Lost : The Little Sisters Book One Page 15

  “Lucy!” Her mum called out. Hearing her sweet voice brought on a rush of hope. Mum had never reprimanded her over anything. Lucy knew she wouldn’t do that now over this. Mum loved Jace. Dad did too. Clinging to that hope, Lucy got off her arse and hurried down the stairs.

  Both Mum and Dad were seated at the dining table where they had all their family conference calls. Lucy hated being the reason for the call. Emily and Cat were unmistakably missing. It looked like this would be a private conference. Her heart shook with cold fear.

  “The Neils called us and told us what happened,” began her Dad. Lucy looked up from the floor to check his expression and found her gaze diving back down to stay rooted to the floor. Dad looked horrible. She had never seen him look so devastated.

  “To cut a long story short, Daniel broke off all ties with us. Over forty years of friendship, and just like that he cast me aside as if I didn’t matter. As if… as if…”

  In shock, Lucy watched her dad shake his head as he stumbled over what he had to say. Mum then put her hand on his shoulder and took over, “They want you to break it off with Jace, but your dad and I felt that was not our place to say. We just thought you should know.”

  There was a strained silence as Lucy took in what they had just said. She wanted to know more, but couldn’t bring herself to ask in light of their heartbreak.

  “Have you given some thought to what you intend to do now that you’ve graduated? More studies? Work?” Mum prompted a change in topic, and with a heavy heart, Lucy strived for a light tone before responding. But it was hard.

  Talking about her past, her present, and her future, were all hard. Lucy didn’t yet know what she wanted to do. Not about her education, or about Jace, and as for her father and her missing brother, Lucy was equally clueless. But she was sure about one thing and said so now.

  “Mum, Dad, I want you to know that I am sorry. So sorry for the pain you’ve been put through because of me. I didn’t know the Reeves would react like this. If I did, I would never ever…” Never what? Loved Jace? Want him? Lucy didn’t know that either.

  It was all starting to irk her, this inability to take any decisive actions over her future. And it was her future, hers and Jace’s. No one else should have a say in it.

  “Darling,” murmured her mum. “There is no need to apologise, honey. You’ve done nothing wrong. If anyone is due an apology it’s you. I failed to be a better mother. I lost your brother and now I know I have even failed as a sister. To think Stacy did all this because she hated me. Such venom she must have had in her heart. Such hatred, and yet I never had a clue. I was too blind. Living my little fantasy with Knyte and oblivious to all the hate that surrounded me.” Mary shook her head in self-disgust. “I don’t want that for you Lucy. You must know that.”

  “Aunt Stacy’s actions are on her head, mum. It had nothing to do with you. You didn’t cause it. Her actions stemmed from her own inadequacies. As for me, my actions will reflect my own determinations. I won’t let another influence me.” Lucy paused to look at her parents seriously. “Not the actions of an aunt I have never met, a father I have never known, or a brother I have yet to meet. I will also not let the Neils have a say over who I date and who I don’t.”

  And that included Richard Reeves.

  Lucy left the last unsaid, but her agitation was obvious, and while her mother turned away with upset of her own, Patrick Little reached out to thump Lucy’s back proudly.

  “That’s my girl,” he said, proud of the woman she’d become. Lucy jumped up to hug him and then together they turned their discussion to what Lucy would do in the States to uncover the whereabouts of her brother, Blaze. But even so, Mary Little excused herself after a bit.

  It was obvious to the two that this was a sensitive topic with Mary. Too many years of false expectation and endless heartaches had worn her patience. She could only deal with so much for so long. But that didn’t faze Lucy, if anything it renewed her determination to get to the bottom of this.

  Dinner was a sorry affair. Lucy got in two bites at most. The silence around the table was deafening. She could clearly hear herself crunch through her salad. If Lucy was not already put off her food, then hearing that loud crunching sound would have had the same effect. Her mum was still upset by talks about her sister and Blaze, and her dad was still upset by Daniel Neil’s actions. And while none of it was Lucy’s fault, she couldn’t help feeling as if she was due some part of the blame.

