And So It Goes (Stevens Book 10)

Chapter 21

Merrick followed her out of the box and took her arm when she would have stopped to confront him.

"Not here," he said as he handed her the envelope with the photos and propelled her forward, down the stairs, and past the coat check, where he paused to get his coat and have his car keys delivered to Jade in the box. Then he rushed her out the door and hailed a taxi.

"Where are we going?" Agatha asked as she struggled to put her coat on in a sitting position. Merrick did his best to help her, his fingers brushing her skin as he did.

"We need to talk without a dozen pairs of eyes staring at us while we do. I'm staying with my aunt, so we'll go there while it's quiet." Merrick settled back in his seat for the short drive, keeping his attention focused out the window, letting her know he wasn't ready to talk yet.

When they arrived, Merrick paid the driver, escorted her to the apartment, and then to his bedroom, all without speaking. Agatha turned to face him as the door to the room closed.

"Can we talk now?" she drawled. "Is this safe enough?" Agatha threw the envelope with the photos on the bed and took off her coat.

She heard the click of the doorknob. "Now it is," Merrick assured her.

"Why did you go speak to my father?" she demanded.

"Because I received a text requesting my presence backstage during intermission. Both your mother and father were there, waiting for me." Merrick didn't seem upset, only amused. "They love you very much."

Agatha felt her blood start to boil. "I know they do, but that doesn't give them the right to interfere!"

"I wouldn't say they interfered," Merrick's lips twitched, which was cause for concern.

"What did they do?" Agatha sat on the bed and covered her face with her hands.

"Your father tried his best menacing stare. Your mother rolled her eyes, then introduced them both. She asked me to forgive her for the interruption, but she was eager to see what all the fuss was about. Your father choked a little and then turned and stomped off, muttering something and waving his hands."

Agatha groaned. Her father was a pussy cat compared to Merrick.

"Then, before she dismissed me, she told me not to worry, and I quote; 'Don't worry, it took me a while to convince Mason that he needed and loved me too,' and then right before she left, she said she would choose our song before long." Mason watched Agatha shake her head.

Agatha shouldn't be surprised that Merrick's trip backstage was at the request of her parents.

"I felt that there was a good chance that they had seen the photos, and I felt it would be ungentlemanly and cowardly of me to refuse to go." Merrick sat on the bed next to her, having read her thoughts as usual.

"You always do the right thing. That's one thing I can be sure of in this entire mess." Agatha stood because his closeness was disturbing. "What did you say in return?"

"Nothing." Merrick smiled. "You are very much like your mother when you're frustrated.

Agatha shrugged off the comment. "Why did you say you were the one that told them about us? The more I think about it. The more I know it can't be true. You don't share." Agatha crossed her arms in self-defense because Merrick's eyes were skimming her body in her silk dress, and her body was having an evident reaction to his gaze.

"From an unlikely source. One neither one of us thought about." Merrick leaned forward and dropped his hands between his knees, and he looked at the floor.