Lost in the Moment (A Savioe Family Novel) (14 page)

“Angie and them wanted to come tonight.
” I blushed and ducked my head pushing a lock of hair behind my ear.

He looked at my semi-disheveled state and grabbed my arm. “We’re going home.”

I jerked away from him and stumbled into the wall. “What about Drez? Are we just going to leave him here?”

Beau looked over at the now pale Drez and rushed over to catch him before he tipped over.
“Holy shit! What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know. I was outside on the deck talking to Hunter. He rushed over and knocked the hell out of him. He then dragged me in here and start bitching at me.” I took a deep breath ignoring how my pulse picked up over the thought of what
I let him do to me. “That’s when Scott came in and upchucked in the washer.”

“Why were you talking to Hunter?”

“I don’t know. He came up to me and said that I should’ve told him I was your sister.” I wrapped my arms around me and rubbed my elbows.

Beau closed his eyes letting out a disgusted sigh. “Help me get him to the truck.
Then we are going to get your shit and get home.”

“Beau….” I started to complain only to get the look from him. The one that screamed do not say another word or so help me I’ll
smack you. I quickly swallowed and slipped Drez’s arm over me.

He inhaled my hair and nuzzled my neck. “I’m not finished with you, pet.”
My breath caught in my throat as a shiver of pleasure raced down my spine.

Beau grabbed his other arm completely oblivious to the words
Drez just uttered and helped me drag him to the truck. We passed Angie and her friends on our way out. I shrugged my shoulder at them and continued to the vehicle.

             
                                          *****

After we stopped by Angie’s to get my things we started on our way home. Drez was passed out in the back
snoring softly. I gazed out the window as we drove down the darkened streets. Beau cleared his throat to gain my attention. “I’m telling mom and dad where you were.”

“What? Why?”
I spun my head around to gape at him.

“You shouldn’t have been there. It’s not safe. Anything could have happened.” He fisted his hand around the steering wheel.

“Whatever.” I narrowed my eyes at him and sneered. “If you do, I’ll tell them about Lacy.”

The truck swerved bouncing on the shoulder of the road before he got control of it again. His face looked pained as he lost all color. “What do you know of her?”

I looked back out the window and admitted. “Just that you are a bit of an exhibitionist and that she gave you three hundred and fifty points before she died that night.”

“You don’t know all of it.” He whispered.

“Does it matter? She was a virgin and ya fucked her in da bed of dis truck with ya boys lookin’ on. Jus’ so ya could git ya name in a damn book. Da same book dat dey wan’ Roxy in… and possibly me. I wouldn’t be surprised ta find out da whole damn ting was ya idea. Oh my Gawd it was wasn’t it?” I gasped in horror.

“Marie.” He stopped at our gate and turned to look at me. His face was distorted in agony. “Ya don’ know wha’ ya are talkin’ ‘bout. Like I said dere is more ta dat night den wha’ is recorded in dat book. Yes, I had sex wit’ her. Yes, she was a virgin and yes dey happened ta see it. But….” He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “But someting happened dat I can’t tell ya ‘bout. Ya’d never look at me da same way agin if ya knew. None of ya would
.”

I bit my lip and suppressed the tears that threatened to fall at his inner turmoil. We pulled up to the house and parked the truck.
I jumped out with my old backpack on my back and moved the seat forward to try to rouse Drez. I gently touched his forehead brushing his hair back. He looked so peaceful asleep. My chest tightened and I felt something give as an unknown emotion flooded me. It’s nothing Marie. Just a normal sense of attachment to someone I happened to get physical with. Jess warned me about that.

Beau walked around the truck and frowned at him. “Do you know if he took anything?”

“I don’t know. He might have. His eyes were glazed over and pupils dilated.” I admitted.

“Shit. Okay. I’ll grab his arms and drag him out. You take his feet. Hopefully we can get him settled in the guest room without waking anyone.” I moved out of his way as he leaned in the truck and grabbed Drez’s arms.

When he was out of the vehicle, I closed the door and bent down to pick up his feet. Beau grunted as we lifted him. “Gawd, he’s heavy.”

“Y
a think? Shut up and move. I don’t think I can hold him too much longer.” I grumbled and shifted my hold on his legs.

With my grip now situated around his knee
s, we silently made our way into the foyer. All the lights were off as we carried our heavy burden down the hall from dad’s study and into the guest room. We deposited him on the bed as gently as we could, which for Beau meant just dropping him and letting him bounce. I took off his boots and placed them at the end of the bed. Beau nodded for me to leave the room.

