice like it had been when I was trying to stay focused.

  I’d made my cold and lone
ly bed, but I’d been lucky enough to share it with someone I loved.

  “Good,” she said with a nod. “Call me after.”

  “Wait!” I called out as she turned toward the door. “What’s going on? Everyone else is acting like it’s no big deal, which is freaking me out—”

  “We’ll talk after.” She squeezed my arm and left me to finish washing up.

  For the first time in weeks, there was a flicker of light in the darkness. It wasn’t in my reach yet, but I just had to play it carefully. Julie was such a close part of the family, it’d been easy to forget she’d been an outsider once, too. I wasn’t getting my hopes up that she’d spill all the details, but I’d settle for anything at that point.

  Once I was clean and random splatters of paint were gone from my face, I walked outside just in time to say goodbye to Julie and Tina.

  Both were riding home with Gabe, and two excitedly talking girls.

  And at least two horse toys.

  Lou showed up next to get Rachelle. She pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m so glad you came,” she whispered.

  “Me, too,” I admitted.

  I could tell there was more she wanted to say, but she gave me a warm smile instead.

  “So,” I said to Rosa as they pulled away. “Where’s Luc?”

  Her lips tipped up as she shrugged. “He’s not supposed to pick us up for a few more hours.” Looping her arm with mine, she turned us toward the busy city street. “First, we’re going to grab some dinner and more drinks. Then, we’re going to the movies. There’s the choice of hot guys in superhero spandex, hot guys in romance, and hot guys who make us laugh. My vote is for spandex.”

  “Spandex it is.”

  As we walked, talking about which superhero ranked highest for us, I realized I was genuinely enjoying myself.

  So much so, in fact, I’d decided to not even bother peppering questions into my conversation with Rosa. As far as I was concerned, Theo was a done topic for the night.

  That’s why I was surprised when she brought him up.

  “He loves you, you know.” She glanced over. “And when he gets out, he’ll tell you everything.”

  “So Luc said.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Please don’t hate us. We were told not to say anything, and we gave our word we wouldn’t.”