Cousins (Cousins #2) (9 page)

He's definitely a lot different than what I'm used to. He's quick-tempered and a loose cannon, but he's also smart, driven, and pays actual attention to me when I’m talking; although I’m pretty sure he’s mostly interested in what's between my legs.
 

I don't think Roman has ever had a serious relationship with a woman, and frankly why would he? Women drool all over him twenty-four hours a day. Why would he pick just one? Particularly one he's related to. Not to mention that I haven't forgotten what he said about not doing seconds. I'm pretty sure the only reason why he's touched me more than once is because I'm living in his father's house.
 

I'm easy access. Plain and simple.
 

I'd be kidding myself if I were to think that it's anything deeper than that. That's what I have to keep remembering. That's what I have to keep telling myself.

When I disembark the plane, Roman is about two people behind me, but I can still feel his Darth Vader-esque eyes drilling holes into the back of my head. Jerk.

"Bitsy!"

I hear the calling of my name rise above a sea of strange faces, before I can locate the direction that it's coming from. That is until I see the white poster board with black lettering being held high by a pair of hands with a big gold love knot ring on one hand. I'd know that ring anywhere; and the words on the sign, well those can only belong to the same person as well.

Welcome Home School Bucks Bitch!

Sure enough I spot Sloan's sun-kissed daddy long legs coming towards me. She's dressed in a casual fitted black T-shirt and a pair of daisy duke jean shorts, looking fabulous as usual, and laughing at the look that's probably plastered across my face after seeing her sign. She's my biggest fan, but she can be a tad bit inappropriate and over the top sometimes.

"Playing hooky?" I ask.

"It's Monday. No doctor wants to be bothered with a pharmaceutical rep on a Monday; that's why I usually do paperwork. But instead I thought I'd pick up the new dot com diva from the airport."

I laugh at the dot com reference because Sloan has no understanding of terminology for websites versus apps, or maybe she just doesn't care, but that's part of her charm. She's a sales powerhouse, a bombshell, daughter of a retired NBA basketball player dad and a voiceover actress mom; and her life's motto is definitely keep it simple stupid. She's not into the minute details of life. She never sweats the small stuff. She just likes good food, hot sex, and getting paid.

"How did you even know what time to pick me up crazy girl?" I ask.

Sloan gestures her head at something or rather someone behind me. "Batman over there sent me a text. Said you'd be needing a ride."

I turn to look for Roman and see that he's not even paying us any attention. He's deeply engrossed in some sort of flirtatious conversation with a red head dressed in an airline uniform. My stomach turns a bit. I'm so sick of him.

"How thoughtful of him." I say snidely.

"Do you have all your things?" Sloan asks. "Do we need to go to baggage claim?"

"No, I didn't check any bags. I just have my carry-on. We can go."

"Cool, let's go then. I've got an Uber car waiting."

I take one last glance over at Roman. For a moment I wish it were he and I traveling in the car home together. Laughing. Flirting. But he's doing both of those things with someone else. A complete stranger. At least I think she's a stranger. Knowing that asshole, she may be someone he may have slept with in the past. I'm sure the list is a mile long.

Ugh, I can't stand him.

"Let's go." I march to the exit door.

During the car ride home Sloan starts rattling off information like I've been away for a month instead of forty-eight hours. She shares celebrity gossip, college friend gossip, work gossip and something about her cable guy. I just didn't hear it all. My mind has been completely zoned out and on you know who.

"So?" Sloan asks while nudging my shoulder with hers.

"What?" I ask.

"I read your letter. Are you ready to talk about it?"

"Oh that."

"So you fooled around with the Dark Knight huh?"

"Yes." I mutter quietly.

"Don't be embarrassed about it with me. I mean he is your cousin, but not really, so I sort of get it."

"You do?" I ask.

"I mean I'm not saying it's the smartest move on your part, but he's super hot, so I get why you may have had a little slip."

"Yes … a little slip."

Sloan starts grinning. "A big slip?"

"Maybe." I shrug my shoulders.

"How big? Did you fuck him?" Her eyes grow wide like saucers as she asks loudly enough for the entire city to hear.
 

"Yes." I whisper when I notice the Uber guy's eyes on me.

"More than once?"

"Yes."

"Dare I ask because you really have no frame of reference, but was it good."

"Very." I smile.

"So that's why things were so awkward back there. You guys didn't want to share a car because you were a little embarrassed about all the frolicking you've been doing?"

I sigh. "I guess that's part of it."

"Did Joseph send him to keep an eye on you or something? Why was he even there?"

I dodge giving the real answer by side tracking her with half the truth.

"Ethan was there."

"WHAT!"

"My phone was acting funky, or I would have called you, but I was at the bar having a drink and there he was. He simply walked up to me like it was just another day. Like we had just spoken to each other yesterday."

"WHAT!"

"Yep."

"So what did he say?"

"Well not much. I didn't really give him an opportunity to talk that much. He wasn't in Arizona though or rehab. I'm not sure he's even got a drug problem, Sloan. I don't know what's real and what isn't with him."

"That asshole. I thought he was cool."

"I know."

"So how did you end things? I mean like what did you say? I know he was the love of your life, Bitsy."

That's overstating things a bit.

"Well Roman kind of forced the issue."

"Roman was at the bar with you?"

