two days later…
My eyes circle around the house once more, unable to believe that the place that once brought me joy and solace is nothing but a tomb of memories these days. The furniture and large antiques are draped in white sheets. Every surface is covered in a fine layer of dust, even the floor, which shows exact footsteps of where York and I have been walking since we arrived. After the funeral, York had paid severance to each of the staff until they secured new employment, and now the house is down to a skeletal staff, who only checks on the house monthly.
“It feels weird without anyone living here anymore.” York sighs, his own eyes tracing over the memories he has here.
It feels weird to me too. My eyes flick to the door, waiting for it to fly open and for Amelia to come flying in like she always did. She isn’t going to be happy to see me and the thought makes my gut clench. I was a dick to her and seeing her cry again was not at all what I wanted. The plan had been to get under her skin, unnerve her, forcing her to have to face our past together. Except that, since she’s been home, all I’ve managed to do is make her hate me more. We’re at a crossroads, and my time is running out. Rise Above is heading to the East Coast for ten more shows, before they will be returning to New Zealand.
“Think she’ll show?” York turns to me, his brow raised as if he can read my mind.
I shrug. “I honestly don’t know what she’ll do anymore.”
“Mia’s changed a lot since we were younger. I keep expecting her to act like she used to. My sister isn’t little anymore, and I don’t know anything about her.” York’s hand rubs the back of his neck, like he’s carrying the weight of the world there.
I’m about to respond when the sound of heels clicking against the ground grabs our attention, voices and her melodical laugh reaching us. The door opens, and Cyrus, the family attorney, uses his hand to prop it open for Amelia to breeze into the room. I notice everything about her, from the way she stands confidently in a pair of white heels, to the way her pink hair stands out against the black material of the dress she wears. A dress that is meant to look modest and professional, but the way it hugs all her curves looks like sin. The material ends right above her knees, and before the stretch of tan skin. She’s perfection. I don’t even care that I’m staring or that her blue-green eyes turn glacial when they touch on me, before glancing at her brother. York looks just as stunned to see her, probably since he never thought she would actually show. She was so resistant the last time he brought up their grandfather’s will.
“Mia.” He dips his head at her respectfully, and she gives him a small smile.
“Hi, York.”
I want to scoff or maybe rage. I can’t believe I’m jealous right now over my best friend and his sister. I want to call her out, but then remember the way she walked away from me at the club. I need to find a different way to get Amelia’s attention.
“I was just talking the logistics of today’s meeting with Miss Rosen outside,” Cyrus intervenes, “I think we are ready to put a pen to the paper.”
York’s brow rises. “You want to keep Allister Estate?”
Amelia turns to her brother, and those same ghosts from earlier dance across her face. “I won’t be living here; my home is in New Zealand. But I do plan to conduct business here and would rather have the house available, if needed, rather than a hotel.” Her shoulders shrug and I see the way my best friend visibly deflates. He didn’t want the house either, but Amelia doesn’t know he was secretly hoping she would want to live there.
“I think that’s perfectly reasonable,” Cyrus juts in, “after all, living here permanently alone can be a lot to take care of. If you desire to keep the home as more of a vacation home, Miss Rosen, we can also set up a contract with certain staff to maintain areas of the property, and when you do visit, they can be available to serve you and make the home ready.”
“I think that sounds excellent, Cyrus.” Amelia grins at the old man, and he fucking blushes. Whose side is he on?
Cyrus eyes me warily before turning to York. “And now, Mr. Allister, since Miss Rosen has decided to keep the property in some aspect, will you still be giving up your share?”
“Yes,” York answers, reaching into his pocket to take out a pen.
Cyrus starts rummaging in his briefcase and pulls out two separate folders stacked full of papers. More contracts.
“You’re giving up your share?” Amelia looks at York and concern flashes in her eyes.
He gives her a small smile. “I have a place in the city. I wanted the home to stay in the family and would have kept it if you didn’t truly want it. But since you will keep it in some capacity, then I have no problem letting it go to you.”
Amelia studies her brother, and I wonder if he can see and feel the emotions charge through her like I can. If he can see the war within her, in how she should react to his actions. “Thank you,” she finally responds, her voice small and strained as if fighting back tears.
“Will you two still remain joint owners of the other properties that were left by your parents?” Cyrus looks from York to Amelia.
“Yes.”
“There’s more properties?”
