Chapter Thirty-Two - I Should Have Used This, Instead.
Chapter Thirty-Two - I Should Have Used This, Instead.
Orson
I am sitting, enjoying a scotch after a long day. Everly is in her room, where she has been hiding out since we arrived home. She didn’t even have dinner. It is like she is avoiding me, but I don’t know why. We have been fine today after my little stunt this morning. I will let her be. I won’t ask questions because I would rather not put her in a shitty mood. I will enjoy the quiet and check on her in a bit.
The sound of my front door opening grabs my attention. Who the hell is that walking into my home? I jump to my feet to go and check.
“What the hell are you doing here, Ryan? And what makes you think you can walk in without knocking?” I hiss.
“Why would I do that? It would ruin the element of surprise.” He smirks, walking in and going through to the living room.
I know why he is here. He is trying to catch me in my lie. I wish Everly were through here with me. I sigh and follow my brother.
“Where is your invisible fiancée?” he asks smugly.
“Invisible? Really? You are still telling yourself that? Is this why you came?”
“Yes. I still don’t believe she exists.” He shrugs.
“I told you she would be at this dinner.” I remind—the dreaded dinner with the family.
“Bullshit! I know you, Orson. You will hire a call girl or something for dinner.”
Oh, Ryan, you have no idea, but it is information he can’t find out. I go to respond, but before I can.
“Orson, where are you? You promised me another round. I need you.”
Everly’s voice echoes through the house. I fight back a smirk. She must have heard someone was here. She appears soon enough with only one of my tees covering her body, her hair a mess, and her face flushed. How did she get herself to look like that?
“Oh God, I am sorry, I didn’t know anyone was here.” Everly giggles, appearing at my side.
“Sorry, angel. I got distracted.” I reply, smiling down at her.
“I will forgive you this time,” she grins and kisses my cheek.
Everly steps in front of me and offers her left hand to my brother, the ring in view. “Hello, I am Everly, Orson’s fiancée.”
She has met Ryan before, I believe. I could be wrong.
Ryan looks at her, over at me and then at the ring on her finger. He takes her hand to shake it. “Ryan, Orson’s brother.”
“It is nice to meet you,” she says sweetly.
“You too.” He answers, not seeming as smug as before Everly showed up.
Everly comes back to stand by my side and links her arm with mine, resting her head on my shoulder. I glance down at her, smiling and pretending like I am utterly smitten.
“Sorry, did I interrupt something? I can go and leave you both to it.” Everly asks.
I glare over at Ryan. “No, he was just leaving.”
He nods, says a quick goodbye to Everly, and I walk him to the door. “Not so invisible, huh?” I smirk.
“I still don’t trust you or this. I will find out the truth.” He hisses.
“Good luck with that,” I reply and open the front door for him to leave.
He curses me out under his breath before he storms out. Jackass! I return to the living room and find Everly on the sofa, drinking my scotch.
“Thank you. How did you know he was here?”
Her room is pretty far away from the living room.
“I was coming back from the bathroom. When I heard him, I quickly changed into this, messed my hair, and jogged on the spot to try to flush my face.” She chuckles.
I fall down next to her, and she offers me a drink of my scotch. I take it.
“I appreciate it. We are going to find a more convincing way, especially with my brother. How much would it take for you to marry me for real?”
“No amount of money in this world will make me marry you, Orson.”
I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “It was worth a try.”
Maybe I should have made the agreement instead. Marriage and not only engaged. Too late now.
“We will work something out. Don’t worry about it.” She smiles and squeezes my knee.
“We need to, if we don’t want my plan to go to hell. Do you want a drink?”
Everly shakes her head. “No, I am going back to my room.”
She pats my knee, jumps to her feet and disappears back to her room. I rest back on the sofa and finish my drink. I need a plan. A good one! It is time we start to attend events together. I hope that any of her previous clients don’t come out of the woodwork looking for money or something. If it does, then I will need to deal with it.
I pour another drink and down it. I should stop. I drink too much sometimes. I don’t want to go overboard. I set my glass aside and stroll towards my bedroom, but change directions and go towards Everly’s. I knock on the door and wait for her to invite me in.
“If you are looking for sex, don’t bother coming in because you aren’t getting it.” She calls out.
I enter her room. “I am not here for sex, but if you like, that can be the reason?”
Everly rolls her eyes at me. “No, thank you. What do you want?”
“I am bored. Do you want to go for a swim or watch a movie? If I continue to be myself, I am going to end up drinking too much, and I don’t want to do that.” I ask and take a seat at the bottom of her bed.
Everly sits up and raises her brow at me. “Are we friends now?”
“Can’t we be for tonight?”
She eyes me suspiciously, thinking I am up to something. “I guess.”
“What do you want to do?”
“A movie, but we are watching it in her because I can’t be bothered moving.”
“You know I have a cinema room, right?” I chuckle.
“Yes, but I am not moving.”
“Fine, we can watch it in here.” I groan and give in to her.
It is the least I can do for her for saving me from my brother. I am sure we can get along for one night.