  Being in the position she was in, Lucy dared not leave before dinner was done. So she toyed about her plate, making the necessary rote movements to show she was eating, but otherwise left the food out of her mouth. She thought it best that she avoid puking her guts out. For at this moment, eating even a morsel would have that effect. Lucy refrained from looking about the table as she studiously stared at the plate before her. It was undoubtedly the longest dinner of her life. As soon as Dad placed down his fork for the last time Lucy was up with her plate and heading to the kitchen to wash up.

  Staring out the kitchen window at the view—the spread of rooftops the gentle slope of their home afforded—Lucy loaded up the dishwasher absently. The need for escape rose strongly within her. She wanted to go for a walk.

  “Let’s go walk,” said Emily abruptly, beside her. It was as if she’d read her mind. Lucy turned grateful eyes to her and saw that Emily meant it. Her perceptive nature made rare appearances, but they were always on point when they did. Lucy nodded her head gratefully and Cat announced, “I’ll go get our coats,” before she dashed off upstairs to fetch them. Seeing her natural exuberance made Lucy smile. She felt her face crack at the effort. It was only then that she realised the strain she was under.

  A short while later, they were all trudging down the street in the dark with only the occasional street light and the glare from random houses to light up their way. Shamelessly, they stared into every home and discussed the layout of the rooms, what was on TV, and who was watching what. But all the while it was really the Christmas trees and festive decorations all lit up that captured and held their longing gazes.

  Beyond the exchange of gifts, the Littles sadly didn’t celebrate Christmas. But that didn’t stop them from being the neighbourhood’s regular peeping Toms, or more appropriately, Janes, and lapping up the Christmas cheer that spewed out onto the streets from each passing window.

  It was an old favourite of theirs to admire the warmth of the season’s festivities in everyone else’s homes and the cheer they borrowed on had its usual effect and soon they were reduced to fits of giggles at the silliest observations.

  But after a while, they fell silent, taking in the silence of the night as each pondered over the events of the past weekend in their own way. Then the walk took on an almost sombre feel. The loose gravel of the poorly finished road crunched beneath their footfalls, marking their passage. But the streets were empty to possible threats and there was only them.

  Lucy looked down to her feet as she walked and narrowly dodged a puddle that Cat was cheekily edging her into. That was an old trick of hers that Lucy should have been attuned too. But lost as she was in her gloomy thoughts, she made for an easy victim and Cat couldn’t resist. The trio walked on, ignoring the occasional noise, laughter, and cheer that each inhabited house would emit as they slowly ambled past.

  “I wanted to talk to you,” said Emily seriously.

  “Yes?” Lucy asked, surprised at her tone. She watched as Emily did an even more surprising thing and turned to face Cat who surreptitiously nodded her head before continuing, “I want you to know that I am okay with you and Jace being a couple. He is your first ever crush and I can respect that what you feel for him must be real. I have not been entirely supportive, but when you came to me yesterday for help getting dressed, I was happy I could help and… and I just wanted you to know that,” she finished off earnestly, before staring at Lucy expectantly.

  Lucy looked at her little sister, all grown up, and unashamedly broke into tears
. This… this was worth crying for. She flung her arms around them both. It was for quite some time that the three of them stood there in the middle of the street, embraced in a group hug. Then they parted and began their return home.

  Lucy squeezed Emily’s hand gratefully before murmuring her thanks and headed to the kitchen to down a glass of water thirstily before continuing upstairs to her room. She pulled off her jacket and threw it over the edge of the bed, then proceeded to wiggle out of her jeans and t-shirt while making her way into the bathroom. She snapped the room light on and almost screamed.

  “Don’t you know you should knock first before opening the bathroom door?” asked Jace jokingly, as he moved forward to wrap her in his embrace.

  Chapter 10

  “You don’t want me here?” Jace asked when her sombre mood failed to lift altogether.

  Lucy looked up at him sadly and shook her head.

