“Sure were. You gay?” he asks, his tone not teasing.
I don’t like the way he says it. Like what we have together is a joke. Part of me knows that this is what he needs to do to survive this weekend, but the other, more sensitive part of me hurts.
And aches for him.
But I need to be strong for us, for this. He needs to be free of this place, of his family.
I walk past him into the foyer, and I can almost feel the oppression, the thick, dark air surrounding me.
I’m not a believer in the supernatural, but if I were, I’d say this place is demon-possessed. I thought hell was supposed to be hot, but it’s cold in here. I shiver.
“Come on. Dex will bring our bags up. Time to meet the fam.”
I don’t know what to think as he steps out of the foyer and down a hallway. Seconds later, I’m led into the kitchen where I see a woman and a man bustling around, cooking. When they see Colton, they stop and greet him with a nod. Nothing about it is warm. They don’t seem to be happy he’s here.
Does everyone in this family really dislike him? Even the staff?
“Where is everyone?” he asks.
“Your mother is out by the pool. Your father is in his office.”
Colton bristles at that. Why that man insists on being called his father when his real father is dead is beyond me. But it seems to be something he does to make Colton uncomfortable. To remind him he’s a part of this family as well, and isn’t leaving.
Colton doesn’t even thank them, just swipes a croissant from the table and shoves some into his mouth as he walks out back. I can feel the cooks glowering at him, but I don’t have time to sneer back at them. Instead, I follow him outside, my eyes swiveling around the large backyard. A pool with a stone grotto sits before me, lounge chairs surrounding the edge, and I see a beautiful older woman lying in one. She’s probably in her mid-forties, a floppy sun hat on her head, large sunglasses on her face, and wearing a bikini. She’s positioned right under a patio heater, her cheeks pink from the warmth.
In any other lifetime, I’d have stopped and stared, but I realize this must be his mother.
“Hey,” Colton says coolly as he approaches.
His mom arches her chin up, a drink in one hand, her other pulling her sunglasses down her nose. Her eyes are piercingly blue, almost translucent.
Kinda creepy, to be honest.
“You came home. What a surprise. I thought we’d have to force you, kicking and screaming.”
“This isn’t my home,” he replies, and she rolls her eyes before turning her gaze on me.
“Hello, who are you?” Her gaze travels up and down my body, and my skin heats from the perusal.
“A friend,” Colton responds quickly. “Myles.”
“Well, you’re a cutie, aren’t you, Myles? Look at those thighs. I assume you don’t play soccer like Colton.” She hums and then takes a sip of her drink. “Let me guess. Football?”
“Rugby,” I reply, and she giggles.
Fucking ridiculous.
“Ah, well, I can see that now. Those thighs of yours…well, nice to meet you. Colton never brings friends home. I have no idea why.”
She bites her bottom lip and looks up at me coyly. It makes Colton bristle slightly, the way she’s obviously flirting with me. But he has to know I’m not interested. Not that I can show it. I don’t want to give us away.
So I smile back and lean forward slightly. “I can see why.”
It’s stupid and really cheesy, but it makes her giggle, and I can’t help but smile at how ridiculous all of this is. My mom would be horrified if she thought I was flirting with this woman. She’d probably give me a stern talking to.
But I can’t give anything away. Maya strictly forbade it.
“Would you like to join me? I can get you a drink,” she says, and then snaps her fingers and a man materializes from the shadows.
