Chapter 108 Keep Calm

Chapter 108 Keep Calm
"You're the playboy with the wild parties." He hummed. "Interesting."
He grimaced. "I'm not like that anymore."
"How much of that is real?"
Dorian stopped turning to look at him. His eyes narrowed. "I care how entangled you are with all this crazy shit happening to us, and these secretive people, but I care more about if you can protect my sister."
His stomach jumped. "Secretive people."
"Are you going to protect her or is she just a convenience right now?" 
"Tonight was--"
"I'm not talking about the individual crazies who have a vendetta. No one in my family is expecting to win against money influence, but you're different. You have money and influence and you're clearly of the same circles. I'm asking if my sister is safe with you despite all of that."
Dorian swallowed. "All I want is to keep her safe... Even if that means letting her go."
Quillan held his gaze as his own words shredded his heart. He wasn't lying, but the thought that he might have to let Lydia go rocked him. 
Quillan nodded and picked up his three cups. "We'll see."
When they got back to the room, the food hadn't arrived, but Lydia was still awake. Her mom stroked her hair, smiling fondly. 
"I've missed my curly headed baby girl."
"Blame him," Lydia glanced at Dorian with a fond smile despite her bruised cheek and eye. "He likes it natural."
Dorian chuckled. "Guilty." He set a cup in Lydia's hand, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Decaf, but sweet enough."
She sipped and sighed, melting. "And you're drinking a dentist's nightmare?"
He held up his cup, full of the strongest espresso they had and sugar. "Probably more of a cardiologist's nightmare. No dentist is worried about my implants."
She shook her head. "Noted." She glanced over at her mom. "He has a sweet tooth."
Her mom laughed, sipping her coffee. "I've heard. How do you ever sit at the table together for anything but Chinese?"
"We've worked it out," Dorian smiled. "A little avocado here, some plantains there."
"You and Quill' will get along," Lydia sipped some more. "He's got a sweet tooth too." She snuggled closer to Dorian, drinking. "How are you going to be okay at practice?"
"More coffee if coach doesn't let me out." He pulled his phone out and texted Becca. "Becca's going to hang with her boyfriend for a few days. I'll get your keys and stuff from the police and leave another set here so you can hang with your family in peace."
"Go to practice. I'm okay. If I'm asleep," she drawled. "Tell Reign and Dani not to freak out."
"Not happening."
"Where are you going to stay?"
He hummed. "With Ani' or Mason, probably. I'll be near and stock the fridge before I leave."
Lydia nodded. "You should come for dinner."
"If you want. Quillan has my number."
"M'kay..." She shut her eyes and Dorian lifted her cup from her hand, pleased that she'd gotten through most of it. He figured he'd put enough milk in it.
Carefully, he shifted her to lie back and tucked her in. He finished his coffee and pulled out his key ring to give to Quillan. Texting the address to him and messaging the food service. 
"Would you prefer groceries or prepared food?" His lips twitched. "I don't know anyone who comes on vacation wanting to cook."
Her grandpa chuckled. "Princess really knows how to pick them."
"Dad," her mom chided. "We can figure it out. There's no need to go through so much trouble."
Dorian blinked at her and finished the message to the food delivery. "I'll have them bring both and take note that you're where she gets the hyper-capable tendencies from."
She huffed as Quillan laughed. 
"While I appreciate that in a physical therapist..." His tone softened. "Future mother-in-law, not so much."
Her eyes doubled in size. 
"Besides, my m--" He shook himself. "My mom will skin me alive and toss me into a lake of leeches if I didn't open my home to you will all the hospitality possible."
He glanced back at Lydia. "Give me an hour or so to change the sheets and stuff." He huffed. "Hopefully, I can find where Lydia put all the back ups."
He shook his head and headed out, after making sure Lydia was fast asleep and helping set up the extra beds.

After Dorian had managed to refresh his villa, air it out and make it as comfortable as possible in all the guest rooms, he had ended up going to practice mostly for tapes and skate drills.
His hands hurt like a bitch, but it was a constant reminder not to slam into anyone or try to do to much. It kept his mind on Lydia and the fact that if he wanted to go see her, to be in any sort of shape to be a support to her, he needed to keep calm. 
He played better calm. He always had. 
He reached for that calm that had carried him through his first year all practice. It slipped and slid through his fingers, meshing Lydia’s ravaged figure with memories he would never forget and the pain in his mother’s eyes that still hadn’t left.
Mason caught him around the shoulder. 
"You're staying with me. Ani's busy."
Dorian laughed. "Sounds good."
Especially since Mason had been camping out in Animkii's villa since they'd gotten back from the finals. 
"Your shiny new girlfriend must be a hell of a woman that you needed to go to your own house."
Mason shoved him but didn't argue. They climbed into Dorian's car headed to the Mason's villa. It was smaller than his and Animkii's, tucked on a private outcropping with a private cove below. Mason had described it as his retreat. You could hear the ocean in every room, see it too. The kitchen was an ancient style thing. Aside from the hidden generator and the plumbing, there wasn't a single thing inside that spoke of the current era. Mason had inherited from the family years ago and described it as the one good thing that came out of his great grandfather's death. He followed Mason inside, walking through the quiet and sighing as he sank onto the couch. 
"This is probably the cultiest place on the whole island."
Mason snorted. "Then you've never seen the initiation hall."
He hoped to never. "So, why'd we have to go into seclusion?"
Mason sat in the love seat, lounging across it. "Animkii said you'd need to calm down, be near, and not be alone. My place is a beach path from yours."
"Am I cockblocking you?"
"No. If you were it wouldn't matter." He sighed. "I think I honestly needed it, too."
Dorian's lips twitched. "Thanks, Mason... for harboring me."
"... you look after me all the time. This is what friends do."
Dorian smiled. "Right... I've been upgraded... Has Ani' met your mysterious girlfriend yet?"
"Not yet... but he knows of her."
Dorian nodded, shutting his eyes. "Tell me about her... Tell me why she's good for you."
"You first."