"No he came by my room."

"Oh so Ethan was in your room?"

"Yep."

"You know I'm looking at your face right now, and I feel like I'm missing something."

"What? I told you the biggest secret I've got."

"Not just that. I feel like you've been holding out on me. Like you're keeping stuff from me."

"Can't a girl keep a few things to herself?"

"Yeah, I guess, but I just don't want to be the last to know. You know how I am."

"I get it. Oh, I didn't get a chance to tell you that Jagger emailed me too."

"Oh?" She says excitedly. "To invite you to the shindig no doubt."

"Uh huh."

"Are you going? I mean it seems like your dance card is super full." She chuckles.

"Ha, ha, very funny."

"I mean ex-boyfriends and cousins–"

The Uber guy looks up at us again through the rear view mirror and grins.

"Would you shut your trap!" I fuss. Then we both start laughing hysterically.
 

"I mean what's your secret? Do I need to shave my legs or something?"

I start bopping her on her head with my handbag. "Enough crazy girl. I've made my decision. Ethan doesn't exist. Roman was a mistake. And Jagger … well he's a possibility."

Sloan smiles in approval.
 

"Well then to Jagger and School Bucks," she says.
 

And we mock toast each other with our fists like we've done since we were eighteen years old.

"To Jagger and School Bucks."

CHAPTER NINE

ELIZABETH

"I'm sorry but do your aunt and uncle not allow phone calls inside of the house now? Did they confiscate your cell phone? Are you on some sort of lock down?"

"Very funny Mother. I'm literally cracking up."

"It's been five days since you've returned from your vacation–"

"My business trip." I correct her but she ignores me as usual.

"And not even a phone call to me or your father. He'd like to speak to you by the way. Your father."

I find that ironic seeing as how I can count on my hand the number of times over six years that my father actually picked up the phone to call me himself. My mother has always been the unofficial spokesperson of the two. Dad always plays the background. Never initiating much contact with me. I know that it doesn't say anything in particular about how much he loves me; it's just his way.

"I'm sorry, Mom. You're right I should have called, but I've been busy. Put Dad on the phone please."

I hear the deep voice that immediately makes me feel five years old again.

"Elizabeth."

"Hi Dad."

"What are you up to kiddo?" That's a loaded question.

"You know … this and that."

"Do you need money?"

Straight to the point huh. "No, Dad, I'm okay."

"And just what does that mean– okay?"

"Well my business is generating a decent amount of money for me every month." Ok that's actually stretching the truth by leaps and bounds.
 

"And I'm going to start looking for a job as well."
 

I came to that revelation on the flight home. If I'm going to successfully stay from underneath Roman’s watch, I'm going to have to move out of my aunt's house. There's just no other way.

"So you're staying in the city then?" Disapproval oozing through the phone.

"Yes, Dad."

"And your aunt and uncle, how long are you planning on staying with them?"

"I'm not sure." I huff. Even though I plan on leaving as soon as I can, my father is making me feel like I am some sort of nuisance.

There's a long pause between us, and I know what's coming next. My parents have made their feelings quite apparent to me. They want me home.

"Listen, Bitsy, I definitely want you to chase your dreams, but there's also reality to consider. You can't live off your aunt and uncle forever. It was never supposed to be a permanent arrangement."

"It's not, Dad." If only he knew how much in agreement we are.

"You can live with us and still work on your business. I can even get you a part time job at the courthouse, so you'll have your own spending money."

Oh brother.

"That sounds like a good plan, Dad, but just not the right one for me. Not right now. I love living in the city."

"Elizabeth, I've allowed you to handle things in regards to your assault because you're a grown woman now, but I need to know the truth. Are you in any further danger? Was this really a random incident? I need to know that you're okay. I need to make sure that you aren't keeping anything from me and your mother."

"I'm fine, Dad. Aunt Juliette's house is in a great neighborhood, and I feel completely safe here. Plus when I get a job and it's time for me to move somewhere, I'm pretty sure that Uncle Joseph and Roman will run a check on the landlord and scout the neighborhood like they're CIA." I chuckle.

A pregnant pause passes between us.

"Roman?"

"Yes … Uncle Joseph's son."

"He's living there?"

Don't he and my mother talk at all?

"No he has his own place, but he works for Uncle Joseph, so I see him here and there."
 

And every frackin' where.

"I definitely want you out of that house sooner rather than later Elizabeth." There's a severity in his voice that wasn't there before.

"Why?" I want out too, but not because my father is holding some grudge from a zillion years ago. "Because Roman buried me in the backyard when we were practically toddlers? That's ridiculous, Dad."

"It has nothing to do with that juvenile prank. It's because I know things about that family that you don't know." My father's voice starts to rise. "And from what I've heard, Roman is very much like his father. They're dangerous people, Elizabeth, and they don't follow rules. They make their own. Those types of people are always dangerous. Family or not."

"They've been nothing but good to me, Dad."

"If I front you six months worth of rent for a new apartment would you move?"

Does he know that I'm sleeping with my “dangerous” cousin or am I just paranoid right now?

"Dad, I'm not going to take your money. Let me figure this thing out on my own. Let me be an adult."

My father sighs in defeat. There's no disputing the whole let me be responsible argument. I've won this round.

"All right, Bitsy. Just be careful."