Addicted for Now (8 page)

“How was the meeting?” Sebastian asks Rose, a lit cigarette
burning between two fingers.

“The meeting was fine,” she says. “The menswear collection
just shipped, so everyone was excited.” When she turns to him, she spots the
cigarette between his fingers, her eyes narrowing. With Connor’s vase still
clenched in her hand, she plucks the cigarette from Sebastian. “Outside only.”
She snuffs it in the sink and makes no other comment about it.

He gets away with more shit than any other guy in Rose’s
life.

Lily resituates herself on my lap, straddling me on the
chair all of a sudden. Fuck.

It’s the middle of the day. We shouldn’t have sex. It’s not
considered the norm. I remind myself of all the reasons why this can’t happen.
Not to mention Rose and Sebastian are halfway across the kitchen from us.

“How’s tutoring going?” Rose turns to Lily at this. She’s
trying to delay what I think is the inevitable—my cock in Lily, her body and
mind appeased, coming with a blissful high.

Lily points to her chest, flushed. “Oh, me?”

Rose gives her a look—one that tells her to relocate her
common sense. Lily tucks her hair behind her ear and sits up a little from my
chest. Progress, yes. But I can’t move my hands from her thighs. I’m afraid
she’ll freak out by the lack of touch.

“I know why people call the class Stats and not Stat now.” She
flashes a strained smile, hoping that’s enough for Rose.

“She’s doing fairly well,” Sebastian says nonchalantly. But
his gaze descends to the vase between Rose’s fingers. He grabs the clear glass.
“Is this crystal?”

“Yes,” Rose says tiredly. She pulls her glossy brown hair
into a sleek pony.

Sebastian pauses for a second, and I realize Lily is
entrapped with the scene, watching with more interest than she normally would
have.

I squeeze her leg and lean forward to whisper in her ear,
“What’s going on?”

But Sebastian speaks, cutting off any chance for Lily to reply.
“Where are the flowers?”

“Dead.”

Sebastian opens a cupboard and slides out the trash.

“What are you doing?” Rose asks, her pitch spiking.

“He really expects to win you back with
flowers
. Come on, Rose.” Huh, I’m surprised Rose felt comfortable enough
to share intimate details of her fight with
Sebastian.
I just didn’t think she opened up her frigid gates to anyone.

Rose stares questioningly at the vase in Sebastian’s hand,
considering trashing Connor’s present.

Oh fuck that. “It’s crystal,” I remind her.

“Yeah,” Lily adds.

Sebastian looks unperturbed by the voices of dissent and
rests an elbow on the counter. He passes the vase to Rose, but she hesitates by
the trash bin.

“It’s Lalique,” she says under her breath, her fingers
running over the smooth face. The vase is cut like a square, and the bottom has
an intricate knot design.

“What does that mean?” Lily asks.

“He has good taste,” Rose says.

Sebastian makes a show of rolling his eyes.

Rose clutches the vase to her chest. “It’s my favorite
brand.”

Only Rose would have a favorite kind of crystal at twenty-two.
But more than that, Connor
knew
exactly
what she liked. That detail has to count for something. I’m not even that
perceptive.

Sebastian taps the counter, watching Rose closely. “You can
keep it,” he says, “but what kind of message does that really send? Every
fight, he’ll try to buy you back. Personally I’d be fine with that type of
relationship. I have a pair of a crocodile leather shoes from Max in my closet,
but I know you, Rose. After the fifth piece of jewelry, you’re going to be sick
of him.”

Rose looks conflicted.

“Connor is trying to say he’s sorry,” Lily pipes in.

Sebastian looks bothered by Lily’s interjection. He tilts
his head, his eyes flickering to her backpack. I’m missing something important.
It doesn’t take a genius like Connor to figure that one out.

Lily hesitates, and she recoils into my chest. I wrap my
arms around her and assault Sebastian with my glower. That’s what life in the
first-class world is—a series of glares, half-smiles and scowls. Each one is
lethal, each one like a fucking razor. And I’ve learned all of them from the best.
Not Rose Calloway. My father could destroy her with his sharp ‘go-the-fuck-to-hell’
stare.

Hell, he’s almost destroyed me
with it.

Rose sets the vase on the counter by the coffee pot,
uncertain. “I have a box I need to grab from the car. I’ll be right back.”
Partly, I think she’s leaving to hide how flustered she’s become. When she
exits out the back door, Sebastian straightens up and grabs the vase off the
counter.

