Page 74 of All That Remains
"Eat some bread or something. Sober up!"
Later when Grimmy's date arrived, they did exactly what I thought they would. Sat in an unlit corner of the lounge and snogged while we all watched another movie. As the celebrations drew to a close, I dreaded the idea of everyone leaving me alone for the night. Surprising myself, I whipped out my phone and texted Rome, asking him if he wanted to come over.
I waited over twenty minutes for an answer, which eventually relayed he couldn't come tonight, and that it was best we play it cool for a while. That maybe it wasn't a good idea to meet anytime soon. I was annoyed, but couldn't be upset since things had moved so rapidly the last few moments we were together. Our actions had the potential to ruin everything he’d built forhimself if he wasn't careful, particularly if Mila had stumbled on us that evening in an alternative universe. For all I knew he was in bed with her now, planning to do God knows what to compensate for our actions.
Having repulsed myself with imagery of them fucking for the hundredth time since I'd met her, I headed onto the terrace alone, purging my mind with clean night air. I shut the rear lights off and stood in the darkness near the pool, gazing out over the dotted sky above the cypress hedges.
My phone buzzed, and it was him. He said although he was serious earlier about playing it cool, he still really wanted to meet soon. As usual, his mood was bipolar and his messages utterly contradictory. Still, the latest message more than made up for his refusal to meet tonight, so I smiled a little. We agreed to meet tomorrow at his place and would decide where to go from there.
Someone placed their hands over my eyes from behind. The fingers were slender and belonged to someone shorter. Perky breasts jutted into my back. A few breathy giggles told me there was no need to panic, that it was justViolet, Ezra's niece who I'd met in Philly last year, and who had apparently come with him to town on business. Truth be told, she and I had slept together a few times on the road before the band called it quits. It was Invicta’s final tour. We’d been utterly gutted and demoralized by Rome’s departure, but had powered through in his absence to give the fans their money’s worth. I was disoriented and fragile, and she’d been a convenient distraction. However, that convenience had long since faded.
We hadn't spoken since last December when Ezra found out about us and nearly kicked my ass. It had taken a while for him to forgive me for encroaching on his family and breaking her heart.
"Heyyy..." I said, spinning around, barely able to see the platinum blonde head standing behind me.
"Hey yourself! You didn't come say hi, so I thought I'd check in. See what's up," she grinned.
"Sorry about that. I should've come over sooner. I meant to, anyway. I'm an idiot. Forgive me?"
“Ok, mister. How’ve you been?”
"I've been good, Vi. It’s lovely to see you. How've you been?"
"Honestly... missing you so much." She had huge green eyes, the most prominent things on her face.
"Yeah...you too," I shrugged.
We hooked arms and walked around the glimmering pool a bit. She was illuminated by the colorful LEDs that surrounded it. Her full lips and upturned nose and the bit of cleavage poking out of the top of her white cami. I vividly remembered how sweet she smelled the last time we were together.
"I was stood out here last night and, uh, got bit up by mosquitoes,” I said. “All over, really. It was pretty nasty. Wanna head inside?"
"Only if we can be alone," she murmured, taking my hand and playing with my limp fingers. "I wanna catch up."
"Sure," I shrugged, letting her lead me back inside and upstairs to my room.
There were a few remarks from Grimmy's corner as we disappeared upstairs. Once we got to my room, I could barely shut the door before she was on me, snatching at my shirt and standing on her tiptoes to kiss me. She smelled rosy, and the flesh of her arms was so soft I couldn't resist stroking them. In a flash her shirt was off, revealing she hadn't been wearing a bra. Now she was shoving me onto the bed to mount me.
***
After a whirlwind of pale breasts and frizzy hair and herpsychotic scream-moans, I woke to the sound of someone banging on the bedroom door. It was Ezra.Fuck's sake. I answered shirtless, barely pulling my briefs back into place. He rolled his eyes the second he saw me.
"You're taking her home!" we said at the same time. "No, you are!"
"Dude, I didn't come here for this shit!" he barked.
"Neither did I!" I hissed.
"Youlivehere!"
"I know, I know...it all happened so fast.” I whispered frantically. “She said she missed me a-a-and I couldn’t resist—"
"Don't give me that shit!”
“Shhh!She’ll hear you!”
“You do iteverytime, Rafe!” he barked quietly. “Everyfuckingtime, man! I'm sick of cleaning up your mess!"
"Then why'd you even bring her here?!" I growled.
