Page 27 of If You Were Mine
Ivy continued. “I think you’re always going to be different when you come back. I hope he at least told some of you what happened over there,” Ivy said on a whisper.
“And now I feel like an asshole for even complaining about him,” Scarlett said with a sigh. “My twin would be so disappointed.”
Isabella’s eyes widened. “I forgot you have a twin.”
“Luna lives down in Denver, so I only get to see her when we make plans. Though we talk every day on the phone. I miss her being here.”
“You’ll have to introduce me sometime. It’s nice getting to know more people in Cage Lake.”
“Honestly the two of you would get along so well. I’ll make it happen.” Scarlett immediately picked up her phone, and when Isabella’s vibrated, I knew there was now a new group chat in effect.
“You are efficient. So if my brother has said anything different, I’ll beat him up for you,” Isabella said with a wink.
I grinned as our favorite waitress came and took our orders. It was a quick lunch, and a beautiful afternoon. Yes, it was cold, considering it was winter, but they had the heat lamps out, and everything oddly felt good.
And just like that, guilt settled in.
Because I wasn’t supposed to feel good.
How could I?
After a few bites of my sandwich, I set it to the side and listened to the others as they spoke about the ongoings and stressors of Cage Lake.
Isabella gave me a concerned look when I shook my head infinitesimally, hoping the others hadn’t noticed. Lucky put his head on my thigh, and I rubbed his fur, trying to feel connected to the real world, rather than the dreams that kept trying to set me under.
“Wellesley, shouldn’t you be at work?”
The hair on the back of my neck rose, as I swallowed hard and looked at the man who kept invading my dreams.
Dorian had a to-go cup of coffee in his hand, not one from the specialty coffee shop, but mine. Because apparently, he wanted plain coffee today. I didn’t want to think about the fact that maybe he had gone to my own bakery to check on me. No, that wasn’t it. He just liked coffee.
“I do take one day off a week. Apparently if I work seven days a week, people glare at me.”
“As we should,” Ivy put in. “Hello, Dorian.”
At the dryness in her tone I blinked, focusing on Dorian’s face. That’s when I realized that he hadn’t looked at anyone else. Not even his sister. What on earth was that about?
“Ivy. Scarlett. Isabella. So I guess we’re all playing hooky today?”
“I should ask you the same thing, brother of mine,” Isabella teased, though I saw the concern in her gaze as she studied her brother’s face. They might not have grown up together, might not know each other, but they were blood, nonetheless. I didn’t know how that family dynamic worked, how they were figuring out this new phase of their life. But I knew Isabella was trying. And Dorian had done his best before the flight…
Only I didn’t know how he fit himself into the family now. He’d hidden himself away from Cage Lake for the past year and I’d heard he’d done the same within his family, but I didn’t know the connections they’d made along the way. If any. How was one supposed to create familiar relationships in such a short time after finding out your father’s life had been a lie, breaking the rest of the family along with him?
“Like you I’m taking a break from the house.”
“That’s not the work I meant,” Isabella said softly.
“It’s fine.” He shrugged. “My managers know what they’re doing.”
“At least one Cage believes that their managers can handle things,” Scarlett put in, and I knew she was trying to help Dorian, because the awkwardness had settled in. Of course, with the way that Dorian’s brow rose, maybe it wasn’t the greatest thing to say.
He cleared his throat and then looked straight at me once again. That feeling that I couldn’t quite name settled over me, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted him to say. What I needed him to say.
“I’m headed back to the house since the place won’t fix itself sadly. But if you need anything, Wellesley, you let me know.”
“Sure. Um. You too.”
And with that, Dorian left, and I tried not to watch him and failed. The way that he filled those jeans nearly broke me, but not as much as the way that he tried to hide his limp.
