The Girl in the Mirror (Sand & Fog #3) (35 page)

Alan’s eyes widen as he leans close to my face. “I won’t be mean.”

I make a face at him. “You better not.”

Alan rolls his eyes. “Jack’s going to be there. How awful can I get? Hell, with your grandfather there I probably won’t even get a word in.”

I kiss my dad’s cheek. “Good. There’s going to be someone there to make you behave.”

He frowns. “No one needs to make me behave. I’m British. Politeness is inescapable.” My dad stands up. “We won’t be late, sunshine, but you should probably go to bed like the rest of the family has.”

My eyebrows lift. “I’m not going to sleep until you bring Jacob home and I know everything’s OK between you two.”

He rakes back his hair, staring out at the city lights. “You’re just like your mum. Suspicious. You have nothing to worry about.”

He presses a fast touch of his lips into my hair before he disappears into the apartment. I hear, “Let’s roll, Graham. We’ve let the kid drive around the city with Dillon long enough.”

They’re all laughing as they head for the door.

I slowly stretch my arms and upper body. I’m exhausted. It’s been a roller coaster of a day. Professionally and personally. My dad’s right, I should probably go to bed. But my languid limbs are anxious and my stomach is full of flutters. Anxious flutters, happy flutters, and
oh shit, my dad is running loose in Manhattan with Jacob
flutters.

Turning, I stare at the terrace door and wonder if I should go find Mom. We really haven’t talked much about my marriage. And she’d know what Alan’s up to. Instead, I recline on a pillow, staring out at the city.

The sounds of the street below are pleasantly hushed, the sky luminous with stars and a bright moon, and from the apartment comes silence. Not exactly how I planned to spend the night after my New York debut. Different than how I thought Jacob and I would pass the darkness hours tonight.

Rubbing my cheek against the cushion, I smile. I landed the audience tonight, but what mattered more to me was the look in Jacob’s eyes as he watched me dance. The fast glimpses of his face I caught throughout the performance. The way he stared at me. The look in his eyes landing as a jolt in my heart, and everything within me let loose.

If I was brilliant tonight, it was because of him. I would have never gotten this far in New York without Jacob. He taught me how to love and not be afraid to feel. Destroyed the belief in my head that I couldn’t have both a career and a relationship, and unlocked my heart. He helped me recover from the eating habits that nearly ruined my health. Never faltered through our lows. He loves me more than I love myself, and though it didn’t start that way for me, now that’s how I love him.

Frowning, I wonder if I should have told my dad that. No, those parts belong to us. They wouldn’t understand it anyway. I’m living it and at times I don’t understand how it can be so wonderful to love him. I thought I would never love anyone the way I love Jacob…

“What are you still doing up, K-bell?”

Kaley crosses the terrace and sits beside me on the lounger.

“I don’t trust Dad. I want to be awake when Jacob gets home to make sure everything went well. What are you doing awake?”

Laughing, Kaley stretches out beside me. “Waiting up for Bobby, but probably for different reasons than you.”

“What do you mean different reasons? You know what they’re doing, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Bobby knows better after ten years of marriage than to keep things from me.” She yawns. “The guys are at The Blue Light getting loaded together. A belated bachelor party for Jacob.”

My eyes go wide. “What? They’re having a bachelor party tonight? I don’t believe you. Dad looked so serious when he left. Are you telling me that my father took my husband nightclubbing through Manhattan with him?”

She nods, amused. “It’s no big deal, Krystal. Like you said, your husband’s out with Dad.”

I give her the look. “Hello? No big deal? Did you just hear what you said?”

Kaley laughs. “Yeah. Bobby’s with them, too. You don’t see me tripping. Mom’s sound asleep in her bed. It’s nothing to get upset about, Krystal. It’s what guys do.”

My brows lower. “It’s not what my guy does. This is the last time Dad takes Jacob anywhere.”

Kaley turns on the chaise, facing me, one brow arched in a manner that makes her the mirror image of Alan. Black hair, black eyes, perfect features, and intimidating without effort.

“I thought maybe my kid sister was gone forever now that she’s married and a sensation in the ballet world. But this is the Krystal I know. You have nothing to be jealous or possessive about. Not if Jacob loves you.”

“He loves me.”

“Of course he does. How could he not? You have nothing to worry about, Krystal.”

I tense. Why does she keep saying I have nothing to worry about?