  “Is that a yes or a no?” Jace gave her a sloppy grin.

  “I want you here,” she said unhesitatingly.

  “Good! You get your PJs on and I will get comfortable on your bed. Then we’ll talk,” Jace said before he pushed away from her and blew out a low whistle as he took in her state of undress. “Or perhaps just leave off with the PJs altogether.” He murmured suggestively, then chuckled all the way to the bed. Lucy turned to watch him start unbuttoning his shirt before her face heated up and she scuttled all the way into the bathroom to begin her nightly rituals.

  She didn’t know why she still got embarrassed around him. Perhaps it was the slight uncertainty about their being a couple that confused her.

  She emerged shortly after and made her way over to the bed. Jace was already in. Was he asleep? Lucy inched closer and got in silently so as not to awake him. Then he turned and pressed up against her. Lucy felt his whole body shake and realised it was from refrained laughter. She hit his shoulders and gritted out his name in annoyance, “Jace!” But his shoulders only shook harder. Lucy scowled in the dark and turned her back to him.

  “Oh baby, don’t be like that,” he whispered teasingly into her ear as he shifted his arm under her to haul her close. Spooning in, they settled down comfortably. Both silent and simply enjoying the feeling of being in each other’s arms.

  Lucy turned to face him, “You heard what your parents said to mine?”

  “I was there when they said it. I didn’t want you to know, but I guess that was inevitable. They didn’t mean it. It’s just a phase. It will blow over.”

  That annoyed her, “It’s not just a phase. They want you for Celine, not me. It’s not just about how you or I feel. It’s to do with your company and Celine’s.”

  “And what would you know about my company, or for that matter, Celine’s?” Jace asked amused.

  “Nothing. That is, nothing other than what Richard told me. The Reeves want you as their son-in-law just as your parents want Celine. What we want doesn’t come into it,” Lucy retorted smartly.

  “And you think I should just give us up and give in to them. Is that what you want?” Jace asked seriously, gazing down at her.

  Lucy felt a spasm of pain so sharp her eyes watered instantly. “No!” She cried out. “I want you for myself,” Lucy added selfishly.

  “Shhh, babe,” Jace ran a comforting hand through her hair and nestled her head to the curve of his chest. “We’ll work it out. This is just another curve in the road. We’ll take it slow. You know how I feel about you and I know how you feel about me. That’s all that matters,” Jace said soothingly.

  Lucy nodded her head, accepting his reasoning. Jace was an old hand at this. He’s had experience with relationships while this would be her first. She would bow to his better judgement. Perhaps his parents had objected to all his other girlfriends as well. Just thinking about them smartened her temper.

  “Term break will be over soon. You’ll be back at your final semester at Monash and I will have enrolled elsewhere,” Lucy said finally, what has been at the back of her mind.

  “Have you decided what you’re going to do?”

  Lucy gave the question some thought but then gave a slow shake of her head. “No. I have not a clue.” She was clueless about so many things it was almost worrying.

  “Will worry about that when the time comes,” Jace muttered dismissively. Lucy nodded again, agreeing to let that rest for now. Lucy had one more thing to mention and was not looking forward to it, but Jace had to know.

  “Richard has a fetish for my hand,” she blurted out, waving the offending appendage about. It was probably not the best way to say it, but Lucy was at her wits’ end. They would be going to Richard Reeves’ farmhouse in the coming weekend and they would instantly be at a disadvantage as a couple if Jace were left in the dark. Lucy felt his body instantly tense beneath her.

  “What did he do?”

  It was a simple question, but Lucy struggled hard to form the words. “He kissed my palm… and nibbled… and licked and then… bit,” she stuttered it out hesitatingly.

  Jace’s hand tightened over her, “And you’re telling me this now?”

  “I suppose I should have mentioned it earlier,” she muttered mincingly.

  “You suppose you…? What the fuck, Lucy?” Jace was irritated beyond exasperation.

  “Don’t blow up at me, Jace. This is not my fault.”