I looked down the darkened hall and noticed a faint lig
ht under the door of the study. Shit, dad must still be up. I stopped in front of the door taking a deep breath before gently knocking on it. I heard a muffled voice telling me to enter. I cracked the door and leaned against the doorjamb.

He looked up at me in surprise. “Marie. What are you doing here, sweetie? I thought you were staying at your friend’s house tonight.”

I tightened my hand around the outside doorknob and lied to him. “I was but they wanted to go to a party tonight. I…. I didn’t feel comfortable going to one without permission. So I called Beau to come get me.” I bit the inside of my lip to keep from giving myself away. I never could lie to anyone with a straight face. I always ended up smiling or giggling.

He
took off his reading glasses, stood up from his desk, rounded it and walked over to me. He stopped a few feet in front of me, took a deep breath and raised his eyebrows. “Okay…. Head up to your room.”

“Night, Daddy.” I
flashed him a smile and began to leave the room.

“Oh and Marie.”

“Yeah?” I stopped halfway out of the room.

“
Try not to wake your mother.”

I closed the door and headed up to my room.
Gawd, that was horrible. As I reached the top of the steps, I tiptoed toward my room and gently opened the door. I locked it, placed my backpack next to the door and plopped down on my bed. This night has been unreal. I peeled off my boots and put them back in the closet.

My shirt and skirt quickly followed my socks in the hamper. I stood in front of my mirror with just my lacy boy shorts and bra on. Did I look any different? I know I felt so. I was definitely more aware of certain places on my body. I removed my bra and put on a tank top.
When I removed my underwear, I noticed that they were torn. I swallowed as I remembered his touch. The demanding way he shoved my legs apart and his kiss. Oh god that kiss. My knees trembled and pulse quickened.

I shoved the panties in the bottom of my hamper and pulled on my simple cotton briefs.
I pulled my blanket back and stretched out on my bed. How was I going to face him in the morning? Hell, how was I going to face my brothers or parents after everything that had occurred? I let out a sigh resting my arm on my forehead. Who am I kidding the real question was just how far would I have gone if Scott hadn’t barged in.

             
                                          *****

             
             
Chapter Six

Drez

The little demon in my head pounded a deafening rhythm against my temple.
I squeezed my eyes shut rubbing the top of my head. Just what the hell did I do last night? I slowly sat up in the bed.
Wait, whose bed is this?
I quickly looked around the room for any signs of who it might belong to. It was bare, just a bed, small bureau and a painting of a landscape on the wall.

I gingerly got out of the bed and noted that my clothes were still on.
Thank god.
My boots were neatly placed at the end of the bed. I shoved them on trying to remember what had happened. I had a drink in that room with the pictures, started feeling sorry for myself. I ran into that kid that gave me the white pill and then… oblivion. Well, not really. As I sat at the edge of the bed, I placed my head in my hands and tried to recall. I remembered vague images of buttery soft skin against my lips, red lace ripping under my fingers as I plunged them into a welcoming heat. Smooth thighs cradling my face. My eyes shot open in shock.
Holy shit. Who the fuck was I with?
I ran an agitated hand through my hair.
Fuck! This is not good.
How was I going to explain this to Marie?

I
stumbled toward the door, quietly opened it and peeked out the crack. Good, this place looked familiar. I fully opened the door and headed down the hall. A few pictures hung on the walls. I stopped in front of one. It was of four small children, three boys and a girl, lined up in a row standing in front of an old antebellum style house. The picture next to it had the same four kids only slightly older all of them laughing. Underneath that was of the girl in a gymnastic uniform. I raised my eyebrow at the picture. Her honey hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail, her amber eyes twinkled in pure happiness as she stood next to a trophy.

“She was nine in that picture just before the twins were born.” Nate s
uddenly announced behind me causing me to jump.

I turned to look at him.
“She looks like she’s having fun.” I turned to look back at the photo.

“She was.
Every time we turned around, she was turning flips and the like. It’s a shame she is considered too tall to continue.” He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “I’d like to have a word with you in my study after you freshen up. Head in to the kitchen. Eva has a change of clothes in there for you and she’ll point you to the shower.” He closed the study door behind him.