Lily’s spine goes erect like a surprised cat. “What are you
doing?”
 

“What Rose can’t. She’ll thank me later.” He chucks the vase
in the trash bin.

“No!” Lily springs from my lap. I follow her, only because I
don’t like that look in Sebastian’s eye. It’s the kind that I’ve seen from too many
rich kids—the one where they think they’re invincible. That no one can touch
them.

I’ve probably worn it on occasion.

Sebastian kicks the cupboard closed and extends his arms
across the counter behind him, blocking Lily from the bin. She squats to go through
his legs to reach it, but Sebastian holds his foot out. “Remember what’s at
stake, Little Calloway,” he says casually, a voice so smooth that I want to
tear it to shreds. Mine is nothing like that. I’m all edged, all something
harsh and severe.

Lily freezes and slowly rises. I place my hands on her
shoulders, confused as ever.

“Are you blackmailing her?” I ask.

Lily shakes her head first. “It’s okay,” she says to me. She
places her palms on my chest and begins to push me away from the counters and
towards the breakfast table again. It’s not okay. What the fuck is going on?!

The door opens. Rose enters with a paisley box labeled
Spring/Summer Men’s Collection.

“So you’re really doing menswear?” Lily asks, her hand
slipping in mine. She squeezes once, a sign that she’ll explain the Sebastian
stuff later. I have to trust her.

Rose nods and pulls out a blue men’s sports coat and passes
it to Sebastian.

“I like the pocket,” he says and inspects the silky lining. “I’m
glad you went with this print.”

“Me too. The mini-checkers were too much.” She turns to
Lily. “Sebastian’s been helping me with the collection.”

Lily told me Rose has been nervous about branching out since
Calloway Couture has been strictly for women only.

“I know this is probably a busy time,” Rose says to Lily,
taking the coat from Sebastian and folding it precisely, “but I could use your
help at the office. Would you mind working more hours?”

Since my stay at rehab, Lily has occupied her time as Rose’s
assistant, even if two other girls work at Calloway Couture for social media,
online sales and whatever the hell Rose needs them for. Lily told me that she’s
Rose’s numero uno bitch—and she said it all with a flourish of pride, which I
found pretty adorable.

“Sure,” Lily agrees with a solid nod. But she grips my hand
tighter, and then she blurts out, “But what about the male models?” And then
her eyes dart to Sebastian and she pales, forgetting his presence.

“Oh yes,” Sebastian says, “they’re gorgeous. Maybe Rose can
find you someone better to date than that one over there.” He points at me.

“And maybe she’ll find someone to replace you.” I mockingly
pause. “Oh wait, she already has.” Where’s Connor Cobalt when you fucking need
him?

The corner of Sebastian’s mouth tics. Good.
 

Rose sets the sport’s coat back in the box. “Sebastian, I
think it’s time for you to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Sure.” He kisses her cheek, and then he waves to Lily.
“Study hard.”

“I will,” she says tensely.

With this, he departs, and when the door slams, Rose sets
her hands on her hips and faces Lily. “I won’t ever schedule the male models
for fittings when you’re in the office, I promise.”

“I’m just scared,” Lily admits. She can’t even look at me.

I try to hold back a cringe. I should have more faith in
her—that she won’t cheat on me, but I spent years hearing her fuck other guys
through the walls. Being monogamous isn’t natural for her, and I’m honestly
shocked she’s made it this long with just me. I wait for the day when I’m not
enough, especially now that I can’t feed into her desires. I can’t give her
what she can so easily receive from some other douchebag.

“I’m not going to put you in that position,” Rose tells her.
“I promise.”

And if my plan works, then Lily shouldn’t be worried at all.
But right as I muster the courage to ask Rose, the door opens and we all
stiffen.

Sebastian is back.

But the shoes on the hardwood sound different, more
confident, faster and determined.

Connor strolls through the archway with a stack of French
bread pizzas. He slides them on the counter just as the tension eases. Well,
technically only Lily and I relax. Rose’s shoulders lock like she’s preparing
to crush someone underneath her heel. “Who did you think I was?” he asks us. He
must notice the shift in the room.

“Sebastian,” Lily says.

“We were talking about sex,” I clarify.

He nods, understanding now. “How’d the tutoring go?” he
asks, about to approach Rose and kiss her, but she stares at the wall, not at
him.
Come on, Rose, let the guy in.

