Movies sound far better than spending the night next to someone who clearly hates my guts. Kyan shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. After a moment, he exhales in obvious frustration.
“We could lose our liquor license because of her,” he adds, looking up at Jonah.
“She won’t be drinking or in any of the gambling areas, and she is with us. No one would say shit,” Jonah cuts him off.
Kyan’s eyes dart to me and he growls. “I swear Marabella, if you cause issues tonight…” he points at me, making me take a step away from him as he moves closer.
“Kyan!” Jonah snaps at him, cutting whatever he was going to say off. Jonah shoves his shoulder. “What has got into you?” he growls, and Kyan turns his glare on him.
“She remains with you. I’m not fucking babysitting her,” Kyan snaps, barging past him, opening the door, and stepping out into the corridor.
“It’s okay, Jonah. I will just wait here,” I whisper, suddenly feeling unwelcome.
You would think by now I should be used to this feeling, but I don’t want to cause conflict between him and his best friend. It would be better if I just rang dad to come get me. This is a terrible idea. I just want to go home. It isn’t like I am looking forward to tonight, anyway.
“Marabella, just hurry up. We are already late. We can’t leave you in here by yourself!” Kyan snaps from outside in the hallway.
Jonah squeezes my hand and Kyan growls, not missing the action as his eyes dart down to glare at Jonah’s hand. Jonah lets go of me, gripping my elbow, and Kyan walks off in a manner that makes me not want to follow. One day, Marabella, one day and we will be free, I remind myself.
Jonah tugs me along beside him, or more drags me with these stupid heels. Glancing over his shoulder, Kyan sneers at us as he presses the button on the elevator. I look down at my hands, swallowing the lump that is forming in my throat.
“Remove them. They don’t go with your dress,” Kyan says coldly.
Looking up, I notice him glaring at my hands. I glance at Jonah. It is one thing not having them on when I’m with Jonah or mom, even Eziah. Besides showering, I always wear them.
“But if I touch…”
“You won’t be touching anyone, now remove them,” Kyan snaps at me, cutting me off.
“Bro, chill. Leave her be,” Jonah intervenes. Kyan ignores him, his intense, aggressive gaze holds mine hostage.
“All these years and you still can’t control it, fucking remove them, Marabella. I won’t be seen with you, while you wear those ridiculous gloves,” he snarls.
Jonah growls at him, and Kyan rolls his eyes, grabbing my gloved hand and without delay, tugging the glove off by the fingers. He then reaches for the other and pulls it off before pocketing them.
I clench my hands into fists, feeling my anger bubble within me. I rub my fingers over my palm when the doors open. Having my hands on display for the world to see makes me feel naked and exposed. It is risky and I know it. They do too. But mister I know it all doesn’t seem to care, even as the unease settles within me.
Hopping in the elevator, Kyan does up his suit jacket before fiddling with the cufflinks he pulls from his pocket. His jaw clenches as he glares at his wrists, trying to put the cufflinks on, and accidentally dropping one. I bend down to pick it up.
“Here, let me help,” Jonah tells him.
“It’s fine,” Kyan snaps at him, and Jonah puts up his hands in surrender, stepping away from him.
“Fuck man, just trying to help. No need to bite my head off,” Jonah says, leaning against the elevator wall. Kyan sighs, looking over at him, he reaches for the cufflink in my hand.
“I’m sor…” He stops short of what he is about to say when I grip his wrist, turn his hand palm up and poke the cufflink through.
I straighten his cuff and look up to find him staring at me. His face is set in stone and indecipherable. I jerk my hand away at the cold look he gives me. My heart thumps as I realize what I have just done. I shouldn’t have touched him. Why would I do that? What was I thinking?
His jaw clenches, and he swallows. He holds out his other wrist and cufflink, and I peek up at him. I wasn’t expecting him to do that either. My hands shake as I pinch the cufflink between my fingers, quickly fixing the other one. When I feel his hand brush against the back of mine, his thumb stroking over it, sparks rush up my arms and my lips part as I quickly do the cufflink up and step away.
Those sparks still linger on my skin. I feel my whole body shiver and try to push the strange sensation away.
“See, she isn’t so bad. Little fingers come in handy sometimes,” Jonah laughs, nudging him.
Kyan nods but says nothing, turning to stare at the elevator doors. His hands are now clenched into fists at his sides, and I look at Jonah, who shrugs, gripping my elbow.
My feet are killing me. All night Jonah has been dragging me from one place to another. I swear I have walked the entire casino twenty times now. Kyan is always with us, but he barely acknowledges my presence unless I try to wander off to use the bathroom. Every time he snaps at me and tells me to stay close. Great, I can’t even have the luxury to pee now.
We now seem to be in some event room. The strobing lights are giving me a headache, and I desperately need to pee still. The water bottle in my hand is now empty, and I look around for a bathroom, when a man approaches Jonah about some tech issue with the security cameras.
“Ah, hang on. I will come have a look. Watch Mara for me,” he says, patting Kyan’s shoulder, walking off and not giving him time to answer.
Kyan glares at him, turning to look at me. He sneers at me and he turns back to the person he is talking to. It is obvious he doesn’t want me here with them. But I already knew that.
I watch people passing by. I feel even more out of place and even more awkward standing next to Kyan, who makes no effort to make me feel involved. Glancing around the large open room once again, I notice a sign with an arrow stating ‘bathrooms’ that are down the corridor.
Oh, perfect, I really need to pee! I hastily make my way over to it, slipping into the corridor. Finally!