I stood there with a sudden feeling of dread enfolding me. That did not sound good. I let out a breath and headed toward the front of the house.
Eva stood by the stove in the kitchen with a wooden spoon in her hand tasting the concoction she was making. She grimaced before mumbling something about more pepper. She glanced over to me. “Well don’t just stand in the door, honey, come on in. I have some coffee for you on the counter.”

I mentally let out a whimper of gratitude as I headed toward the center island. “Thank you.” I took a seat grabbing the mug in between my hands and groaned as the black liquid slid down my throat. “That’s good.”

“You look like that cat threw you up then dragged you through the mud.” She clicked her tongue at me as she shook her head in disapproval. “I have some of Nate’s clothes over here that should fit you. At least until I can wash what you have on. Now head on up to the shower. It’s the only door on the left. When you get done just bring me those clothes.” She shooed me out of the kitchen.

With the clean clothes in my arms, I made my way up the steps
and down the hall. I took the left at the top of the steps noticing the line of rooms on the right. The room closest to me had a sign on it that read
‘keep out danger zone’
, the one in the middle was closed and the final door was slightly cracked.
This must be their rooms. I wonder which one is Marie’s?

I opened the only door on the left of the hall and entered. I locked the door and set the clean clothes on the sink. The mirror in front of me showed just how rough I looked.
My eyes were bloodshot, I had bags under them and my hair was a horrible mess. It stood up all over the place.

I peeled out of my black
T-shirt and winced as the material rubbed against my hand. The backs of my knuckles were raw, scraped and had thin crusted trails of blood on them.
What the hell?
I looked up at the mirror and inspected my face for any signs of bruising.

“Just what did I get into last night?” I mumbled under my breath continuing to get undressed.
I turned on the water getting it to the right temperature before I hopped in. I pulled the shower curtain closed as I debated with myself on telling Marie about the faceless girl.

I know this relationship was fake, but we did promise to keep it just us and me hooking up with an unknown girl at a jock party would blow this pseudo relationship up in our faces.
I closed my eyes leaning my head against the tiled wall and sighed. Maybe I should broach the subject with Beau first before I speak to her.

             
                                          *****

After my shower and giving my dirty clothes to Eva, I stood in front of the study door. My palms were sweaty as I knocked on it. A muffled voice commanded me to enter. I opened the door and entered the room. He sat behind his desk with a pair of glasses on.

“Have a seat.” Nate motioned to the chair in front of him. I hesitantly lowered myself into the chair and raised an eyebrow at him. He took off his glasses before he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Is this a habit of yours?”

“Is what a habit?” I frowned at him.

“Drinking until you are so shitfaced you have to be carried in.” He sat back in his chair and folded his hands in front of him on the desk.

“No, sir, it’s not.”
I relaxed a bit in the chair when I realized that this was going to be one of those conversations.

“Then why did you do it last night, son? It’s not really giving us the best impression of you. And if you want to date my only daughter, I have to be able to trust you. Right now, I don’t trust you as far as I could throw you.”

I leaned my head back and huffed out a breath. I might as well tell him the truth. “Can I be perfectly honest with you?”

“The truth is always appreciated.”

“I was feeling depressed last night. That is something that I am not use to feeling or even admitting to. The past few days I have spoken and thought about my family more than I care to admit. At that party, I happened to see a photo of a mother holding her young son. He was smiling a toothless grin at the camera.” I took a deep breath and continued. “And the last time I saw my brother alive I had just given him a sweet for loosing another tooth. He smiled up at me with the same expression as the child in the photo. Before I knew it, I was drinking more and feeling sorry for my lot in life. At that moment I needed an escape.”

He sat motionless for a moment before he leaned forward on his desk. “After their death did you see a therapist?”

I shook my head. “No. As soon as the solicitor read the will, my aunt and uncle took me out of England. That was maybe a week after the burials. I honestly don’t remember. Everything was so jumbled and I was in a fog most of the time.” I was completely unaware of how my voice sneered at the mention of my relatives.

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t care for them?”

I placed my elbow on the arm of the chair and leaned my busted hand against my mouth. “Not particularly.”

“Why is that?” He moved a sheet of paper on the table, looked it over then glanced back at me.

I squeezed my eyes shut and admitted. “He is a drunken gambler that likes to beat my aunt. She lets him do it. She even let him knock me around a time or two when I tried to intervene.”

“And that’s why you left their house?”

My eyes popped open in shock. “Most of it yes.” I started to open my mouth to ask how he knew but he just held up his hand.

