Good Girl : An Enemies-to-Lovers, Roommate Romance (Alphahole Roommates Book 2), page 22
“I want to talk to you,” my mother says, pointing at me.
“Not tonight, Mom.”
“Austin!”
“Mom, leave him tonight. He’s on New York time. He’s tired.” That’s Adele, now beside me.
“Okay. Tomorrow,” Audra warns. “I’ll come to your house.”
“I’ll be back here,” I say.
“Then I’ll see you here,” she clips and then she and Roger leave.
Aiden and Carly come outside.
“So?” Adele asks.
“He wants me to drop the charges.”
“Eff that,” Adele says.
I look to Aiden.
He shrugs. “It’s up to you, Auz.”
“What would you do?”
He shakes his head. “Dunno.”
“Thanks for the help,” I say.
He shakes his head again and gives Carly a dark expression before his eyes settle back on me. Obviously, Aiden has an opinion on the matter, despite the fact he’s saying nothing.
“I think you did the right thing, Austin, the fact that it’s Sienna aside,” Carly says. “But if you drop it to keep peace between the two very intertwined families and to move on with your life, that’s okay, too. She’s crapping her pants with the prospect of jail time, I’m sure. Just that fear right now is a punishment of sorts.”
“And being on the sex offender registry,” I add.
Carly’s jaw drops.
So does Adele’s.
“Yeah,” I say.
“Harsh,” Aiden says.
“Yeah. Is it deserved?” I ask.
“Damn straight it is,” Carly declares. “I saw the videos, Austin. We all did. She was a predator that night.”
I clench my jaw, hating that this makes me like prey, like it makes me seem weak. And this is part of why I’ve been barely able to stand myself the last few weeks.
Carly keeps talking. “And by now, Sienna probably knows there’s video, too and knows that she’ll be convicted if it goes to trial. But it’s also your life here, your time dealing with court and possible publicity, and if you decide you want it to go away, that’s totally okay. A lot of women don’t report this kind of thing because of what it’ll do to their lives, having it all public, and that applies for you, too. She took away your rights that night, but she can’t keep doing it. It’s your right to decide whether or not you want her to go down enough that you’re willing to do this. Your life, your choice.”
“Yeah. As of today, I’m going to say yeah. It’s worth it.”
“Good,” Adele says. “We’re with you every step.”
“Thanks,” I say as my big sister puts her arms around me and gives me a hug.
“And we’ll be with you if you decide to drop the charges, too,” Adele adds. “Though I hope you don’t.”
“I have no intention of that,” I say.
Aiden says nothing. He’s staring at the ground.
“Aid?”
He looks me in the eye, and I know that look. He has something to say.
“Say it, man.”
“Say what?”
“Whatever you don’t wanna say.”
He shakes his head like he’s got nothing.
“Say it,” Carly tells him, then looks to me. “He’s not saying anything to me, either. I’d really like to know what he thinks.”
“If it were me,” Aiden says, looking at me, “I might take a different approach to get my revenge. One that hurts the bitch but one that doesn’t necessarily get made public.”
I scoff. Yeah, not a shock. My brother has been pretty creative with revenge multiple times.
“Yeah, but that can get you in trouble too, can’t it?” Carly hisses.
Aiden winces. “This is why I didn’t wanna say anything.”
Aiden and Carly split up for a while because of revenge he took against a girl named Bella Wilson that fucked with him. His revenge was dirty enough that he almost didn’t get his happily ever after with Carly.
She shakes her head again.
“Are we in a fight now, Peaches?” my brother asks. “Because if we are, that’s unfair. You told me to say what I was thinking. You punish me now, you think I’ll be so verbal next time?”
“Oh shush up,” she grumbles.
“Just sayin’,” Aiden raises his hands.
“Let’s go to my place and get drunk,” Adele suggests.
“I would, but I’m exhausted,” I say.
“I’m pooped, too,” Carly says.
“Yeah, I guess I am too,” Adele mutters. “Long day. And you’re three hours ahead of us, Auz.”