She climbs from the lounger and holds out a hand for me. “Come on. Let’s go to bed. It’s late. And I don’t think they’re getting back until morning. Dad didn’t leave here until after one.”

I let her pull me up.

As we go down the hallway, I ask, “Do you think we should say good night to Mom? She looked so happy that all us kids are together here.”

“No, she’s sound asleep. I already told you.” Kaley lays her cheek on my head. “She really missed you. Not coming home for a year, it worried her. Both of them. But I guess now we know why you stayed away from Pacific Palisades all that time. God, Krystal, an entire year and you didn’t tell them you got married. Mom cried for one week straight. It was Dad who kept her from coming here to confront you and said that she shouldn’t push and that there had to be a reason you didn’t think you could tell us. But I guess Dad got tired of waiting on you. I’m glad. Mom looked happy tonight. She hasn’t looked happy for weeks.”

Having her say that makes me feel awful.

“I didn’t do it to hurt them, Kaley. It wasn’t because I don’t love them.”

Kaley nods. “Well, whatever the reason, you hurt them, Krystal, and Mom has really missed you. More than you know.”

“It’s not like she didn’t see me. She came to New York and visited. Lots of times. They both did.”

“It’s not the same as you coming home. There’s a difference. They like having the whole family together. It’s important to them. You know that, Krystal.”

I lean against my bedroom doorframe, positive I should say something, but not knowing what to add because my sister pretty much put it all out there, everything I already know about Mom and Dad, and all the things neither of them said to me though they had a right to.

“Good night, Kaley. I love you.”

“I love you, too, K-bell.” She kisses my forehead. “And don’t give Jacob too much shit when he gets home. Whatever he’s done tonight is not his fault.”

“Wait,” I say anxiously at Kaley’s departing back. “What do you mean
whatever he’s done
?”

At her bedroom door she turns to face me. “Bobby didn’t sober up for three days after his son-in-law outing with Dad. He doesn’t even completely remember everything they did. But I saw the pictures. It wasn’t anything to have a fit over.”

“Pictures? Why didn’t you ever tell me this? How could you not show me the pictures?”

Kaley frowns. “You were like eleven or something when I married Bobby. I wasn’t going to show my baby sister pictures of my husband trying to take shots from a stripper’s breasts.”

My eyes flare open to their fullest. “They really did that?”

“No, Bobby did. From what I hear, Dad just sat there laughing and drinking all night. He brought Bobby home, dumped him in my living room, and said
, ‘
Princess, you don’t have to worry about him. He couldn’t even get the shot glass from her breasts.’ Like I needed Dad to tell me that. They’re just going to take Jacob out to get a feel for what kind of man he is since none of them know him that well. Hopefully, Dad brings him home. It’s not good if Jacob doesn’t come home with them.”

I stare at her.

Her gaze meets mine, unblinking.

Narrowing my eyes, I shake my head at her. “Ha, ha, ha. You must think I’m so gullible. You’re full of it. Dad wouldn’t do that. Mom wouldn’t let him. And I know what you’re trying to do, Kaley. You’re messing with me like you did when we were little and it’s not funny. Nope, don’t believe you.”

She shrugs. “Fine, don’t. Ask Jacob in the morning. That is if he’s coherent. If not, check his phone for evidence. One of the guys is taking pictures on his phone. That’s what they did with Bobby. Left the entire night in his photo library so I could find it and give him shit.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not ten anymore. This isn’t going to work, Kaley. You can’t psych me out.”

She goes into her room, closes the door, and a second later I’m not sure if I should believe her or not.

Damn it, I hate when she does this.

It’s exactly like when we were kids.

She’s just messing with me.

Dad wouldn’t do that.

I go to bed.

* * *

I open my eyes and then shoot upright in bed. I’m alone and it’s morning. Jacob didn’t come home last night.

Jeez, Louise, this isn’t funny anymore.

What have they done with my husband?

Angry, I pull on the sweats I borrowed from my mom and head into the hallway. I hurry toward the great room and then halt at the edge to rapidly take in the scene.

They’re all here.

The bodyguards.

My entire family, minus Grandpa Jack, Linda, and Madison.

Jacob isn’t here.

“Sunshine.”

I shift my gaze to find my dad staring at me.

“You slept late,” he says, smiling, fresh faced and not a hair out of place. “What time is your call at the theater?”

“This afternoon since I danced last night.”

I look right and then left.

They’re all dressed. They all look like they’ve been up for hours. None of them look like they spent the night drinking or anything.

