I closed my eyes and thumped my head back on the headboard. Why did things have to be so damn – “If you just let me help,” I said, “if you just told me what it was between the two of you, maybe… maybe Icould—”
“Maybe you could what?” Of all things, Grayson sounded tired. “Try and get Marv and I to kiss and make up?” He paused. “Don’t get your hopes up, Baby. Marv’s right about me, now. I have to look out for myself. No one else is gonna doit.”
“Is that all you do?” I countered. “Look out for yourself? Because from where I’m sitting, you seem to do a lot of taking care of yourbrother.”
The silence stretched so thick and so long between us, I pulled the phone away from my ear to make sure he hadn’t hungup.
“I take care of the people who need me to take care of them,” Grayson finallysaid.
“Do you take care ofme?”
He laughed, the sound low. It was filled with amusement, yes, but also something else. Something darker. Something lonelier. “Yes, Baby,” he answered, “when you letme.”
I decided to let him off the hook – for now. “So, now we’re taking care of your brother,” I said. “Do you think he was already gone that night at theclub?"
Grayson sighed. "Yea. I think he might havebeen.”
Erika had said something. What had she said? I tried to think. "If he was, I don't think Erika knew," I said. "Or if she did know, she didn't tell me. She acted like everything was going well with them. But she was… flirting more. It wasn't like her. She isn't the type to flirt when she's in a relationship and she was drinking. She's the one who wanted to go there to drink. I mean it doesn't excuse what I did,but..."
"No, I get it," Grayson replied. He was quiet for several moments. "I honestly hate to say it, but I think I need to get Iris involved in this," he said finally. "I think I need to talk to your guys.” I stiffened, but at least he hadn't said boyfriends. Something else was on mymind.
"Grayson?" I askedhesitantly.
"Yea?"
“You know I’m going to keep pushing until either you or Marv tell me the truth,right?”
Silence on the other end. I chewed the life out of my lower lip as I waited. Then he grunted. "Sometimes, I’m not sure if you’re the most irritating woman I’ve ever met, or the mostattractive."
I rolled my eyes. "If I get a choice, can I choose thelatter?”
I could practically hear him smile through the phone. I knew because when he spoke, it sounded like he was talking and trying not to laugh at the same time. "You're one of a kind, Baby,” he said. "I hope you know that." Then he sobered. “I have to go, though, I’ve been idling in my car since youcalled.”
“Where areyou?”
“Nowhere you need to be concernedwith.”
I sighed. "I'll ask them," I told him. "I'll ask them to help. If they won't, then I will. Erika's my best friend. I don't want her hurt, but I’ll also do it to help yourbrother."
"Okay," he said. The strangeness of emotion in his tone – the exhaustion, the sighs and huffs, the quiet, slowness of his words – kept throwing me off again and again. It was not at all like the normal Grayson and I wasn’t sure I likedit.
"It'll be okay," I assuredhim.
"I hope you're right, Harlow. Be safe, Baby." With that, he hung up and I was left holding the phone as well as a multitude of emotions that I still had no freaking clue what to dowith.
* * *
"Are you ready?"Delilah asked as she stood outside my gaping bedroom door. The cotillion was starting. Ms. Enders was beside herself as was Mr. Wallace. Though the latter didn't show it, Delilah assured me it was true. "We have to meet the guys in tenminutes."
"Almost," I called back as I adjusted the front of my dress. It was probably one of the most beautiful things I had ever worn; a light lavender that fell perfectly over my stomach and hips and modestly covered my breasts. I turned, and the material flowed with my movements. It would be a dream to dance in – that is, if I could dance. Mr. Giovanni had all but begged me not to dance tonight. I had readily agreed. It was one thing to stand and sway and it was a completely different thing to actually waltz. There would be no waltzing, that was forsure.
"Your cousin sure is a dream," Delilah said with a sigh. "He's sotall."
"Yup." I licked my lips and the matte lipstick stayed perfectly where it was supposed to. I looked like an actual princess. The only thing missing were the glass slippers andtiara.
"Wow." Delilah stopped right outside of my open bathroom door. "You lookgreat."
I turned to her. "You do too," I said. It was true. Her dress was a skin-tight, Hollywood style golden ensemble made for the runway. It looked perfect on her form. She glanced down at the low-cut top and then twirled. The dress didn't so much as move. I was surprised she could walk in that thing, much lesstwirl.