Page 61 of Allured
The phone sounds out a noise like it’s being dragged through gravel before I hear Emma’s voice take over the call.
“Sorry, Ezekiel. They’re a little drunk right now. We’ve been having a girl’s night.” The loud music recedes as I assume Emma steps into a place where she can better hear me.
“Look, Alek had the shock of his life this afternoon and he’s trying to process it all. With bad wine and bad singing.”
Just as Emma finishes her sentence, I hear Alek belting out the lyrics of some pop song I’ve heard on the radio recently.
“Emma, I never wanted to hurt him. I was only waiting for the right time to confess it all and show my commitment to him now that I finally set my affairs in order.”
“I know Ez but heishurt. He just wishes that he could have known so he could support you better.”
My heart shatters hearing these words. After everything, Alek is more concerned about my well being rather than the fact that I had been keeping information from him. Ever the tender—hearted man, Alek keeps putting my emotions before his. Just as he does with his loved ones.
I want to be the one that putshimbefore anything else.
“Emma, I need to see him. I have to apologize and explain the situation before it tears him apart any longer.”
A sigh of frustration leaves her lips as she grumbles into the phone. As his best friend, I am sure it is difficult to see Alek in such a state. But I also know it must be difficult for her to put her trust in me.
“Fine. We are at mine and Viv’s place. I’ll text—” Emma stops, interrupted by a loud creaking noise and animated singing that must be coming from the next room.
I suddenly hear Alek’s and Viv’s voices through the phone, practically shouting the lyrics to a sad—sounding song. Something about a vampire bleeding someone dry.
“Jeez, what the hell?” Emma pauses and then starts shouting too.
“Get the hell off the coffee table! Y’all are too grown to be acting like this!” Without a further word to me, she hangs up the phone to deal with the situation at hand.
I am gathering my coat and keys when I see a text come in from Emma, containing her address.
If it was the last thing I did, I was going to fix this and I was going to make entirely sure Alek knows my feelings for him are unmistakably sincere.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
ALEK
Glittery threats.
Emma shuts off the TV and takes the microphones from me and Vivian. Angrily, she points at the couch with a silent command to sit our asses down. We do, of course. I’ve trained enough with Emma to know she can pack a punch.
“If y’all are done wrecking my shit.” Em winces at the coffee table that now has a large hole in the middle of it before she looks back over at us, “Ezekiel is coming over to talk to you.”
“Me or her?” I ask, pointing back and forth between Viv and me and letting out a laugh when I meet my sister’s eyes.
“Oh, is his wife coming too?” Viv asks in between chuckles but stops for a second to see my reaction to her question. Goddamn, my sister could be an asshole but at least she was funny. I can’t help but keep laughing. If I wasn’t here with my girls, I think I’d be crying into my pillow at home.
“Ayy, we got enough margaritas to offer one to my boyfriend’s wife?” My question makes Viv laugh so hard that she falls off the couch. I don’t know the specifics of anything but Ican tell my sister needed to let off steam too. Our laughs and antics have always been what helps us heal and there’s no one I laugh harder with than my little sister.
“Y’all are fucking on it tonight. Alek, drink some water and sober up so you can talk it out with Ez,” Emma commands, throwing a water bottle in my direction. If I wasn’t still so drunk, I’d confront her for throwing it to my face. But some water does sound amazing after singing for so long.
“Fine,” I grumble and open the bottle of water.
A knock on the door is the only thing that stops me from fully downing the sixteen ounces.Shit. He’s here already. I’m going to have to confront him about this and I’mhurt. I can’t hide that.
Emma steps out of the living room and toward the front door of the apartment. I keep my eyes on the door as it opens and suck in a breath when I see Ezekiel standing there. He’s disheveled and wide—eyed but walks in with confidence.
Viv glares, peeking from the floor beside me, protective of me as ever with all her five—foot self. If I had said that aloud I know I’d get a smack on the side of the head as she corrected me that she’s five feet, five inches tall. I calm her by rubbing my hand over the arm she has laid over the couch cushion.
“I got this,” I whisper over to her.