I fix my eyes on my dad. “Can you explain what’s going on here?”

“Nothing. We just had breakfast. Lourdes made a delicious egg, cheese, and jalapeno casserole. I’m sure there’s plenty out in kitchen if you’re hungry.”

I sit on the arm of my dad’s chair. “Whatever you guys are doing, this isn’t nice. What have you done with Jacob?”

My dad’s brows slowly crinkle as if he’s confused. “You were sound asleep and your mum thought we shouldn’t wake you when we got in. But there isn’t a vacant room in the apartment. We put him on a lounger on the terrace. Madison told your mother Jacob enjoys sleeping outside sometimes.”

Heat spreads from my cheeks, down my neck, and shoots across my body. Oh, Maddy, how could you? I should never have trusted her to keep her mouth closed about Malibu and it’s a darn good thing she’s not here.

“Very funny,” is all I manage to say before leaving for the terrace.

I step out into my dad’s little English garden encased in concrete à la Manhattan, and there’s Jacob. Curled on his side. No pillow. No blanket. Adorable and sound asleep.

Well, at least they brought him home and covered him with an umbrella to protect him from the sun.

I ease down on the lounger and my eyes fix on an object lying on his hip. Cell phone. Very cute, Kaley. I’m positive that’s my sister’s contribution to whatever this is.

No, not looking at it.

My fingers flutter in his hair as I kiss his forehead. He doesn’t stir. I lightly caress his back and paint kisses along his cheek. “Baby, are you OK? Come inside. Come to bed.”

He groans. “I’m…never…drinking with your dad again,” he says through choppy breaths without opening his eyes.

I smooth back the hair on his brow. “What happened last night?”

He doesn’t open his eyes. “We started at The Blue Light. Jared fired me. Don’t be a fuckup. After that, I don’t remember.”

His features tighten. He looks like he’s about to get sick. Jeez, how much did he drink last night?

“When’d you get home?”

He turns onto his back. “I don’t know. Babe, please can we talk about this later?”

“No, I want to know if everything is all right with my dad.”

His eyes open and his hand moves clumsily to touch my cheek. “It’s good. At least I think it is. They stopped dragging me to clubs, making me take shots, and brought me home. I think that’s good.”

Shots?

“Did you drink shots from a woman’s breasts last night?”

“What?” He sounds confused.

He falls back to sleep.

I stare at him. I tell myself not to do it, then do it anyway. I grab his phone, enter the passcode, and go to the photo library.

I thumb through them quickly and then go back to the first photo. OK, what is this?

I spring up from the chaise and race into the apartment. Graham looks at me, sees the cell phone in my hand, and says quickly, “I can explain, Princess.”

I cross my arms. “No, I don’t think you can.”

“It’s not how it seems,” Bobby states, grimacing.

My dad is clutching his stomach, fighting not to laugh. After a few deep inhales, he turns in his chair to face me. “Sunshine, all Jacob wanted to do was come home last night. He kept asking for his phone so he could call you. It was reassuring how worried he was that you’d get angry over him being out too late with us.”

“We’d all had a bit to drink by then, Krystal,” Dillon says, fighting not to grin.

“Jacob had a lot to drink,” Brayden remarks thoughtfully. “He was willing to do almost anything to end the party. Graham said he wasn’t calling it a night or giving back Jacob’s phone until someone danced with him.”

“None of us were willing to do it,” Bobby explains.

“I wasn’t even ready to call it a night,” my dad murmurs, then laughs.

“He’s a very good dancer, Princess,” Graham says. “Well, he was once he decided to let me lead. But you can’t have everything. One dance. I kept my word. We brought him home and put him to bed.”

I stare at them in disbelief.

Oh, this is wrong.

Crap, why am I laughing?

I go to the sofa and sink down next to Graham. “You danced with my husband last night and I didn’t even get to talk to him after the biggest performance of my life.”

“Last night was a good thing for all of us, Krystal,” Alan says, humor gone. “We spent time getting to know your husband and he got to know us better. We’ve reached an understanding. Jared rehired him. Gave him a job working the back end of the business instead of with a gun. Jacob can do that here in Manhattan. And now it feels like we’re family. I think he feels that way, too. The most important thing in life is the people who love you. Everything else is secondary. It was important that Jacob understands that. Whatever you do, whatever happens, we’re the people who love you, baby girl.” My dad’s potent black stare locks on me. “I hope the two of you never forget that again.”