“I looked into a few things as a precaution. Don’t worry no one knows this but me
and the kids will never know unless you tell them. If you need a place to crash or something to eat our doors are always open unless you continue to use alcohol as a way to treat your sadness. I will not tolerate that in my house or around my kids. A sip here or there is fine but to get so thrashed you blackout is not how to handle things, son. If you need therapy to help you with the grief, I can help you find a decent one.”

I ran my hands through my damp hair before resting my elbows on my knees. “Thank you, Mr. Savioe. I really appreciate the offer but I don’t think I need therapy.” I clasped my hands and rested my chin against them as I stared at him. Just what exactly did he investigate? I hesitated for a moment before I decided to ask him. “What exactly did you look in to?”

My question seemed to startle him. He picked up a sheet of paper and passed it across the desk. I leaned forward taking it out of his hands and looked it over. A basic background check was printed on it. It contained the names of my parents, brother, aunt and uncle, the registration for my car and insurance company. I winced when I saw my grades. It showed nothing of my living situation. “How did you know I moved out of my uncle’s place?”

“Just a suspicion Eva had. Now that is just the basic that came in last night. I have a more detailed one
that should arrive within the near future if you are interested in looking at it.”

I handed him back the single sheet that contained my life utterly confused. “How detailed can it be? I lived a very sheltered life in England
, aside from playing rugby, I was always with my parents or tutors and everything I’ve done since I’ve set foot in the States is on the sheet in your hand.”

“You didn’t attend a school?” He sat back in his chair.

“No. My parents had different opinions on my going to one once we stopped moving around. My father wished for me to attend his alma mater and my mother wanted me homeschooled. She said that being sent away to a boarding school would give me psychological harm. My father wanted to keep her happy.” I shrugged my shoulder.

“Hmm. What school did he attend?” He picked up a pen and scribbled on the back of that paper.

“Eton as did his father.”

His eyebrows rose as he continued scribbling.
“The next report will have every minute detail. Like your uncle and his activities, your father’s work and what your mother did. Do you remember what was in your father’s will?”

“No. I don’t. What does this have to do with anything?”

He peered over his glasses at me blinking his eyes. “Sorry. I got a little carried away. I told Eva the other night that I had a feeling that something is not quite right about you or your situation. Hence, the background checks. Now from what you have told me and what I have received so far, it is raising some questions.”

I rubbed my aching head in an attempt to calm my fray
ing nerves. “Um, not to sound ungrateful or rude but I don’t want to know. My family is dead, my aunt and uncle are going to be completely out of my life once I turn eighteen and I have more pressing issues to deal with. I need to get a job, place to live and at least try to graduate.”

“That’s simple, son. You will stay here until you graduate. Beau is supposed to be talking to his boss about getting you a
job at the garage he works at. Now even if your relationship with Marie ends, we will still want you to stay here until you get back on your feet.” He rose from his chair, walked around the desk and leaned against the front of it.

“Are you serious?”
I sat there gobsmacked. Was this really happening?

“Yes. Eva and I both agreed on it this morn
ing.” He crossed his arms in front of him and glared at me. “My only rules are no drinking, drugs and you leave Marie in the same condition that you found her. That means no breaking her heart. Unlike my boys, I do have the means to make you disappear and the connections. Nothing gets found in the bayou, son... nothing!”

I swallowed hard and nodded my head in understanding.
“Mind if I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Just how did you know I came in drunk last night?” I leaned back in the chair awaiting his answer.

“I saw Marie and Beau carry you in and when Marie came in here to tell me she didn’t stay at her friend’s house. She reeked of beer.”

I frowned at him in confusion. “She was there last night?”

“You really don’t remember anything do you?”

“Just bits and pieces. I don’t even recall how I banged up my hand.” I flexed my damaged hand in front of me.

“Beau said that you punched someone for flirting with Marie. Then you grabbed her and took her to…
.”

“The laundry room.” I supplied as my eyes went wide in realization. Marie. That was
her and not some faceless slag.

“Yes, I see you remember that. He said that you yelled at her for being there before you passed out.”
He stood before me gaging my reaction.

I sat still and quickly repressed all the images of his daughter from flooding my mind.
A soft knock sounded on the door before Eva opened it. She smiled at us and entered. “Brunch is ready. If you two are hungry.” She walked over to her husband and hugged him. “Did you mention it to him?”