Chapter 158
After Margaret finally lets go of me, she wipes her eyes with the edge of her apron and laughs a little at herself.
“Look at me, crying over gifts,” she says, shaking her head. “You’ll make an old woman emotional, dear p>
“You’re not old,” I say automatically.
She gives me a look that clearly says she knows better, but she smiles anyway.
I help her move the rest of the things onto the table while she keeps touching the scarf around her neck like she still can’t believe it belongs to her. Watching her reaction makes the effort from yesterday feel worth it.
Once breakfast is done and I’ve finished eating, I head back upstairs.
The hallway is quiet, the people in the house re still slowly waking up. When I step into the bedroom, the shopping bags are exactly where I left them earlier.
Zane is gone. Thank fuck… not that I expected him to still be here.
The memory of earlier his voice when I ignored him, the way he swore under his breath when I bent over makes the corner of my mouth twitch, but I shove the thought away.
I crouch near the pile of bags and start sorting through them. It doesn’t take long to find the three boxes I set aside yesterday.
One wrapped in soft cream paper, one in glossy black and one in pale pink.
I stack them carefully in my arms.
Tessa, June, and Lila had been hovering around me like worried mother hens the last time I saw them. I’d been too tired and overwhelmed then to properly talk to them. And judging from how dramatic those three can be, I already know I’m going to get an earful for disappearing afterward.
The thought makes me smile slightly as I leave the room their room is down the hall in the staff wing when I get ther I knock once before pushing the door open.
The reaction is immediate when they sight me.
“Elaine p>
Tessa is the first to spot me. She’s sitting cross-legged on the bed flipping through a magazine, but the second she sees me she throws it aside and jumps up like someone lit a fire under her.
“Oh my God, she’s alive,” June announces dramatically from the couch.
Lila, who’s brushing her hair in front of the mirror, turns around so fast the brush nearly flies out of her hand.
“You finally remembered we exist p>
Before I can even say anything, Tessa rushes over and wraps her arms around me.
“You disappeared,” she accuses, squeezing me tight.
June folds her arms.
“Just Completely abandoned us p>
Lila points the hairbrush at me.
“Forgotten, tossed aside and betrayed p>
I blink at the three of them.
“Good morning to you too p>
Tessa finally releases me, though she’s still holding my shoulders like she needs to confirm I’m real.
“Where have you been p>
“Just Busy,” I say.
June snorts.
“That’s a terrible excuse p>
“We thought you died or something,” Lila adds
“I did not die p>
“Emotionally you might have,” June mutte
I sigh, raising my hands in surrender.
“I didn’t forget about you p>
Three skeptical looks greet that statement.
“Really?” Tessa says.
“Yes p>
“Because we haven’t seen you since when?,” June adds.
“And we were there,” Lila reminds me, tapping her chest. “At your bedside, loyal friends p>
I wince a little.
Okay they have a point.
“I know,” I admit. “I’m sorry p>
That softens them slightly.
“But I add quickly, lifting the boxes in my arms, “I brought peace offerings p>
All three pairs of eyes drop to the packages and Immediately their moods change.
“Oh p>
Tessa tilts her head.
“What’s that p>
“Gifts,” I say, handing them out.
Lila grabs the pink box first.
“For me p>
“Yes p>
June takes the black one.
“And this p>
“Also yes p>
Tessa eyes the last box before slowly accepting it.
“You’re bribing us p>
“Absolutely p>
They open them at the same times and the room explodes with noise.
“Oh my God p>
“Elaine p>
“Are you serious right now p>
Lila is practically bouncing as she pulls out the dress from her box.
“This is freaking gorgeous p>
June holds up the watch I picked out for her, staring at it like it might disappea
“You did not buy this for me p>
“I did p>
Tessa lifts the lid of her box and gasps, the necklace inside catching the light.
“Elaine p>
Suddenly all three of them are talking at once.
“This must have cost a fortune p>
“You shouldn’t have p>
“I love it p>
Then they tackle me in another group hug.
“Thank you!” Lila squeals.
“You’re forgiven,” June declares dramatically.
“For now,” Tessa adds.
We all burst out laughing… and eventually we settle down, sitting across the bed and couch while they continue admiring their gifts.
Conversation flows easily after that, they ask about everything.
Zane, how I’m feeling My siblings
I answer most of it, dodging the more complicated parts and for a while it feels normal and easy…Just sitting there with them, laughing at June’s ridiculous stories and listening to Tessa complain about a dress she ordered online.
Then a shadow appears in the doorway.
Aaron.
He’s leaning against the frame, arms crossed, just watching us.
Tessa notices him first.
“Well hello there p>
June turns.
“Oh look. It’s the bodyguard p>
Lila grins.
“Come join us p>
I wave him in.
“Aaron, come here. Girl talk p>
He raises one eyebrow.
“I’ll pass p>
The girls immediately start teasing him.
“Oh come on,” June says.
“Scared?” Tessa adds.
Lila pats the empty space on the couch.
“We won’t bite p>
Aaron looks like he’d rather face a firing squad.
“I’m good, thanks p>
Then his gaze shifts to me.
“Training p>
I blink at him.
“What p>
“Zane’s waiting p>
My stomach drops.
I grab my phone and check the time.
Oh no.
I’m thirty minutes late.
“Shit p>
I jump off the bed so fas Tessa startles.
“I’m late p>
June laughs.
“You’re dead p>
“I know p>
I grab the door handle, already halfway out.
“Sorry, I have to go.
“Wow,” Lila calls after me. “Abandoning us again p>