Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 220
Estimated words: 215301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1077(@200wpm)___ 861(@250wpm)___ 718(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1077(@200wpm)___ 861(@250wpm)___ 718(@300wpm)
Running behind.
I’m trying to reassure Phoenix over voice memo that I’ll make it. Without lying. I don’t want to lie to him, even a lie as simple as I got stuck in traffic.
Fifteen minutes pass and Harriet unlocks the door with her key, her backpack slipping off her thin shoulder. Her low-rise plaid pants hug her hipbones, and her belly button piercing is visible while she’s wearing a white crop top.
Her round face shows more concern than scowl.
I make prayer hands at her. “My angel.”
“Ew.” Her nose scrunches. “Never say that to me again.”
“Agreed, it felt gross and inaccurate.”
She gives me a weak middle finger. Her blue eyes dart over to Ben as he emerges in the living room. He rocks to a stop seeing her, then he shoots me a deadpanned expression. “Tom.”
“Look who’s here!” I point at the short blonde and consider picking her up, but I recoil as her murderous eyes hiss at me. I glare back. “Like I would touch my haunting nightmare.”
Harriet explains to Ben, “Your brother said he’s ditching your movie night and you needed better company.”
“Did he?” Ben starts to smile at her. Then his smile veers to me in appreciation. I do know what my brother loves. He scoops her up against his chest so he can kiss her at his height.
I don’t pay attention. I gather my shit around the kitchen. Charger, phone. Where’d I put my wallet?
“You’re going to be late if you don’t go, Tom,” Ben calls out, his arm around Harriet while they’re on the couch together.
“I’m leaving. I’m going.” Fuck, my wallet is in my front pocket. Right. I fill a thermos of iced water as fast as I can.
“It’s still nuts you all don’t have a TV in your living room,” Harriet says, unfolding her laptop.
Ben catches my gaze to ask, “What happened to the last TV?”
Harriet looks up in surprise. “There used to be one here?”
“There’ve been many here, Harriet Stevie.” I shut off the purifier. “We just stopped buying them because they’d always get broken. Not by us. Just guests going wild. Parties we’ve held.” One time was definitely Eliot and a champagne cork, but I would never throw him under. “We should buy another. It’s been too long.”
Ben gives me a strange look. “Parties?”
“Yeah,” I frown off his deepening frown and slowly twist the cap to my thermos.
“What are these elusive ragers?” he asks. “I’ve heard you talk about them before, but you haven’t thrown a single party here since I moved in.”
That is…very true. We were just trying to protect our baby brother, and bringing chaos to his place of slumber did not seem smart.
Ben’s face contorts. “You stopped having parties because of me.” He did not want to change any aspect of our lives by moving in with us, so this actually careens him backward. He rests his hands on his head, and they slip to the back of his neck.
“We’ll throw a party,” I say fast.
His arms fall. Is he relaxing? I think he’s breathing, so that’s good.
“A big one,” I add. “Just like all the ones we usually throw. I’ll tell Eliot. He’ll consult our friend list.”
It’s a long list, actually. They’re just party friends only. People we’ve met at charity events, galas, birthday dinners. Our New York social circle extends to Tribeca, but lately, I’ve had no time for them. They’re the people I couldn’t care less if I blow off. They will continue to invite me to their boozy brunches in SoHo and pop-up events in Greenwich because I’m a Cobalt.
Harriet shrugs at Ben. “Sounds fun.”
Ben releases a breath. “You think Charlie and Beckett will agree to a party?”
“Yeah.” No. “I’ll make it happen.”
That little MFer comes hopping out of our bedroom, dragging his toy beaded bracelet thing. Harriet kneels on the couch to call him over, and after a quick goodbye, I am out of the apartment and en route to Phoenix.
“That went okay,” I tell myself in the elevator. “That went fine. He’s okay. You just agreed to throw a rager, but that’s totally okay. Charlie and Beckett aren’t going to kill you.” I exhale before swigging my water. “Because you have Eliot. Eliot Alice will defend you and this bad idea.”
Thank Rose fucking Calloway for birthing my brother eleven months before me.
Phoenix is calling before the elevator even reaches the lobby. Before he speaks, I blurt out, “I’m literally about to hail a cab, dude. I might be five minutes late. Barely.”
“What’s going on?” he asks roughly. “You keep rambling in your voice memos to the point where I can’t piece anything together. You sound like you’re dealing with a house fire.”
It sort of feels like one.
I must take too long to answer. “Tom. Man, I’m coming to you. Where are you?”
A soft smile curls the edges of my lips. “No need. Like I said, I’m on my way to you.” I pick up my guitar case as the elevator doors open. “I’m a natural firestarter, so I’m just learning how to prevent one. But everything is fine.”