  “What did you expect, telling me my best friend has a thing for you?” He asked shaking his head.

  “I didn’t expect anything. I just thought you should know,” Lucy replied tartly, for somehow he was making this sound like her fault. And it wasn’t. “And I thought I was your best friend!” It was an age-old contention between them that Lucy was still smarting over. How could Jace have two best friends while she had only one? It didn’t seem fair somehow. “Besides, he doesn’t have a thing for me as you put it. He was just being underhanded.” Lucy said almost salaciously before adding sheepishly, “Forgive the pun.”

  “Do you know how awkward it’s going to be now, visiting his home? I mean we will be staying there. I’ll have to keep an eye on you. Richard isn’t known to bestow his favours on just anyone, despite what the press says about him. The very fact that he showed you an interest at all means he really likes you,” groaned Jace.

  “But that cannot be true. Emily was saying only just the other day how he changes girlfriends as often as his underwear,” Lucy sputtered out then blushed at the thought of Richard in his underwear, or better yet, without it. She was thankful for the dark and made sure to turn her heated cheek away from Jace’s chest. It wouldn’t do to let him know the attractions had, to an extent, been mutual.

  “He has his secretary arrange his dates for him. Richard never goes out with the same woman twice for a reason, and that’s simply because he feels women aren’t worth the effort,” Jace chuckled at that. “Richard is an all-work-no-play sort of man. He wants more than anything for me to wed his sister and for the companies to merge. I’m guessing that is why he showed an interest in you. He’s trying to either draw a rift between us or simply shift your attachment away from me and onto him…” Jace fell silent, no doubt contemplating several diabolical intentions on Richard’s behalf.

  And they were best friends? Lucy could only shake her head. This just proves again how they were worlds apart.

  If Lucy knew of another female’s interest in Jace she wouldn’t have been quite so blasé about it. She would be out for blood. Lucy recalled her reaction to seeing Celine kissing Jace, and again at the party when the two of them went off on their own, and had to reassess her response. She had never once felt bloodthirsty or even jealousy. Was it because she trusted Jace and his feelings for her or was it simply because she didn’t care enough?

  Lucy was suddenly unsure about so much. It all seemed so sudden, and things had gotten too complicated right from the very start.

  They were both silent for too long. Each lost in their own thoughts in the awkward silence of each suspecting the other. Jace’s hand moved languidly to c
up Lucy’s head, holding her deliberately to him as if not wanting to let her go. Lucy sighed, torn with confusion. Were they right? Was what they were doing turning a lifelong friendship into something more the right thing to do? They had less than five days as a couple and already everyone they knew was planning to tear them apart. Were they wrong?

  Jace’s fingers absently toyed with the short ringlets of her hair, tugging gently at the noodle-like springs as he too thought things over.

  “You know how I feel about you, right?” He murmured almost conversationally, and Lucy’s spine tightened. “I care for you so much. I always have. You, the twins, and your parents have been my family for as long as my own have been.”

  Lucy lifted her head to stare down at him. “I know.”

  “I can’t lose you, Lucy.” He stared earnestly back at her.

  Lucy lifted a hand to cup his face, feeling the bristles brush against her skin and shivered. She was still attracted to Jace. There was no question about that, and the ridge she felt in his pants against the back of her knees told her he felt the same. But what Lucy couldn’t understand was how her reactions to Richard played out in the grand scheme of things. Why had his actions not repulsed her as they should have?

  “Richard said I should pick him instead?”

  “Did he? By God…” Jace broke off to bury his face in the crook of her neck.

  “What did he mean by that?” Lucy asked confused.

  “How the hell should I know? He’s playing games Lucy. You must not trust him. He wants me for his sister. You have got to remember that. Richard is devious and ruthless in getting what he wants. He knows I want you. He’s known for a long time now. This is just his way to twist things to the way he wants it. You cannot let him win, Lucy. You’re mine.”

  The baby blues turned unusually piercing and Lucy felt the electric jolt of his gaze underlining his words. She was his. Just as she always had been.