Dipping my head, I attempted to keep from revealing my bruised face to her.
Not well enough, though.
Alarmed, she stepped forward and reached toward my cheek like she was going to touch my face. “Drake, what happened?”
I angled out of her touch. “Nothing. Just had a little accident rock climbing.”
And the lies continued.
“Oh. Well, that sucks. Those things happen, though, I guess. Don’t worry. You still look sexy.” She squeezed my shoulder.
Goddamn this girl was relentless. I knew for a fact I was not giving off any kind of vibes that I was interested in her.
“You know, Drake.” She slid her hand along my tender bicep. “I’ve been very, very patient with you, and I’m never this patient.”
This was patient. I’d hate to see her in a hurry. I’d end up in her bed within ten minutes of meeting her. Before Lacey, that would have been a conquest. But, now? Shower a million times just to get her off me.
“I like you, Drake,” she said, running her hands up my chest until her arms were wrapped around my neck. “And I’m telling you because I want you to do something about that. My parents are very influential. We could benefit from each other, and I think we could go far together. Just think about that.”
Reaching up slowly to be mindful of my sore muscles, I unhooked her fingers from around my neck. “Thanks, Ashley. I’ll consider it.”
Something told me that if I didn’t give her an inch she wouldn’t lay off the aggressiveness. At least if she knew there was hope it would buy me some time to come up with a plan for avoidance.
When she rested her hands by her waist, she went back into her innocent debutante status and out of the femme fatale she just shared. “You do that.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lacey
Quickly, I finished setting out the rest of the dinner dishes on the Drake family’s dining room table. I wanted to head out before I could potentially run into Mr. Drake. It didn’t bother me to be around him, but I didn’t want there to be any unnecessary interaction if I could avoid it.
Mrs. Drake sat in her seat and put her napkin on her lap. “Lacey, before you leave could you send Adelaide down for dinner?”
“Of course, Mrs. Drake.” I stepped back to leave.
“Did you think any more about Cooper, Lacey? I’d love to tell Mrs. Ferguson the good news. She and Mr. Ferguson have given high contributions to Mr. Drake’s campaign, you know.”
I stopped. This woman really was firmly set in her goals. These people probably couldn’t even grasp the concept of not getting what they wanted. “I did not know that, Mrs. Drake, and I have spoken to Cooper, but I told him that I needed some time to think.”
She took a sip from her water goblet, then wiped her mouth with her napkin. “What is there to think about? Are you single?”
I really hated lying, especially to my employer. “It’s complicated.”
“Oh?” She turned slightly in her chair to look at me.
“Yes,” I said quickly because I couldn’t help my nervousness under her stare.
She didn’t say anything for a moment. “Well, I hope things un-complicate themselves soon. Make sure Adelaide comes downstairs.”
Nodding, I backed away and headed upstairs.
I knocked on Adele’s door, but she didn’t answer. “Adele?” I knocked again.
Creeping open the door, I peeked inside.
Adele lay on her bed facing the window.
I didn’t want to wake her if she was napping, but her mom said she needed to come down.
Closing the door behind me, I crept over. When I bent down to shake her, I saw her ear buds in. “Adele?”
She jolted and glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, hey, Lacey.” As she rose up to sit on her bed, she wiped under her eye with her finger. Quickly brushing the movement off, she dipped her head and played with her phone. “What’s up?”
I slowly sat on the edge of her bed. “Adele, have you been crying?”
She didn’t look at me. “No. What makes you say that?” Her lips went tight like she was fighting tears.
Sighing, I wrapped my arm around her.
She dropped her phone on her lap and hugged me back.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” I caressed her hair.
She shook her head of brown waves. “You’re going to think it’s stupid.”
“Try me.”
She drew in a breath, and wiped her eyes. “Abby asked out Pete.” She sniffed.
I had a feeling her tears had something to do with this afternoon. Abby never returned to the tennis game, nor did she let Pete. The little hussy was all over the poor kid. I had no idea Adele’s tears were the result of what she just told me, though. How could her friend stoop so low? “What did he say?”
“He said he’d think about it. Didn’t give her an answer yet. Claire just texted me everything Abby told her.”
“Well, that’s good. That means they aren’t for sure going out.”
“It’s not that, Lacey. It’s the fact that she asked him. I told her I liked Pete. I told her, Lacey. Why would she do something like that?” Her voice went shaky at the end, and she wiped her eyes.
I ran my hand up and down her back. “Because that is what’s known as a mean girl, and just like the movie, they unfortunately do exist.”
She gazed up, her eyes red. “What movie?”
How was it possible for me to feel old at eighteen? I guess since I was just in my early teens when it came out, I wasn’t surprised she didn’t know the reference. “Never mind. Just know that there are some girls out there who purely get satisfaction out of making other girls lives miserable.”
She nodded. “You were right about her. I wish I would have listened. She wouldn’t even talk to me while we were out for frozen yogurt. She was too busy drooling over my lame ole’ brother. She never actually wanted to be my friend. Just get close to Drake through me.”
“Well, your brother is a looker,” I said it before I could stop myself.
“Funny, Lacey.” She laughed gently.
