Alison Storm

Chapter 19

Allie

"Not the one from Utah but"—the guy my cousin happens to know, apparently, looks around the room, pointing towards Genevieve—"this one now."

Hunter snorts a laugh, slapping his hand to my back. "Should've gotten to be your bodyguard. Liam's quite the good one."

This must be a coincidence, right? Life does that sometimes when learning something knew; makes you see or hear it wherever you go.

I reach out for Rhys's hand, just because. Nothing bad about holding your boyfriend's hand, right?

Wrong.

He pushes my hand away, earning himself not one, but two confused looks from me and my father. Though, I'm pretty sure my father is trying to make up a story as to why the fuck my boyfriend just pushed my hand away.

I would too, if I wasn't too busy trying not to cry at the rejection.

I'm not the kind of person that cries. I don't show weakness, especially not when it comes to guys. Or people, for that matter. And yet Rhys's rejections stings right in my heart.

When I drop my hand and try to control my emotions, Rhys doesn't even so much to look my way. He turns around and looks at this Liam guy, then holds the most intense stare of eye contact I've ever witnessed.

It's like he's fucking that guy while I'm present. Without even undressing. A bit too intimate for my liking.

As the tears begin to burn in my eyes, my mother smiles at me softly, a bit of empathy in her eyes as she nods her head for me to follow her to the restrooms.

She whispers something to my father, who nods before his eyes cut to me. Then suddenly, both of them get up at the same time as I do.

"Hunter," my father says in his usual strict tone. Hunter looks at him instantly, not like he was afraid because I can assure you, no one in our family is. "Have an eye on Vienna and Connor for a second."

It's not a question. Barely any question my father has is more of a command. But, hey, to Hunter's luck, Chase and Aaliyah aren't here.

My father then tells Rhys to stay seated before both of my parents escort me away from our table to somewhere more private, less crowded and safe to talk.

As one could easily guess, my father doesn't sneak into a bathroom with my mother and I, he full-on leads us into a whole other room, not accessible for anyone except for staff members.

Once we're inside of the what i assume is a break room and the door is closed behind us, my father speaks up again. "If you're going to cry, I will murder Rhys."

Here's the thing, I'm pretty sure my father didn't even see what happened but my mother told him. There's not one thing they wouldn't tell each other. And yes, keeping secrets from one parent with having the other know was, and still is, impossible.

"Atlas..." My mother lays her hand on his chest as he pulls her in to his side, kissing the side of her head. "Stop threatening people and let your nineteen years old daughter handle her own problems."

Why was I even asked to follow them?

I try not to think too much about Rhys dropping my hand like I meant nothing to him. I do, however, find that to be impossible when it's all that's running through my head. Along with the feeling that he is still keeping things from me.

"I don't like when either of my children is upset, Sierra."

Hearing my mother chuckle at my father's words, I eventually do snap back into reality to ask a question I never knew I wanted to ask.