I sneezed, and Claire handed me a tissue. “My God, Al, think of all the people you’ve pulled out of the gutter and given a second chance. Those guys would take a bullet for you any day of the week.”
“And how many women can say that Death has a thing for them?” Mira added. “Graves definitely has a soft spot for you.” I’d never thought of it that way. I wondered if, when I did die, it would be Graves who took me to wherever the hell it was I was supposed to go. I hadn’t seen him yet, so I guessed that was a good sign. But if he had a thing for anyone, it was my dear redheaded sister.
I laughed. “Well, there is that.”
I sat up. “It just hurts, you guys. I love Jake so much, and I know he loves me. It feels like it’s just right there, and it’s falling like sand through my fingers. I can’t hold on to it. It makes me think that maybe the universe is telling me it’s not the right time. Or maybe that love just isn’t in the stars for me.”
Gilly sighed. “You are allowed to be sad and to whine as much as you want, but don’t use the universe as an excuse, Al. We’re fighting an evil like no one has ever seen before, and we have to fight for the good things in our lives. You’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. We told you, Jake needs time, but he’ll come around. We’ve all seen how much he loves you. That’s something he can’t shove up on a shelf, no matter how man stupid he is.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I want to believe you’re right.”
She put a hand on my knee and squeezed. “I am. Now do you have the makings for a Bellini in there?” She pointed toward the bar. “I could really use one.”
CHAPTER 28
“Damn dragons are wearing me out.” I pulled my hair into a loose chignon and then realized I’d have to redo the hair once I put on my dress. The glistening red gown was so tight that the only way to get into it was to shimmy. “I don’t have a brain tonight.”
“Alex, take a breath. We have a whole three minutes to get there.” My sister Gillian’s sarcasm wasn’t lost on me. “Lucky for us, we have these.” She pointed to her tattoos.
“Where is the limo picking us up?” I pulled the dress over my head, thankful for the tight but long sleeves that covered the new scar on my shoulder. The puckered wound would eventually heal and leave a smaller scar. Dr. Posten was pretty much a genius when it came to plastic surgery, but there was no way it would look decent in time to hit the red carpet tonight.
“We don’t have to worry about the limo. We’re going to teleport to the penthouse at the Renaissance and just walk over. Claire wants us to go green, which means giving up the big, gas-hogging cars for premieres.”
“And remind me why we’re doing this again?” I turned so she could do up the zipper in the back.
Gilly gave me a hard look. “It’s your fault. You set her up with that actor. If you hadn’t, we wouldn’t have been roped into viewing this brain-dead action film. I hope that we at least get some decent cocktails and some popcorn.”
“Hey, you never know. It might be good. Besides, we haven’t spent any time together the past few days.”
She touched my good shoulder. “I know. My demons have been keeping me busy.”
I laughed. “More like their king.”
“Him, too.” She didn’t bother to deny it. “All set?”
After another quick look, I decided to keep my hair down. With the shaggy ends and new blonde color and the dark red mini, I looked very rocker chick chic.
“This way.” The photogs yelled as Gilly and I strolled arm in arm down the red carpet. We stopped, put our right feet a bit forward, and did the slight torso twist. This is a trick we learned early on when the tabloids first found us so fascinating. I’m not vain, but after a couple of horrible pics where I didn’t do that slimming pose, even I was depressed.
Gilly was dressed in a beautiful azure minidress that was beyond amazing with her skin color. It crisscrossed up the back and hugged her figure.
One of our reporter friends from Texas, Kristen Crane, was in the line doing interviews, and she waved us over. “Oh, my God, you two look fabulous.”
I smiled. Of all the reporters who had interviewed us through the years, she was my favorite. She knew how to tell a good story without being salacious, and she’d been more than kind to my family through the years.
“Can you give me a minute on camera?”
Gilly and I looked at each other and shrugged. “Sure,” we said together.
Kristen motioned to the cameraman, and he moved a little closer. “Now, I know you are closed-mouthed when it comes to who is dating who, but we just watched your sister Claire walk the red carpet with Colin, the star of the film. So are they an item?”
