Page 43 of Bad Influence
Living with her isn’t easy. She doesn’t make a peep yet I still know she’s there. The scent of her perfume lingers in the air. The apartment feels lighter just from her presence. The Tower of Exhaustion doesn’t feel so exhausting. I’m acutely aware she’s going to leave soon so I’m trying not to get used to her presence.
Wes hums, nursing his beer.
“What?”
He shrugs. “Nothing.”
“Just spit it out, Wes.”
He looks at Caroline. “Exactly how confident are you that she's going to marry your brother?”
“Caroline always does what her parents want. She’s not going to disappoint them, so I’m a hundred percent sure she’s going to get over whatever this is and go back home in time for the wedding.”
It’s why I don’t have a problem with her staying in the apartment. I expect this burst of independence will fade as soon she gets over her cold feet. She’ll be back in California in time for the wedding.
“If you say so,” Wes says. “You know her better than me.”
She accepts a hair stick from Lilith, neatly twisting up her and inserting the stick through to hold it in place. It reveals the graceful curve of her neck and highlights the neckline of her dress even more. The dress hugs her every curve before flaring out into a skirt. The low dip of the neckline is all too enticing, taking a Herculean effort to not even glance at her tits.
No matter how many times I remind myself not to look at her like a woman, it’s impossible because my mind and body don’t want to listen. Because they know Caroline, they crave her presence, her voice, the curve of her lips when she smiles, the sparkle in her eyes when she’s happy.
She has to marry Beckett so she can be far away in California and I can live my life without thinking about her every second.
I ask Wes about work, changing the subject from Caroline. The more I think about her, the harder it will be to stop thinking about her. I’m still aware of her, though. My eyes track her around the apartment, mingling with the guests, talking to Eve and Lilith. I know they already love her.
I want to leave. I trust Eve and Lilith; Caroline will be safe here. She’ll be safer if I’m watching her every move, and keeping track of how many drinks she’s had, though. I want to let her have the experiences she’s craving, but I can’t stop the urge to protect her or offer her support. Whatever she needs.
Not that I’ve been very supportive or helpful so far, given that she refuses to even glance in my direction.
By the time the party ends, I’m sitting in a chair, away from everyone. I watch them leave and I watch Caroline try to assist Eve with picking up the glasses and bringing them to the kitchen. Neither of them is steady on their legs.
“I think I’m growing too old for parties,” Lilith says, sitting down across from me.
“You say that now but you’ll be the first one to jump at the chance to throw another one,” I say. My head is resting on the back of the chair and even though I look relaxed, I’m keeping track of Caroline’s every move, ready to jump in if she’s about to trip.
“You do realize you’re completely obsessed with this woman?” Lilith says, her voice quiet.
Eve almost trips and that’s apparently very funny because both of them burst into laughter.
“That’s your expert opinion?” I ask Lilith.
“It’s obvious. You’ve been watching her since you both walked into the apartment.”
“I definitely watched you try to set her up with as many people as possible,” I reply.
“See, this is what I mean,” Lilith exclaims. “I was introducing her to people and you think I was trying to set her up.”
I finally glance at her. She’s leaning over the arm of the chair towards me, her expression eager and pacifying.
“Caroline doesn’t need to be introduced to every single person you know.”
Lilith rolls her eyes, sitting back against the chair. “You can’t keep her locked in the apartment. Haven’t you learned from the fairytales? A princess locked in her tower will escape.”
“She’s already done that,” I explain. “She’s here.”
“And now you’re keeping her locked up. Seems like she exchanged one prison for another.”
I can’t explain myself to them. They don’t understand that I'm not keeping her locked up. I’m trying to protect her. They didn’t watch her grow up, they didn’t see the eagerness in her to be loved and accepted for who she is. It will be so easy for anyone to take advantage of her; people have before. People she thought were her friends. Let’s not even talk about her family.
