Adjournment (The Fate Series) (37 page)

“Men, who fucking needs them?” Tyler wraps his arm under my neck.

He gets it.

“See that? He wouldn’t get that many women in bed with him if he were straight,” I hear Jacob tease when they enter my room.

Pulling myself back up against the headboard, I watch as he, Molly, and Mea make their way over to the small available spots on the bed.

“Just to let you know Judith had her personal chef come over to make breakfast since Mom told her she fired hers.” Molly gives me a look.

How thoughtful.

“Sidney, this is beautiful, where did you get this?” Mea asks.

A quick glance at the clock, it’s now nine am and breakfast should be almost out, if it’s not already. I’m suddenly starving, and I don’t think there is enough on that buffet to help satisfy me.

I turn to see what Mea is asking about.

“The chess board? It was my aunt’s, we used to play a lot when we were kids.” Looking at myself in the mirror, I nearly shriek in horror at my makeup that has raccooned its way around my eyes and my hair that looks as if I was electrocuted in my sleep.

“You’re missing a pawn,” she informs me and begins to look around for it.  “And why are your queens facing each other in the middle of the board?” she asks looking around.

How the hell would I know?

“The pawn is probably under the dresser?” I shrug. “I’ll be out in a minute.” I yawn, shutting the bathroom door behind me.

In the bathroom I find a pair of sweatpants along with a hoodie laid out on a rack. I am guessing one of my sisters left these in here since it’s their alma mater. Sliding off my dress, I quickly get in the shower to help wash off last night before I get dressed. When I’m done I towel off my wet hair and slide the clothes that I now see are clearly not my sisters.

The distinct smell of cedar stirs around me, and I nearly tear it in half when I realize who left it.

Oh we are going to play head game? I was good at playing head games, too, once upon a time. It was, in fact, my weapon of choice to be honest. Something has changed today, like a piece snapping into place. It all looks different today… brighter… as though color tone can’t be controlled, and everything is illuminated all around me. 

I think he needs to be reminded of the woman he is dealing with.

I walk out to the bedroom and notice Lexi is gone but Tyler is still sleeping and tiptoe out making sure to quietly shut the door behind me.

Jacob is the hall, walking from the steps; he hesitates when he sees me.

“You look… determined.” He steps away.

“I am. Is there a problem?” I glare at him.

“I—I think I’m going to stay in my room for a bit… I’ll see you when you come back down.” He starts to walk away from me.

Damn fucking straight you will.

“Sidney, I’m his biggest fan but…” Jacob begins from behind me.

I spin around, holding my hand up to stop him because I don’t care about his change of heart or mind or whatever it is he has changed.

“Jacob, when you were a kid did you ever toss your favorite toy into the toy box?” I ask him.

“I’m pretty sure everyone has misplaced something in their life,” he retorts.

I hum at the thought. “So you know what it’s like then. To search and search but eventually have to move on to something else. Forgetting all about it until you found it again.” I hold my ground as his vision drops to the carpet. “Do you know what it’s like to find something that was gone? At first you’re relieved, then excited, but eventually you realized it no longer amuses you because you’ve evolved.” I step closer to him.

“I think I’m following.” His voice sounds small.

“Good, because that’s exactly what he is going through. I’m the lost toy and now he just needs to remember why he tossed me in the box to begin with, then we’ll be right back to where we were.” I know my heart doesn’t want to fully accept it but my head is already on autopilot.

Quickly turning away I hurry toward the steps, marching down them with a new sense of confidence filling my body.

He’s going to regret leading me on this time.

Be careful what you wish for…

I can hear people talking in the great room, which means one thing—everyone else is already eating.

Including the triplets who never freaking leave.

With a deep breath I hold my head up as I enter the room. I make no attempt to even search for Simon and instead I focus on the buffet to my right.

“Oh, she lives!” Chase yells causing everyone to groan with displeasure.

I guess not everyone had their drinks watered down for them.

Scanning over the table I see there is everything from fresh fruit to sausage gravy. Which of course is what I am going after! But first a little pancakes.

“I do,” I shout over my shoulder, earning another round of groans. “And I’m starving so you savages best not have eaten all the food,” I sneer at him.

“Interesting fact,” Simon whispers when he steps up next to me.

My body tenses, fingers gripping the sides of the dish.

I’m in control… but far from calm.

“I love interesting facts.” I decide to engage in conversation instead of hitting him with the plate.

If he can act like nothing happened then so can I.

“I was right, my clothes do look better on you.” He steps behind me. My jaw clenches. His chest rubs against my back when he stretches his arm out to grab something and then back after he gets whatever he was reaching for.

If there was a snap or burst of feeling I didn’t feel it. I’m too skeptical, too calculated, and too stuck in my own mind.

I control myself, a smirk plastered firmly on my lips. “Is this your ratty old college hoodie?” I pull at the material, my face twisting in disgust.

I already know it is since I didn’t go to this school, and there is only one man who smells like this. Remember though… we are playing a game.

Before looking directly at him, I internally yell at myself to not react just in case it decides to go rogue. Chanting it in my head I turn to look at him.

