Page 58 of Unspoken Truths

“Me?” she gasps, picking up her bags. “I don’t know if that's something I’ll be able to read out loud, Lili!”

“You won’t know until you try,” I say with a grin, leading her out of the room and up the stairs to my bedroom. “What kind of book is it?”

“It’s a mafia book where one of the girls is being forced into an arranged marriage.”

“Well thank God my father isn’t someone who would ever do that,” I tease her, walking into my room.

Large windows let in a lot of light, so it’s bright inside even though it’s going to rain soon. My bed sits between two windows, with gauzy translucent white curtains hung from the four, tall posts surrounding the raised mattress. School keeps me so busy, when I was deciding how to decorate my room, I wanted it to feel safe and pretty. A port in the insanity of my life.

Dad says it’s a glimpse at what few people see, the soft and sweet part of me.

The walls are a pretty lilac color, the furniture a painted gray wood that fits the aesthetic well. This is one of the larger bedrooms in the house, and there’s a small living room area to the right side of my bed with a projector so I can watch movies. I don’t want the world to intrude when I’m in my room, surrounded by all of my favorite things.

This is the first time I’ve ever brought anyone home and into my room. Even when I was friends with the Kings, we’d hang out at Nacio’s house.

I guess in a lot of ways, I’m a very private person.

“Your room feels so calm,” Rachelle murmurs, looking around. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you, this was one of the last rooms I finished decorating during the remodel, funny enough,” I tell her, taking off my shoes as I place the cheese platter on the bed spread. “I’m going to change really fast. I figured we can just hang out on the bed.”

Smiling at her, I walk over to my closet and pull off my uniform jacket, tossing it into the hamper. The maid will come in over the weekend while I’m gone to clean up. She never touches anything that doesn’t need to be which I appreciate, because otherwise I can never find anything.

Not bothering to close the door, I strip off my shirt and skirt, enjoying the gasp I hear behind me. Smirking, I toss away my bra, sighing happily at the freedom. I hate these things, even though I make sure they’re pretty as well as functional. Standing only in my tights, I search for a long sleeve t-shirt that’ll cover most of my body.

While I’m willing to tease Rachelle, I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. Finding a shirt that’s cute and oversized, I pull it on before taking off my tights. I feel like myself again, instead of the stuffy prep school student I am for school. Stepping out of the closet, I see the bathroom door closing. Rachelle’s overnight bag is semi open, so I figure that she decided to change too.

Climbing on the bed, I pop a piece of cheese into my mouth while I wait for her. Rachelle’s kindle is also on the bedspread, which makes me smile. I can’t wait to see if she’ll actually read a spicy scene to me. Biting my lip, I lay back on my pillows, glancing at the door as it opens again.

She’s wearing a cute pajama set where the top is cropped to show her belly.

“I should have rethought this outfit,” she murmurs as she walks across the room to put away her school clothes.

“Why?” I ask her, sitting up. “I was just thinking about how pretty you look.”

“I think my boobs got bigger,” she mutters. “The top is a lot shorter than I remember.”

“Well, it’s just me,” I remind her. “I can close the door if you want, but I think you look great. Dad said he’s going to be gone for most of the weekend, and I told him he could give the staff the time off.”

“No it’s fine,” she says, climbing up onto the bed next to me. “I just should have chosen pants to wear instead because you can see the cuts on my thigh. I’ve been putting vitamin E on them, but they’re definitely going to scar.”

It makes me wonder where else she has scars, but I hold my tongue. Cutting is how she was able to keep herself from falling apart completely while experiencing shitty things in her life. I’m not going to judge her for it. I’m glad she’s regularly seeing her therapist now, though.

Since she’s spending the night with me, she’s pausing her appointments until Sunday, however, I can see the difference in her already. Rachelle is glowing with happiness.

I’m absolutely willing to hurt anyone who fucks with that.

“All I see is gorgeous, tanned skin,” I tell her. “It makes me want to take a vacation with you, so we can wear swimsuits all the time and make out on the beach.”

Rachelle grins as she pops a grape in her mouth, chewing. “I can get behind a vacation like that,” she teases me.

Relaxing, she lays back on the pillows with me and we chat as we eat our snack and giggle. I really like having her in my bed with me.

“Will you read me some of your book, please?” I ask.

Wrinkling her nose at me, she nods, reaching for her kindle. Turning it on, she bites her lip as she begins to read. Rachelle is so damn sexy as she gets into the scene, pulling me into the book with her. Apparently, the mafia son’s friends are also planning on sharing his new wife, but there’s a small snag.

His new wife is in love with her best friend. Biting my lip, I kiss her neck as she begins to read to me about the two of them stealing a moment together. I’ve been trying to be good, but I can’t keep my hands off of her any longer.

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