Connor only studies her, more determined to win her
affections. He leans against the counter and then gives Lily his full
attention.

“It was fine. I think Sebastian is going to help a lot.”

Really?
I always
claimed I’d switch from whiskey to bleach if I had to talk to him for longer
than ten minutes. Obviously, there’s something going on between Sebastian and
Lily, but I don’t want to bring it up now.

“That’s good,” Connor says. “I’m sorry I can’t tutor you. If
I had more time this semester, you know I would.”

“It’s fine, really.” She keeps saying that, and I think we
all know it’s not fine.

Connor flips open one of the boxes, and Rose peers over his
shoulder, risking the touch of his arm.

“Artichoke and mushrooms?” she asks.

He pulls out the second box and faces her. But he holds onto
the pizza. “And feta.”

Lily mouths to me,
her
favorite.

He’s smooth. And Lily is grinning so hard, watching her
sister and Connor reunite. Her whole face glows. Fuck it. I slide my arms
around her waist, and I draw her to my chest, her warm body makes my cock
throb. She lets out an audible sigh, but Connor and Rose are lost in their own
intellectual world.

Rose waits for Connor to pass the box, but he’s not going to
let her have the pizza so easily. I sometimes forget that he’s willing to test
her as much as she does him.

“You broke the vase, didn’t you?” He must have seen the
crumpled white roses by the gate. If he’s hurt by the fact, I can’t tell. Rose
and other genius-types must be the only ones able to read him.
 

“What? No, I…” She glances over her shoulder by the
sink—where she had previously set the vase. But it’s no longer there thanks to
her “best” friend. Her gaze drifts to the cupboard with the sliding trash bin.

Connor follows her eyes, and he opens the cupboard and lifts
out the expensive crystal, a fissure running through the side. Cracked, broken.
He sets it by the sink and then passes her the pizza.

“I didn’t do that,” Rose immediately says. Her eyes light
with fire. “I’m going to kill him.” I’ve heard her say that about Sebastian too
many times to take the threat seriously.

“Sebastian?” Connor wonders.

Rose nods tersely. She puts the pizza down, no longer
interested in eating, and she inspects the vase with delicate hands. Her
shoulders drop. He comes behind her and whispers in her ear. When his voice
grows, I catch the syllables, but I don’t understand the words.

He’s speaking to her in French.

She answers back in the foreign language, fluent. He kisses
her head, and then she spins around and kisses his lips, standing on the tips
of her toes.

Lily turns to face me at this, and her eyes grow wide and
eager.
I want to, Lil. God, do I want to.
Now’s the best time to talk to Rose. Even if it’ll break her moment with
her boyfriend, it’ll save me from rejecting Lily again.

“Rose,” I say.

She drops to her feet, but Conner keeps his hand tangled in
her hair, intoxicated by Rose’s commanding movements. She possesses him, but he’s
equally as possessive of her, which I still find strange. I thought for sure
Rose would devour any man she touched, but they have this symbiotic
relationship instead of the parasitic one I share with Lily.
 

“Yes?” she asks.

My throat swells at the thought of asking her for help. Even
as the words rest on my tongue, saying them is so fucking hard. So I turn to
Connor. “Have you heard anything from the private investigator?”

“He’s working on tracing the messages. We’ll see if we can
find any leads.” After the wave of texts in the car, that’s not exactly the
news I wanted to hear. I don’t like waiting around. I only have patience where
Lily is concerned. Waiting for her to choose me over a quick lay—that was hard,
but I endured it. Waiting for this guy to rip apart our lives—that, I’m not
taking so well.

“Lo,” Rose snaps. Her hand flies back to her hip. She could
tell I was dodging. “Spill.”

I inhale. “As you know…” I rub the back of my neck, heat
flushing my body all of a sudden. I’m not used to that. “…I don’t have a
college degree, so getting a job that pays better than minimum wage is going to
be a challenge.”

The silence lingers, waiting for me to continue, three sets
of eyes boring into me in curiosity and hesitation. They think I’m on the verge
of giving up, of throwing my hands in the air and saying I can’t do hard,
physical labor. I can’t flip burgers. I can’t fucking be a normal lower-class
guy who has to work for his money. I’ve
never
had to do that, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try. They think less of
me, and I haven’t given them reason to believe otherwise.