I gave a slight laugh and waved my hand. “You guys crack me up. Honestly, they both like to surf, and they just met. They’re friends. That’s it.” I winked at her. “But I guess you could say this is their first official date.” That made it seem like I was giving insider information without actually revealing anything. People loved it when they thought they were getting a real scoop.
“Oh, I know our viewers will appreciate that. Now to you.” She motioned toward Gillian. “We’ve seen Gillian running around to various events with a tall, dark mystery man that she refuses to talk about. But how about you, Alex? Any special man in your life?”
Holy crap. If she only knew.
I pretended like I was thinking hard. “No. Why? Do you know of someone? I mean, how lame is it that I had to bring my sister as my date tonight?” I laughed.
Gilly
tsk
ed. “My poor baby sister can’t get a date. I know the world mourns for her. It’s cuz she’s so ugly.” She hammed it up for the camera. “Sad, so sad that she looks like this.”
I playfully slapped at her arm. “Thanks a lot.”
“Just trying to help you get a date.” She gave the camera her sweetest smile, and I couldn’t keep from laughing.
Kristen turned her attention back to Gilly. “And I understand you’re chairing the national Arts in Schools event. Can you tell us who you have lined up for the party?”
My lovely sister totally took the heat off of me, and a few seconds later we were down the red carpet and into the theater. It took us a minute, but we finally found Claire, who was giggling at Mr. Surfer Dude star.
“Have you ever seen her giggle?” I whispered to Gilly.
She snorted. “I so didn’t think he was her type.”
“Maybe he’s smarter than he looks.” I seriously doubted it. I knew it was wrong to stereotype, but the guy was too pretty to have a brain.
“Well, she’s having fun, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.” She frowned. “Darn, they’re letting people inside.”
I laughed. “I’ve never seen anyone so depressed about going to a movie.”
Gilly sighed. “It’s Arath. He’s hooked on B movies. Hell, D movies. He loves the old-school Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme crap. It’s his way of sharing my world with me. I haven’t had the heart to tell him that the movies make me physically ill. The fight scenes alone are so fake it’s enough to make me crazy.”
I hugged her shoulders. “The things you do for love.” I grabbed a couple of vodka martinis from one of the trays carried by a waiter. “Chug these real quick. It’ll make everything more fun.” I couldn’t resist and chugged a couple down myself.
There was a reason martinis were supposed to be sipped. A half-hour into the movie, I had a huge buzz, and I could tell Gilly felt the same way. We both kept giggling at inappropriate moments. We must have been kind of loud, because Claire turned in her seat to give us a death stare.
When the film—which wasn’t as horrible as we feared— ended, we moved to the reception area, where photogs were shooting so many pictures of Claire and her man that the light was blinding.
What I saw, that I doubted few others did, was that she seemed happy. For the first time in a long time. She really did like this guy. She told me they had been chatting on the phone since that day he called me to get her number. They’d really had a chance to learn about each other, without all the weird awkward date stuff. By the time they finally hooked up tonight, they had obviously hit it off in a big way.
Good for her.
A tear slipped down my cheek, and I rubbed it away with my hand. My emotions were all over the place, and just when I thought I had them under control,
boom
, the waterfalls would open.
Gilly turned and saw me wipe away the tear. “What’s wrong?”
I shrugged, unable to speak over the lump in my throat. “Sudden migraine.”
She knew I was lying, but she didn’t say anything. “Let’s get you back to the hotel. Give me a minute to let Claire know where we’ve gone.”
Once the cameras stopped, she whispered something in Claire’s ear.
My youngest sister gave me a worried look, and I knew she wanted to come with us. I shook my head and mouthed, “I’ll be fine. I promise.” I pointed to my head.
She frowned, then blew me a kiss.
We went the back way out of the theater and straight into our room at the hotel. “Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know. I just . . . don’t want to be here.” I turned so she could unzip me, then I pulled the dress over my head. “When am I going to get over him?”
She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Maybe you aren’t supposed to, Al.”
I gave her an evil stare.
“I know, but you love him, and he obviously loves you. He’s been a giant, grumpy lump since you took off.”
“Well, he’s the one who doesn’t want to be with me, remember?”
