Chapter 110 Karaoke

Chapter 110 Karaoke
She shook her head. 
He smirked. “A little skin-to-skin, I hear it’s good for you.”
She chuckled as he hit the lights and climbed in on the other side. He opened his arms as she finished her tea.
“Come to your not-French boy, little artiste.”
She sniffled, scrubbing at her cheek, but she snuggled close to him without much more hesitation. Soon, she had twined her legs around his and fallen asleep with him stroking her hair. 
He relaxed, breathing through the nervous energy making his stomach jump and his eyes burn. 
He was stunned and in awe off whatever the hell this was. 
Desire was a million miles away. He’d been so sure that he had an endless appetite for sex. It had carried him through bed after bed, party after party, but none of that thrill felt anything like the bone-deep contentment and ease of Lydia finding comfort and safety with him. 
He knew on the beach that it would get him in trouble, but he was too far in now. 
He didn’t even fucking care. 

Lydia could admit that… everything felt easier. The thought hit her when Riley refilled her glass with the wine Dani had brought home and Reign set up a little fondue machine for them. 
The pot of fondue cheese she’d made on a portable double boiler sat beside it. The smell of it was enough to make Lydia’s mouth water. 
They were supposed to be having a Girl’s Night now that Lydia’s bruising wasn’t so ugly and it was a weekend. Riley had brought a bunch of chocolate, marshmallows, and sweets. Thank the world that Reign had made stuffed potato skins and a whole heap of savory snacks along with that fondue tht was calling her name. 
“So, tell me what’s been going on.” Riley popped a marshmallow in her mouth. “Ever since your got fired from that maid job, crazy shit has been happening to you and now you’re living on the Resort? Jason finds the balls to attack you?”
She cleared her throat. “I… got chosen for an opportunity.”
She winced, thinking back to Becker’s wording and hating the echo, but her discomfort was nothing compared to the way Riley’s face lost all color. 
“With… the University?”
“Sort of.”
She shook her head. “You have to get out of it.”
“You haven’t b-been sworn in right? There’s still time.”
“Riley… how do you know there’s a swearing in?” Lydia searched her face. Riley dropped her shoulders with a rattling breath. Her eyes glossy with teas. 
“M-My sister… She said she was an initiate in her diary. I never told my parents, but she said someone called it an opportunity, th-then she moved out from our place and then…” She shivered. “Promise me you’ll be careful. Promise me you’ll get out if you can.”
Lydia shook her head. “I… don’t think that’s really an option any more, but I’m being as careful as I can.”
Reign passed her a tray of what looked like home made Snickers. Riley blinked at the tray and picked one up to eat. 
She moaned. “What even is this? Since when do they make them in dark chocolate?”
“They don’t, but I do,” Reign said, grinning. “I’ll send you home with the rest. Lydia doesn’t have a sweet tooth and Dani prefers Reese’s.”
“Which she’s ruining for me knowing that she’s going to medical school and will be too damned busy to make them regularly.”
Reign snickered. “Maybe I’ll start a candy-making business.”
“Take all of my money!” Riley cried finish a bar and grabbing another. 
Lydia scooped a heap of fondue onto a chicken fry and ate it just as a knock sounded on the door. 
“Anyone expecting a visitor?”
Lydia bit her lip and stood. “It could be—“
“The boyfriend?” Riley asked. “Go, go, go!”
“Keep it PG!” Reign teased. 
Lydia rolled her eyes and went to the door, checking through the peephole. She frowned and opened the door, looking up into Jax’s gray eyes. 
He sniffed and cursed. “Fuck. Is it Girl’s Night? Sorry.”
“Reign, it’s your boyfriend!”
Riley cackled, but Reign came down the hallway, looking concerned. 
“What’s wrong?”
“Sorry. I didn’t—I must not have marked it down.”
“It was spontaneous. We just sat down with snacks. What’s wrong?”
He grimaced. “A cult thing. I’m getting tapped for social time with the team or whatever. I said I was going out with initiates. 
“What about Vasil?”
“Coming, but it’s a photos or it didn’t happen kind of deal.”
Reign glanced at Lydia then called back to the living room. 
“What’s everyone’s thought on a change of plans?” She paused. “Where are we going anyway?”
“I think to karaoke?”
She shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”
“I love karaoke!” Riley called. “Can we bring snacks?”

Riley was on the microphone singing her heart out to some Mariah Carey song that was not a Christmas song, thankfully. 
They’d taken photos with the group earlier, and the music mix was as eclectic as it came. 
How she ended up singing “Bad Apple!” in Japanese, she’d never understand, but hearing Reign and Dani cheering for the breathless rush of words flowing out of her, made her left. 
Also, there was pork belly, so that was the biggest win, even if it came with Dani trying to explain hockey to her in between songs to “prepare” for the start of the season in two months.
Her phone rang in her pocket. Seeing that it had been replaced and up graded with a very pretty case and identical charms only made her think of Dorian, but it was her mom calling. 
“I got to take this!”
She pushed up and headed into the much quieter hallway.
"Mom? Is everything, okay?"
She laughed. "It's great! I'm just calling to check on you, dear. With your brother..." Her voice broke. "Well... Quillan is having a great time playing chauffer in between his training. How are you?"
Lydia slumped and nodded, leaning back. "I'm... better." 
Still having nightmares, oddly feeling safest when at Dorian's house aside. She was better. 
Much better. 
"You? How's your new job!"
"Well, I don't like to ogle and tell, but I'm getting my daily dose of beautiful men, for sure." She laughed. "That nice young--hot--man who saved you is quite the gentleman. I certainly hope you're enjoying all the work I've been putting in."
Lydia scowled. "Mom... really?"
She giggled then broke off. "Is it... is it too soon, dear? I didn't even--"
"No, Mom, it's not that." She huffed. "I just... It's embarrassing to know you work with him. And who knows what you're telling him!"
"So he wasn’t just being cute when he said…”
“Said what?”
“Nothing dear! You two are dating, what’s the harm?”
“It’s… new. We haven’t talked much about it and I used to work for him, so that’s kind of weird.”
Or maybe she still did work for him in a weird way?
"Oh! Is he the owner of that villa you clean?" She paused. "What do you mean used to? Did he fire you?"