Thank God she thought I was being sarcastic.
“What am I going to do now? I don’t want to be friends with her, but if I don’t, the other girls won’t hang out with me. I’ll have to start from square one at school.”
“Is Pete going to your school? He’s new too, right?”
“Yeah. So?”
“So . . .” I shook her shoulder. “Something tells me he said he’d think about the date with Abby because he is into you.”
She blinked her long lashes. “Seriously? You think so? I mean, I was picking up vibes, but I wasn’t sure.”
I laughed. “I’m pretty sure. I would talk to him. You can both be each other’s allies to start the new school year, and maybe he’ll be the one to ask you out.”
She smiled thinking about that. “I think that sounds like a good idea.”
“Good.” I rubbed her back one last time, then let go. “Now, your mom wants you down for dinner. Better hurry.”
She nodded as I stood. “Um, Lacey?”
“Yeah?”
“Too bad my brother is such a dork that you’d never go out with him. It would be cool.”
I smiled. That’s all I could do.
*
When I stepped into my house Margot was sitting on the couch eating a bag of Cheetos in front of the TV.
Shaking my head, I dropped off my bag at the door with my house keys.
She clicked off the TV, a sour expression on her face. “I see you’re alive.”
“What do you mean?”
She made a look like it was obvious. “Uh, we were in the middle of a conversation and then you hung up on me. Good thing I’m not a worrier. Otherwise, I’d be worried.”
Oh, crap. I did do that. With the ongoings of Abby-The-Dramatic I forgot I was on a call. “Sorry. There was a bit of a meltdown at the country club.”
“Oh?” She chewed on some Cheetos. �
�What happened? One of little junior bimbesses break a nail?” She held the bag out to me.
I waved my hand, denying the offer. “Nope. Adele had a bit of a mean girl problem. The situation made her stop and re-evaluate her friendships a bit. I think she’ll be okay, though.” I walked around the room. “Who let you in anyway? Where’s Sue?”
“She’s the one that let me in. I hope you don’t mind, but I let her go home. You’re mama tired her out.”
I laughed, crossing my arms. “I warned her about Mama. And no, I don’t mind. You stayed, so it’s cool.”
“Yeah, your mama is a firecracker,” she said, pointing toward Mama’s room. “She actually yelled at me for sending her servant away.”
That sounded like her. “What’s Mama doing anyway?” I asked, stepping toward her room.
“Oh, don’t bother. She tired herself out, too. She’s taking a nap.”
Well, that made my job easier. I’d have a nice, quiet evening. I didn’t necessarily want that, though. I would have traded the peace to spend the time with Drake any day. Things were what they were I guess.
Trying not to think about it, I joined Margot on the couch. My phone rang even before I hit the cushions.
“Don’t even think about answering that,” Margot said, grabbing for my phone as I took it out of my pocket.
I held it out of her reach. “What’s the big idea, Ms. Grabby Hands?”
“You left me hanging this afternoon, and we’re going to sit here and have a civilized conversation.”
“We will. Just let me answer this really quickly.”
She pouted. “It won’t be quick if it’s—”
“Drake.” I beamed, staring at the screen.
Margot leaned back on the couch in a huff.
I patted the air to calm her down. “I promise. Just two seconds.” I pressed the talk button.
“Right.” Dropping her feet from the couch, she left the Cheetos bag in her place. “Let me know what he said tomorrow since you’ll be on the phone all night.” She got up and headed for the door.
I threw a pillow at her as I put the phone to my ear.
She dodged it, and winked as she closed the door.
Shaking my head, I spoke into the receiver, “Hello?”
“Hey there,” said a familiar, silky, velvet voice.
Goosebumps actually covered my skin at the sound of his voice. How could he do that to me, and he wasn’t even here? “Hi, Drake.”
“It’s good to hear your voice. How are you? Besides being beautiful and sexy as hell with the hottest little nipple piercings I’ve ever seen.”
My face burning, I bit the spot of my lip ring. “I hope mine are the only ones you’ve ever seen.”
“This is true, but if I had seen others, yours would definitely be the hottest.”
“Flattery won’t get me into your bed, Truman Drake.” Actually, it probably would, but he was being cocky and didn’t need to hear how weak I was to him.
“Just to let you know, I’m pouting right now.”
Laughing at the thought of his adorable expression, I put my hand to my mouth to cover the sounds.
“So what are you doing?”
Missing him. But I didn’t want to say that and sound pathetic. “Just sitting around.” I played with the threads on the couch cushion between two fingers.
“I wish I could be there just sitting around with you.”
Thank God he was feeling the same way. I didn’t feel so bad. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. And I’m new to the whole committed relationship thing—I can practically count how long my longest relationship lasted using a kitchen timer . . .”
I chuckled.
“. . . but is it normal to miss you like crazy when I only just saw you this afternoon?”
Sighing, I lay back on the couch. “Yes, because I feel the same way.”
“Well, that’s relief. I was starting to feel a bit lame.”
Smirking, I shook my head. “You wouldn’t want that. Adele might outcast you.”
He chuckled. “No, I wouldn’t. And it may be a bit girly, but I will preach from the rafters that I miss my girl.”