“Yep.”
“We’ll get drunk tomorrow,” Adele amends.
We say goodbye to Aiden and Carly, then Adele drives me home, telling me to come by her place for coffee and breakfast in the morning since my fridge is empty. I know Adele and Dirk’s door code to get in, so I have every intention of doing that, even though I’ll be up hours before they are.
Getting into my place, my house feels massive to me. I bought it wanting to live close to my new nephew and liking their neighborhood for eventually raising a family in. It feels too big right now with just me here.
It’s got four bedrooms, a finished basement, a backyard with a pool. I bought the model home furnished, figuring that when I got into a relationship serious enough to invite a woman to move in that she could then put her personality stamp on the place.
I get to my bedroom and pull my phone out of my pocket so I can plug it in.
I open up Jada’s text string and send a message to her.
It’s late so I didn’t call because I didn’t want to wake you, but wanted you to know Dad made it through surgery fine. I just got back to my place so I’m gonna crash. I’ll message you later.
Not five minutes later, I’m ready to climb into my bed when I hear the text alert.
Jada: I’m so glad he’s okay. Thanks for letting me know. Thinking good thoughts for a fast recovery.
Me: Thanks. Me, too. Goodnight Miss Sweetheart.
Jada: Goodnight Mr. Groucho. Sweet dreams.
Me: Save the bathtub washing and window cleaning until I get back.
Jada: Yes sir.
I smile.
And then I’m thinking about what a crazy day it’s been.
I think I’m gonna pass out as soon as my head hits my pillow, but I lay there for a good few minutes before my eyes finally close and I do it thinking about how good Jada Miller tasted, how good she felt, and how much I’m looking forward to fucking her.
***
Saturday morning, I call the doctor in St. Kitts and ask him if his bloodwork included testing for sexually transmitted diseases. He calls back a half an hour later and tells me yes, it’s standard when they get a request like mine. He says my tests were clean.
I’m relieved. I don’t know where Sienna Greer has been.
I use my own car and have breakfast at Adele and Dirks before I take her to visit Dad. He’s already less groggy.
Alice is there with him and he announces she’s moving in with him. She says she’s going to make sure he’s taking better care of himself. She’s in her mid-50s and is a fit woman that takes great care of herself, so this has the Carmichael kids’ seal of approval.
We have no problem with having Alice Roberts move into our childhood home. Though, I’m sure Audra is going to take issue with it, for sure.
When Adele and I leave the hospital, she gets a text and informs me that we’re expected at Carly and Aiden’s place for dinner.
My mother didn’t show at the hospital and hasn’t called, and this does not disappoint me.
My sister and I split up for the rest of the afternoon and I go to my gym and work out. The workout kicks my ass after spending the past few weeks at a desk and eating like a king.
Dirk comes over with Adele to pick me up, telling me they got Dirk’s parents as an overnight sitter. Dirk drives us so that Adele and I can have some drinks.
***
Aiden’s telling a story about Carly flipping her lid over a spider in their beach house when I find myself telling the story of Gramma the Brazilian spider. It’s then that I get a text alert.
I finish the story, looking down at my phone. “This is her, actually.”
Jada: How’s your dad doing today?
I smile and reply to her text.
Me: A lot better. He’s gonna have to make more lifestyle changes, but he’s doing well. Thanks for asking. Were your ears ringing? I was just talking about you.
Jada: Glad he’s doing well! What were you saying about me?
Me: I was telling them the story of Gramma the spider.
Jada: Oh God. I’m having PTSD over here.
I laugh and type out the word spider and it switches to an emoji. I send it.
I see her typing.
“Hey Auz?” I hear my sister ask.
“Hm?” I look up and immediately realize the room has gone quiet and all eyes are on me.
“What?” I ask.
“Something funny?” Adele prods.
“Oh, I’m just messaging with Jada.”
Adele’s eyes light up. Carly clears her throat and Adele looks at her. They share a smile.
“Really?” Aiden asks.
