Page 18 of Don't Let Go
I hooked my finger under her chin and tipped her head to look at me. “She loves you, Lizzy. She’s upset about having to give up her room. Soon, she’ll see how amazing a roommate you are.” The doorbell chimed. “Now let’s go greet our guest.”
My brothers dragged in two suitcases each. “How can a guy have so many clothes,” Lorenzo said as he walked past me.
“Just because you wear the same three outfits doesn’t mean everyone else does,” I replied before going downstairs.
Lizzy ran to Mamma and gave her a big hug. Mamma smiled and picked Lizzy up. She nodded toward our new guest. “This is Tyler.”
Tyler put down a suitcase and took one of Lizzy’s hands. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Lizzy,” she said proudly with her arms open wide like she was on the center stage of a Broadway play. That girl was a ham.
Tyler chuckled.
Mamma put Lizzy down and looked around. “Where’s Carmen?”
I motioned upstairs with my hand. “You know, being a drama queen. I’m sure she’ll come down later for dinner.”
“That girl,” Mamma said under her breath. She turned to Tyler and pointed toward me. “Aurora will show you to your room.”
He grabbed his suitcase and followed me upstairs. I opened the bedroom door. “Here’s your room. Sorry about all the movie posters. Carmen wants to be a famous actress one day.”
“It’s fine,” he said weakly, setting his suitcase down at the foot of the bed. He shrugged off his backpack, and his muscles rippled through his tight white shirt. Blood whooshed in my ears. I bet he looked delicious in nothing but boxers.
I dug my nails into my palms. I needed to focus. “Next door is my room, and two doors down on your left is the bathroom. We all share it, so you’ll have to figure out a good time to use it.”
“Thanks, Aurora.” He gave me a slight nod. There was a heavy sorrow in his eyes, turning them darker. His pout made his lips stick out more. I caught myself staring and dug my nails deeper into my palms.
“You can call me Rory. Everyone else does.”
He picked up a suitcase and placed it on the bed before unzipping it. “My friends call me Ty.”
I stood there awkwardly for a few more heartbeats. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you to unpack.” I turned to go to my room.
“Hey, wait.”
I stopped and forced myself to stare at his forehead to avoid watching his mouth. “Yeah?”
“Yesterday at the funeral, you quotedDracula. Why?”
“It’s great literature,” I laughed halfheartedly. I brushed my hands over my pants and lowered my voice. “Just something to say during dark times. My papà also died, and all the sorrys and such all blur into nothing. Thought I’d mix it up.”
He appeared puzzled yet appreciative, flashing me a ghost of a smile. “Oh… thanks.”
I shrugged, inching my way toward the door. “No problem. I’m next door if you need anything.”
I locked myself in my bedroom and slid down my door. I needed to keep myself together if I must live next door to him. He was handsome to look at, but he was from Scottsdale, or what Chloe calledSnobbsdale, so there had to be something wrong with him. I just had to wait to see what that fatal flaw would be.
9
Tyler
I went through the motions with Sofia and her sons when they came to collect me at one o’clock. I didn’t make a scene when packing my clothes and the other things I needed. Sofia assured me the house was mine and nothing would happen to it.Ijust couldn’t live there alone since I was still a minor. When was the law ever on anyone’s side?
The Giordano family seemed nice enough. I could see how my mom and Sofia were friends. They both had that sweet nurturing side, like you could tell them anything, and they would never lash out if you made a mistake.
After emptying my suitcases and putting away my clothes, I felt like the pit in my stomach grew two sizes. I lied to Iris last night. The words escaped me. How would I tell her a woman I don’t remember was my guardian and I need to move acrosstown? That I had to live in South Phoenix of all places? This was the bottom of the bottom. This was the part of town always on the news. The place people avoided when the sun set and I had to live there.
I sat on my new bed, but I couldn’t stay still. My legs were restless. My entire body was. There had to be an answer to all this. First things first, I needed to tell Iris what happened and maybe Quincy too. He could share the awful news with the team.