“I guess I won’t be upset by your chauvinistic reference since in your own way it’s sweet. . .”
“And I appreciate this.”
“. . . or linger on the fact that you left me hanging this afternoon.” I tapped at the phone with my finger, anxiously awaiting his response.
“God, I’m sorry about that, Lace.”
“It’s okay.”
“That’s the thing, Lace, it’s not. What happened today was a reality check. We’re going to have to sneak around constantly just to be together. Hanging around places like the mall or even just going to the movies will be a struggle here in the North Shore. We’ll have to constantly worry about if word will get back to my parents. These people talk like crazy here.”
I frowned. I realized the reality of our situation last night, but the reminder sent a caving feeling into my chest and a large lump I couldn’t manage to swallow into my throat.
“We should be able to do whatever want whenever we want. I mean, I can’t even touch you, or hold you just because I feel like it without the paranoia we’re under someone’s eye. There is nothing right about that.”
I restlessly played with a curl. “I know. Things will turn around, though. You start school soon.”
“Yeah, but not soon enough. I just want to be able to have a moment alone with you whenever I feel like it. I even went to the courts today to see you, but you and Adele had already left.”
“You did?” Darn it. I wished I stayed a bit longer. I couldn’t have asked Adele to do that after what happened with Abby, though. “Where are you now?”
“Home.”
“Seriously? I just came from there.”
He groaned into the receiver. “This is just ridiculous.”
He was right. It was ridiculous.
“When are you coming in tomorrow? Maybe I can pry my sister away and—”
“I’m not coming in tomorrow.”
“Wait. Why?”
I guessed he didn’t check the family schedule. “Your mom gave me a few days off. She’s going to be around and won’t need me.”
The phone line went silent for a moment. “Okay. I think I’ve got a plan, and I know you’re not going to like it, but I’m getting desperate here.”
I leaned up, dropping the hair that was wrapped around my finger. “What kind of plan?”
“Ashley Jameson approached me today.”
I thought about his statement, but couldn’t place the name. “Who’s that?”
“She is a member at the country club. You might have seen her the day of the pool party at the table I was at.”
There were a few girls with him that day, but only one gave me the stink eye. I bet that was the one he was referring to. “Why did she approach you?”
“She has been on me since my father’s campaign fundraiser about picking up something between the two of us.”
I gritted my teeth.
“Up until today she was only dropping hints, but the girl actually cornered me today when I stopped by the country club. I was surprised she didn’t have the marriage papers already drawn up and with her.”
“Okay. Why does she matter? Unless, you’re thinking about seeing her, too . . .” My heart clenched. We technically didn’t cement anything as exclusive, and actually going out with me would be a struggle. She’d be easy to date. Me, not so much.
“Oh, God no, Lace. I mean, sort of— Well, not really.”
My lips pursed tight. “Truman Drake, if you’re thinking about dating me and her at the same time, then you better forget about me and anything we have—”
“No, Lace, this is the plan I’m trying to tell you about. She’s been trying to get me to go out with her, and Cooper has been trying to get you to go out with him. Well, why not make them both happy, and give them what they want.”
I narr
owed my eyebrows. “I don’t follow.”
“You and I both need a valid excuse to go out together. Well, if we take these two out that gives us that reason. We all go out as a group, then you and I make up an excuse to leave. They go home, and we stay out. Done deal.”
Biting my lip, I thought about that for a moment. “I don’t know, Drake. I don’t want to lead Cooper on.”
“Then don’t. Leave everything that occurs that night between you completely platonic. Don’t act like you’re into him. Just be friendly. I’ll do the same with Ashley, and then we’ll ditch.”
This whole plan sounded sketchy, and reminded me of something Adele’s friend Abby would do. I didn’t know if I wanted to be that mean girl.
He sighed into the phone. “I knew you wouldn’t go for it.”
“Drake, I really want to go out, just not at the expense of someone else.”
“Even if it gives us some time together? Time that, until I start school, we don’t know for sure we’ll get?”
God, did I want that time. But could I do it knowing I’d be playing someone else?
“Just tell me you’ll think about it.”
I could give him that. “I’ll think about it.”
“Okay. I’ll let you go. I’ve got to go over some stuff I got at class registration today. I don’t want to go, though.”
I smiled. “I know.”
“I guess, I’ll talk to you when I talk to you?”
I cringed, hating the sound of that. “Okay.”
“Okay. Well, um . . .”
The line went silent as I waited for him to finish.
“Bye, Lace,” he said quickly.
“Bye, Drake.”
Pulling my phone away from my ear, I gazed at the screen that showed the elapsed minutes. As pathetic as it was, I already missed him. God, why did life have to suck so hard? I couldn’t have worked for another family? He couldn’t have pissed off someone who didn’t ask me out, and wasn’t a gangbanger slash stalker?
Groaning, I laid my phone on my chest and stared at the ceiling.
I wouldn’t see him for at least a few days, and even then, it would only be able to be in passing.
No longer allowing myself to think about it, I swiped my phone off my chest and went into the text message screen. I typed a single word: Okay.
The Space Between Page 18