Cyrus chuckles and glances at Amelia. “That is why coming to will readings is important, Miss Rosen,” he admonishes. “Your parents left you both a penthouse in New York and a beach home in North Carolina.”
Amelia’s mouth opens and closes, and she turns her eyes to York. “You don’t want them for yourself?”
He sighs and shakes his head. That look of defeat is back in place. “No, Mia. Mom and dad left it to both of us. You deserve it just as much as I do. If we ever want to sell in the future, we can talk about it then. Right now, though, I think we should both keep them.”
Her head bobs, and this time, tears actually do glisten in her eyes, but she manages to mumble a thank you. York and Cyrus dip their heads together to sign the contracts. I watch Amelia while she watches them. I know she can feel my gaze by the stubborn way she keeps her face averted and her back to me. I see her one time discreetly flick a tear away before going back to being the cool-headed businesswoman.
Cyrus hands her the form next, and York hands her a pen. I watch as she reads every word first, and I feel proud, yet at the same time, responsible for her jadedness that she would think her family would try and screw her out of something in a contract. Once again, I’m hit with the reality of the damage I’ve done to her.
Amelia glances at her watch after she signs. “Is there anything else we have at this time, Cyrus?”
“No, that is all today, Miss Rosen.” The old man puts away the papers and grabs his coat from the cloth-covered chair it was lying on.
“Thank you so much,” Amelia tells him, granting him another smile. She turns to look at me then her brother. “I’m going to head out. My plane leaves in a few hours.”
York nods, and I keep my face passive. Amelia heads for the door and follows Cyrus out. York frowns and turns to me. I want to do what he’s asking. I know I should leave her alone after the way things ended the other night, but I can’t let it go.
“Zan—”
York calls, but I ignore him in my desperate attempt to reach Amelia before she leaves the driveway. Thankfully, Cyrus was talking her ear off, and they are both only getting to their respective vehicles when I jog up to them.
“Amelia,” I call her name. Cyrus glances at me and gives me a knowing, sly grin, before ducking into his car and driving away.
“Please just give me two minutes,” I ask, pleading, ready to get on my knees and grab onto her if needed. “I swear, just two minutes, and then you can leave.”
Her fingers run through her hair and her face crumbles. It’s painful for her to talk to me. “One minute, Zander.”
I inhale and exhale, all the while moving closer to her. I purposefully crowd her space until her head tilts back and that waterfall of pinkish-gold tresses brushes against her lower back. Her eyes widen, and I hear her intake of breath. I don’t care that I have to push my way into her space in order for her to listen to me, because one thing I do know is that the closer I am to her, the harder time she has pushing me away, which tells me she isn’t as unaffected by me as she wants me to think.
My eyes sweep over every angle, every flawless inch of her face. Her eyes flutter and seem to be trying to track mine, lines appear in a V between her eyes and her small teeth bite into her bottom lip. “I was an asshole the other night. I shouldn’t have bothered you at work like that, and I’m sorry.”
Her chest rises and falls while her tongue darts out to soothe the little area her teeth had been biting into. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, Amelia,” I tell her, shaking my head, some of my hair falling in front of my eyes. “I’m not telling you this to get into your good graces. I’m saying it because you deserve to hear it. I am sorry. I can’t change our past or what happened or explain away why I did the things I did. I could have handled things better back then, but I didn’t. I ruined our friendship and I broke your heart. I was an asshole because I also made your brother go along with it. I took from you and blamed you, and I’m sorry.”
Amelia sniffles and glances away. Her throat bobs with emotion, and her fingers tighten on the sleeves of my coat. “This is really painful.”
“I know, baby,” I breathe out the endearment because I can’t fucking help myself. My lips touch her forehead lightly before her body stiffens in my arms. “I heard what you said at the club, but you didn’t get to hear what I had really wanted to say. We can’t go back and change the past. I wish I could.”
I step back from her and take her hand, bringing her knuckles up to my lips and pressing them against her cooled skin. I can smell the light flower and citrus scent of her perfume when I do. “Amelia, I can’t see a future without you in it. I’ll be here for you whenever you need something, no matter what it is.”
“Zander.” She shakes her head, and silent tears track down her cheeks again. Her hand flexes in mine, but I hold onto her tighter. The movement brings her gaze to mine, and I make sure she can see the truth in my eyes.
“I’ll chase you this time, Amelia. And when I catch you, the game’s over. You’re mine.”