My phone chimes, so I look down again.
Jada: Don’t tease me or I’ll have to wash the tub and floors now.
I ignore the twitching in my fingers with the urge to warn her against doing that but instead I put my phone away and fight getting hard as the images that ran through my brain when I read from her story play again.
“Auz?” Aiden asks.
“Hm?” I ask.
“You’re texting with Jada?” he asks. “Jada that you said you couldn’t stand? With a goofy grin on your face?”
I say nothing.
He waits.
No one else says anything; I’ve got a captive audience.
“She wanted to know how Dad was doing.”
“Looked like you two were sharing a joke,” Adele observes.
“We were,” I say casually.
“So, you’re getting along now?” Carly asks.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” I say casually.
“Good,” Dirk throws in. “It’d suck to share an apartment with someone you don’t like.”
Carly busts up laughing.
Aiden leans over and kisses her throat and then whispers something I don’t catch.
She giggles some more. “Yeah, yeah, Hot Sauce. You and your Siberia-sized ego. Whatever.”
“Listen here, Mrs. Hot Sauce,” he says and then he leans forward some more and whispers something else and then he leans back.
“Okay, everyone. Party’s over. Time to go home,” Carly says. “We’re suddenly very, very tired.” She fakes a yawn.
Adele laughs.
“Just kidding. Really, anyone want another drink?” Carly points at Aiden. “I’ll deal with you, later.”
“Ooh,” Aiden replies, staring at her ass as she heads to the counter with her empty glass as well as Adele’s.
There’s pounding against their door. Aiden heads over to answer it.
I fetch my phone and reply to Jada.
Me: Don’t you dare. Or there will be very serious penalties.”
“Penalties for what?” Adele is reading over my shoulder.
“Hey! Fuck off,” I say and laugh.
My phone chimes again and Jada has sent me an emoji of a tongue sticking out.
“What’s goin’ on, Auzzie?” Adele leans over some more as I pocket my phone. “Are you fighting with her or flirting with her? She’s stickin’ her tongue out at you.”
“With Jada, same difference,” I whisper.
Adele’s eyes go round and then she’s about to speak when I hush her.
“Not sure where it’s goin’,” I shrug. “But we’re havin’ some fun.”
“It should go straight to the church is where it should go. She’s perfect for you. And for me. I love her. So does Carly.”
“Fuck, you’re already tanked. You’ve had one drink,” I say.
Adele laughs and messes up my hair.
Ally Kingston is coming in. Her long dreadlocks are gone and now her hair is pink again. So are her eyes. She looks upset.
“Excuse us,” Carly says as she marches Ally down the hall toward the bedroom, pulling over the pocket doors.
“Can I come?” Adele shouts before the doors are completely closed.
Ally looks over her shoulder at us and nods. “Bring alcohol.”
Adele jumps up, grabs the wine bottle off the table and dashes to the kitchen cupboard for another glass. She runs down the hall and is back a second later for a second trip for hers and Carly’s glasses.
“Carly said to do the dishes. We’ll be out soon,” Adele adds.
Aiden’s face falls. “The dishes?”
“C’mon. We’ll clean up together,” I say and get to my feet.
“Shit,” Aiden grumbles.
Aiden reaches then, for his pocket and pulls out the phone and looks to the screen. “Oh. Got a call.”
“Likely story,” Dirk says sarcastically.
“Dude, look.”
It actually does say Jude Calling so Dirk waves his hand and Aiden heads toward the balcony door.
“Hey Jude,” he greets as he steps outside onto the balcony.
Dirk and I exchange glances.
“Perfect timing for Aiden,” Dirk says. “Guy goes out of his way to avoid any domestic chores whatsoever.”
I laugh. “I’ll wash, you dry.”
***
Evidently there’s an issue between Ally and Jude who are sharing an apartment in this building, a few floors down. The apartment she used to share with Meryl.