So far so good. He just looks like a putz.

“Ratty and old? I recall a girl who used to tuck her hands into that and pout that she was cold.” His voice is clipped before he turns to walk away.

I force myself to fight it. I don’t want to be taken back there. Focus on anything else, I will myself. It doesn’t work, and the memory sucks me in.

“I’m jealous. You guys get to go to warm and sunny California for school while I’m stuck here where it’s colder than your mother’s heart,” I teased him from his doorway.

I watched the muscles under his shirt move with every effort he made while packing up his stuff.

“Well, Sid,”
That’s right… he called me Sid back then…
He turned to me with that smirk on his face.
I remember thinking today is the day. Our first kiss and a kiss goodbye. I remember then debating it, it seemed like a bad omen
. “…in two years when you graduate, you can come join us and bask in the sun every day.”
Stretching his arms wide he winked, and I giggled as I walked into them. I remember sliding my hands into his new hoodie pocket.

This hoodie pocket. I’m an idiot for thinking this weekend would be easy. The memory beings to weigh on me, crushing the air from my lungs as it envelops me.

I remember resting my head against his chest, the way his arms wrapped around me gently, I remember the way we stood there frozen with each other. I prayed that I would never forget what it was like to be in his arms. I remember breathing him in since it would be the last time I saw him until Fall break and hoping that I wouldn’t forget what he smelled like or what it did to me.

I never really have forgotten. I just kept it buried, kept it safe from being tainted by things that would eventually happen and ruin it.

Suddenly feeling nostalgic I let it play out and accept the memory, this memory that hurts a little less than it did when it first started, and I let it take me away to a time where life was easy and beautiful.

“I’m not doing this because I’m going to miss you.” I sighed against him, my voice cracking with sadness.

“I know. It’s just because you’re cold.” His breath moved through my hair.

We stayed there holding each other in silence until my mother yelled up that it was time to go.

For a long time I wished I told him how I felt back then. Then I learned it’s better to keep it quiet. 

“Are you going to stand there and continue to attempt filter feeding or are you going to get food?” Grams’ voice pulls me back.

The thought releases me from its grasp, and I smile at the fact that it was only a memory.

For once I didn’t feel like I was still there, for once I’m able to put it back and walk away. 

“I was—yes, I’m getting food.” I look over the things that I want to eat, and those that I should eat.

This should help.

Walking over to the table, I see the only seat open is the one in the middle of Simon and Lexi.

Figures.

I sit down, glancing quickly at his food, the same food I was eating the other morning. It looks so damn good.

No! I can do this.

Stabbing the fruit I take a bite, imagining it’s what I smell coming from the plate next to me.

“I have to say this is by far my favorite breakfast. I get so excited to come here in the morning because I know all my favorites will always be served.” Simon turns his head to me while dipping his sandwich in the gravy and taking a bite.

Stabbing another piece of fruit I smile back at him, and he begins to wriggle in his seat with delight. His actions bring my sisters and his brothers to laughter, cutting through the silence.

I want to slam his face into the dish of food, though.

Control yourself.

“Well, your personal chef did make it so I’m sure he could do it again… at your house.” I nod toward the door.

“Sidney Chandler!” my mother scolds me as she walks in. “Don’t be rude.” Then she looks from my food to me. “Are you not feeling well?” she asks.

“I—drank a lot last night. This is enough.” I manage to smile before my stomach growls loudly.

Turncoat!

“Hmm, it sounds hungry to me,” Simon mumbles. 

Grinding my teeth together, I try to think of something to snap back at him when Lexi interrupts.

“I have to say, Simon, that looks disgusting. Are you really going to eat all that?” she asks.

I know Simon’s face without having to look at it. He’s gloating.

He begins to talk without swallowing. “Of course, it’s my favorite,” he says taking a drink of his mimosa. I watch him from my peripheral vision taking another bite that is too large for his mouth.

“You’re asking for it, eating that kind of stuff.” She shrugs at him.

The crunch from me slowly eating my toast blocks them out for a few seconds.

By the way, no, this is not as good as pancakes… or sausage gravy.  I can feel my stomach getting ready to protest again.

Pipe down and enjoy the damn toast.

“Come on. Lex, seriously you should try this. It’s amazing. Sidney, would you like a bite?” he says waving it around inches away from my lips.

Stomach! Don’t you dare!

I hold my breath.

“Sidney would never eat that.” Lexi’s tone is mocking.

I know what she’s doing. That was a direct dig at me.

Who to smack first?

I grab his wrist pushing it away from my face before I end up giving in.

I am going to kill that fucking Simon when I get out of here. Had he stayed home I would be eating whatever I wanted to and be happy about it. Now I’m here eating this.

“So, what you are saying is that someone who eats that much is a pig?” Dean asks with a smile on his face.

My eyes snap from where they were fixed on my fork that is playing with a grape to glare hard at him.

His head lowers.

“Actually,” I chime in, tossing my fork onto my dish. “That is exactly what she means. Simon will one day become fat, and old and because of that he will be alone.” I turn to look at him.