“You’ve both had some time to cool off. Maybe he’s changed his mind. You won’t know unless you try to talk to him.”
I snorted. “He has a phone, Gilly. If he wanted to talk to me, he has me on speed dial. Did you know he makes Gerald call me every time there’s a dragon infestation?”
“Yes, which tells me that he’s not having any easier of a time trying to get over you than you are him. Be a big girl and go talk to him.”
I shook my head. “No. I told you, there’s more to the story.”
“I know: the dead wife.”
“Don’t be disrespectful,” I said as I pulled my T-shirt over my head.
She held up her hands as if in surrender. “Just stating the facts, ma’am.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “We both need time. Apart. I can be friends with him. It’s just going to take a while. And he’s right; he deserves someone who doesn’t have to fight dragons on a daily basis.”
Gilly laughed. “You justify it all you want, but the heart doesn’t just get over things. He’s not going to stop loving you just because it isn’t convenient.”
“I’m done, Gilly. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Okay?”
“So where are you going to run to now?” She pulled her knees to her chest.
“Madrid. I want to check on Lourdes. The company jet is going to fly her to Florida tomorrow. I also promised Aspen I’d spend some time at the castle. The wedding is so soon, and there’s still a lot to do.”
Gilly stood and took my hand. “You can keep running, but it isn’t going to help.”
“I’m not running,” I promised her. “I’m doing my best to move on with life. I’m doing what I have to in order to make it through each day. And honestly, it’s not easy for me. I want to give up and curl into a little ball and hide in my bed all day. But I don’t. So please, please, just give it a rest.”
She leaned across and kissed my cheek. “You know, it’s morning in Hong Kong, and I hear there are two new designers with fab boots. We could grab a pair before anyone ever even hears about them.” She squeezed my hand.
“Are you trying to fill my emotional void with a pair of boots?”
She nodded.
I sighed. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 29
ONE WEEK LATER
“Alex, are you in there? Is everything okay?” Aspen banged on the bathroom door. The bathroom where I’d just landed after dealing with a couple of stupid dragons. The beasts had tried to break into a church in Holland where some priceless artwork was displayed.
One of them had scratched my face, and I had desperately tried to cover my chin with concealer.
“What?” I opened the door. “Sorry, did you need me?”
She gave me a curious look. “The photographer is here, and he’s ready to begin. I need your help getting into my dress. What happened to your face?” Her hair was piled on top of her head and adorned with a beautiful tiara. The makeup artist had improved on the perfection that is Aspen, and she looked like the perfect dewy bride.
I shrugged. “You know me. Total klutz. I opened a cabinet door and wasn’t paying attention. Chucked me in the chin.” I gave her my most distracting smile. “Oh my God, woman, you look gorgeous.”
She smiled sweetly. “I feel like a princess.” Even though she was in Juicy Couture sweats, she twirled as if she were in a ball gown. “I can’t wait to do this.”
“What were you saying about the photog?”
“He’s ready. Can you come help me get into my dress?”
“You bet.” I pointed to the closet door where my dress hung. For a bridesmaid dress, it wasn’t bad. A Dolce & Gab bana gown in a coppery color, which looked even better with the new tan the bride insisted I get. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll meet you in your rooms.”
Aspen had kicked Huff and his family out of their home yesterday, and she’d taken over the castle. Some things never changed. But I had to say: the man was obviously good for her. She was such a different person from even a few weeks ago. During the festivities leading up to today, her main goal had been to make certain that everyone had fun. And we did. There had been picnics, cricket matches, and a formal ball. It had been a hectic, tiring, and lovely week.
My cell phone buzzed, and I answered it on the first ring.
“Yes?” I stepped out of the suite of rooms into the hall. The earl, Huff’s pop, ran toward me with a worried look in his eyes.
He pointed to the phone. “That’s me; you can hang up.”
“What’s wrong?” I took his arm and led him away from where Aspen’s rooms were.
Leaning against the wall, he tried to catch his breath. Portly would be the easiest way to describe him. He looked kind of like a basketball with a goatee. “I can’t get the boy out of the car.”