Funny how that thought doesn’t have me turning sour for a change. Maybe it’s because of what Adele told me about what happened after Meryl went home and had to take care of her sick father. It has me thinking maybe I should’ve read the rest of her email, saw what she had to say, and given her the facetime to talk to me in St. Kitts. All I read was,
I’m sorry. I have to go. My parents are expecting me to marry him and-
That’s when I deleted it. I didn’t read the rest.
And maybe it’s more than what Adele said that has the thought of Meryl not making me clench my jaw. Maybe it’s about the girl in New York who’s probably looking at her phone, biting her lip, and wondering if she should text me some more.
A girl like that… is she what I need?
She doesn’t even live in the same city as me. And she’s got baggage. Baggage doesn’t generally scare me and right now I’ve got a fuck of a lot more baggage than most people.
It’s too soon to think this way. I fooled around with her after finding dirty fantasies about me on her laptop a day ago. Scenes she wrote as an outlet because I was being an asshole.
It’s weird… her using that as an outlet. But it’s also kinda cool. And I suppose a lot of people have weird reactions to things going on in their life – they just don’t get caught red-handed by someone peeking directly into their brain, which - to be fair - is what I did.
A relationship built from something that started out as hate?
My brother comes in and Carly emerges from the bedroom. They whisper to one another for a minute near the door before they head toward us.
Yeah, a relationship can obviously begin despite it not being love at first sight. The animosity between my brother and the girl he wanted - it made him get his head out of his ass.
Carly goes to the freezer and pulls out a bottle of vodka and a can of frozen juice. She then reaches for ice and throws vodka, the can of juice, and some ice into the blender. She looks at me and Dirk who are still cleaning the kitchen.
“Wine isn’t gonna cut it tonight,” she calls out over the loud blender. “Are you and Jada starting something?”
“Maybe,” I reply.
She points at me. “Be good to her. That girl is going through a lot. She doesn’t need any Carmichael alpha bullshit.”
I rear back at Carly’s harsh reaction.
She turns the blender off and leans forward.
“I’m not joking. Guys fuck with girls’ hearts all the time. It’s not nice.” She shoots Aiden a look.
“I’m being a good guy right now, helping with the dishes, which you know I hate. How am I in shit over something Auz might do or something Jude did do. What did I do, Curly Sue?” He lifts a tea towel for emphasis, though he hasn’t done anything to help with kitchen patrol so far.
“Nothing that I know of. But, Austin, don’t,” she warns and then turns the blender back on.
We look at one another and say nothing until she leaves the room with the blender full of frozen vodka slushie.
“So, you guys wanna watch sports? I think we might be on our own for the rest of the evening.”
“Yeah, man,” Dirk says and tosses the tea towel to the side.
“Got one more joining us,” Aiden says and puts down a bottle of Crown Royal.
“Not for me, bro, I’m drivin’,” Dirk says.
“Live a little, Dirkie,” I say. “We’ll take a cab. Order a cab and a half and they’ll drive your ride home, so you don’t have to come get it tomorrow.”
Dirk smiles. “Mm… erm… yeah, why not? I don’t have to get up early. My parents have Braeden and Lilly. Don’t really like anyone driving my ride, though.”
“It’s a minivan,” I return. “A minivan is not a ride.”
Aiden laughs.
“Still, don’t like people driving it,” Dirk defends.
“We’ll bring the car over tomorrow. Me and Carly are comin’ for dinner, remember? I’ll drive my Ducati and Carly can bring over your van.”
“I’d rather you drive it over Carly,” Dirk says. “Carly’s got a lead foot. How many speeding tickets has she gotten since she’s lived here?”
Aiden laughs. “I’m not drivin’ that minivan.”
“Ah, whatever,” Dirk waves his hand. “We’ll figure it out later. Pour me a double.”
There’s a knock. Aiden jumps up and answers to Jude, who comes in.
“I do not think this is gonna go well,” Dirk mutters.
I sit up straighter, figuring I’ll wanna be alert so as not to miss whatever’s gonna happen next.
Jude sits down, greeting us with a “Hey.”
We all say hey and Aiden pours him a drink.
