chosen

Chapter Thirteen : Where Have You Been?

Dakota smiles a playful smile as he takes a step into the house. His parents following shortly behind him. His eyes intently on mine.

Suddenly he extends his hand out towards mine to shake, when he is only inches away. Is he doing this all for show? I mean sure he is a gentlemen, but is he just going to pretend that nothing happened the other day?

I gentle shake his hand and look up at him. Tonight his appearance is rather different than anything I've ever seen him wear before. It definitely shows off his wealth, I can tell you that. He wears a full black suit, with a white collared shirt underneath, and a red tie. His hair slicked back out of his face, which brings out his doe eyes.

"Nice to meet you Brinley," he says, looking down at our hands.

I guess he is going to play this game, so I might as well play along.

"Nice to meet you too." I say with a fake smile.

Mother politely closes the door behind Beatrice and Oscar. Almost immediately Oscar smooshes his cigar into the cigarette pan next to the front door to put out his cigar. He then neatly pats down his prestige suit and wraps his arm around his wife's waist. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Michael mimic his movements.

"Oh, I'm so glad they have met!" Beatrice says cheerfully, the biggest smile upon her face, "I can't wait until they are all together."

Michael smiles, "Gregory will be home soon. He is on his flight home from a business trip in Bali."

A break of awkward silence erupts and I realize that Dakota still has my hand gripped tight with his. His tall stature only inches from mine. Mother almost instantly realizes this the same moment that I do, and an eager look appears upon her face.

"Well, why don't you guys come on in while we wait for the others. Get yourselves comfortable. Maddox do you mind helping your father get the table set? And Brinley why don't you show Dakota around the house."

Does Maddox refer to Michael as his father? Or is Mother just referring to him as that to impress our guests? For as long as I've known, Maddox has always gone the route of calling Michael, Michael. To me it would absolute betrayal if any of my siblings were to call Michael that. They all know the truth, they know what really happened before Mother left.

Beatrice and Oscar follow Mother and Michael into the dining room, the room left of the kitchen, and begin to chat about the randomest of things. One of the most irritable characteristics of Rich Mouths here in Leavenworth.

Which leaves Dakota and I to ourselves. An uneasy feeling swarming in my stomach.

"Just warning you," I say looking away from Dakota and releasing my hand from his tight grip, "I don't know this house very well."

I begin to walk towards the grand staircase to my right. The sound of my large heels echoing in this space.

"Alright," Dakota says confidently, quickly following behind me.

As I take my first step up the stairs, I'm stopped by Dakota grabbing my hand, this time in a gentle way. He spins me around so that I am now face to face with him, which brings back the memory of when he helped me get cleaned up after Rebecca had trashed me. Perhaps maybe I had thought wrong of Dakota, perhaps all along he has only tried to help me.

He carefully places his narrow hands on my shoulders, and looks me deep in the eyes. Not the deep soul searching look that Joey gives or the gentle loving look that Liam gives, but a look that I just simply can't read.

"I'm sorry," he says looking me up and down, "The way that I acted was wrong. It's just... I mean I don't think any guy would be able to handle themselves if they were with a girl as beautiful as you. I couldn't help but be jealous of Liam."