Lottie has that with Huxley.
Will I ever have that?
Edwin flashes through my mind as I walk down the stairs. He might not be as power-hungry and domineering as Huxley, but he has traits that excite me. For one, we have a nice time together. For another, we can enjoy a simple conversation.
And the kiss we shared the other night when he walked me back to my apartment was . . . nice.
Sure, my shoes didn’t fly off when our lips met, but I also didn’t hate it.
If I’ve learned anything from my podcast, it’s that sometimes the type of passion Lottie and Huxley have for each other doesn’t happen right away, but needs time to grow. Edwin and I are still in the learning phase of our relationship. There’s so much more time to grow when it comes to passion.
When I reach the bottom step, I head toward the bench in the entryway, but just then the front door opens and JP walks in, momentarily stopping me.
He’s dressed in a navy-blue suit and black button-up shirt, of which he’s left the top two buttons undone, and his tie is draped over his neck, loose and messy. His hair curls over his forehead in just the right way that my eyes are drawn toward the thickness of his brows and the darkness of his lashes.
When he spots me, a smirk barely crosses his face as he adjusts one of the cuffs of his shirt.
Not saying a word to me, he heads to the stairs, grips the railing, and shouts up to Huxley. “Dude, the van is here. Get your ass down here.”
To my dismay, because I’m curious, I ask, “Wh-what are you doing here?”
He turns around and starts buttoning his shirt. “What do you mean what am I doing here? Same reason you are.”
“But . . . don’t you have your own transportation?”
“Don’t you?” he asks.
“I got ready with Lottie.”
“Well, I just moved in across the street and figured it would be more eco-friendly to all ride together. Any other questions?”
That makes me shut my mouth very quickly.
He moved across the street? How come Lottie never said anything to me? And which house did he move into? From memory, I can recall two that are across the way. A white one that’s bright and cheery, and an all-black house. Black windows, black siding, black roof. My guess is . . . that one.
I keep my gaze averted, but out of the corner of my eye, I catch JP adjusting his tie and making loops just as Huxley and Lottie come down the stairs, hand in hand, looking pristine and polished. I thought Lottie might have makeup smeared across her face and Huxley’s hair would be a total mess.
When they reach the bottom, Lottie pats JP’s shoulder and says, “Hey, neighbor,” and then walks up to me. Giving me a once-over, she says, “Doesn’t my sister look beautiful tonight?”
Oh God, Lottie. Why?
She looks over her shoulder at JP who gives me the briefest of glances before saying, “I’ve seen better.”
Huxley smacks JP on the back of the head and mumbles something under his breath I can’t quite hear. Then he turns to me and says, “Kelsey, you look stunning. I’m sure Edwin will be very happy to have you on his arm tonight.”
That pulls JP’s attention. “Edwin? Is that your latest attempt at love?”
“That is none of your concern,” I say while taking my sister’s hand, more for support than anything. I wish she had told me we’d be riding with JP, because I wouldn’t have gotten ready with her.
Hell, that’s probably why she didn’t say anything. When our eyes connect, I can see the apology in them.
“I hate you,” I mutter to her.
“I know,” she says back, and together, we walk out the door to the van that’s parked out front.
It’s one of those super fancy electric vans that celebrities use when going to the Met Gala so their dresses aren’t wrinkled. It can also double as an office on wheels, which is often what the boys use it for when they need to be driven around town and get work done at the same time.
The driver holds the door open for us and I step in first, followed by Lottie. We maneuver to the very back and take our seats.
“You should’ve told me he was coming tonight,” I whisper. Huxley is talking to JP at the front door of the house. From their mannerisms, it seems as though Huxley is lecturing JP about something. Hopefully how rude he just was. If I’ve learned one thing since Lottie started dating Huxley, it’s that I earned another person in my corner. Huxley will always stick up for me.
“I didn’t want you to not get ready with me because he was going to be here. This is our first fancy gala together. I didn’t want him to ruin it.”