Page 74 of The Broken Queen
“Stripped me…what was wrong with my dress?” I asked, still trying to gauge everything that had happened. My heart felt like it was throbbing as I remembered the greenhouse and the gravesite and finally burying Adrian.
Gio held out his hand for me to take. I followed him, naked, over to Kingston’s bedroom, where the bed was covered in dirt and mud.
“Oh.” I must have fallen asleep on Adrian’s grave.
“I prepared a bath for you.” Gio pressed a kiss to my neck and guided me to my room.
In my bathroom was the cutest bath set up I had ever seen. A wooden bath caddy sat across the tub with my phone set there, a cup of coffee, and a candle.
“Happy Birthday, Elvis,” Gio said, helping me into the tub.
The water was hot, and the bubbles smelled divine. I nearly forgot…I was nineteen, finally. How did a whole year already pass? How had I only known Adrian for a year and yet it felt like I had grieved an entire lifetime last night.
“Thank you, Gio.” I squeezed his hand, then pulled him down for a kiss.
He smiled into my mouth, then stroked my jaw. “I love you, Elvis.”
My heart pinged with a softness and a joy that I could only seem to find in Gio. “I love you too.”
He released me and moved to the door. “I’m going to go get your breakfast and then we’re going to get ready to go.”
I didn’t even get a chance to ask where we were going when he left. I sank down into the tub, expecting more grief to assail my chest or to torture my mind, but something had shifted. It felt like I had some form of closure now that I had said goodbye to Adrian in an official capacity.
So instead of sinking under the bubbles, I picked up my coffee and sipped it while flipping through my phone, checking my texts.
Mom: Happy Birthday, my sweet girl. I love you and I’ll call you later.
Dad: Happy Birthday, honey. I can’t believe you’re nineteen. Your mom made that one cake you like with the raspberry filling.
I smiled as I continued to scroll, feeling lighter than before.
Kingston: Happy Birthday, mi reina. I’m so glad I’m here for this one.
Alex: Happy Birthday, little sis. I hope this birthday is the best one yet. You deserve a good one.
Carter: HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUSIN!!!!!! Love you! Ps. Tell Scotty he’s a dick. I have no idea why he showed up here to see dad, but it seemed really off. Like also, how the fuck did he find my dad? Also, are you still using the reformer? I have a new one I found on a TT shop that I think you might actually be able to use.
Shit. I sat up, letting water woosh around me as I brought up my cousin’s contact info and pressed call.
It rang a few times before she sleepily answered.
“Presley, why do you hate me?”
“Carter, hey. What happened with Scotty last night?”
Something crinkled in the background while she yawned. “He wanted to ask my mom something more than Dad…even though he said he was there to see Dad, he asked about my grandpa’s company and the various locations that he was operating in. My mom was really on edge, and even my dad seemed uncomfy.”
“How could you tell?” I asked, taking another sip of my coffee.
Carter yawned again. “Mom and Dad made immediate plans to leave. I guess my dad finally called yours and found out we’re finally on the outs with psycho Scotty. So, now we’re leaving again.”
That meant my dad might have been given more intel if Uncle Decker had called him.
“Okay, well, I’m sorry that you guys are having to leave again.”
She sighed heavily. “It’s fine, how are you doing though? You’re back home now, right?”
“Here, Elvis, wanna eat in the bath or come out and eat it here?” Gio called from my bedroom.
