It's a picture of me in my skimpy white dress while I'm on the dance floor with Ember.
"That party had you smiling, so it couldn't have been too bad. I thought you might want a reminder about what fun looks like, in case you forget sometime soon."
"Thanks," I chuckle out.
"Better. Hungry? You've been hiding all day, so I assume you've got to be starving."
"I a
te some of my tuna earlier. I have a few cans up here."
He turns his nose up, which makes me chuckle in response.
"That's disgusting. I'm actually getting so used to the smell that I didn't even notice it. Why the hell do you eat so much tuna? It can't possibly be that good."
I roll my eyes, still smiling, and then I turn my attention back to the book. "It's that cheap."
The bed shifts when he moves, and I look up to see him almost scowling at me. What the hell did I do?
"Wait. You're eating that shit because you don't have money or something?"
That's embarrassing. Why did I even say anything?
"No. I've got some money, but food is just food. It's something that goes in your stomach to keep you alive. I'm not going to spend massive amounts of money on something just to enjoy it for a few minutes."
I don't have hardly any money, but I won't tell him that. I'm sick of being a charity case.
"Hell no," he growls.
He pulls me up by my arm and hoists me out of the bed. "What the hell, Kade?" I ask, shocked.
"Have you seen the pantry? There's more shit in there than anyone can eat, and you're choking down that vile shit because you need to save cash? That's a little insulting, Raya. Go find something that you want to eat."
I laugh lightly while shaking my head. "Kade, believe it or not, it's not vile. I grew up on tuna in a can. It's what us lower class citizens do."
He takes a deep breath and slows down on the stairs, still dragging me behind him. "Promise me you'll start acting like you live here, too."
He turns to face me, and my heartbeat quickens. There's that look - that depth of sincerity I never thought he could possess. He's making it hard not to throw myself at him.
"I promise."
"Good." He lets go of my hand and starts walking down the steps again. "Dad called and wants you to come to a charity event next weekend at his house. You game?"
I swallow hard and start following him again. "Me? Why?"
Because I'm a charity case?
"Because he likes you," he says with a shrug. "Take it as a compliment. He doesn't like many people."
"That would be... weird, wouldn't it? Me at some ritzy function meant for people like you. I'll probably pass, but tell Mr. Colton thank you for me."
I start to turn around, but he speaks before I can. "First of all, people like you? You mean people that don't wipe their asses with money? I can assure you my father prefers people like you, since he used to be one of you. Secondly, you'll fit in just fine, and I'll be there. It's not like you'll be in the trenches alone. Come on. Don't make me go deal with all the rich people kissing my father's ass by myself."
It's almost comical to think the man who came from nothing is one of the most prominent men in Sterling Shore.
"You sure?" I ask, probing for some sort of promise he wants me there.
"Positive. I'll drive you back to the store to get a dress. You'll need something nice."