The Entitled Page 2

  “Sit.” I motion to the girl.

  She does with a shy smile on her pretty lips. “My name is Tess Gallagher.”

  With a shrug, I tell her, “I’m going to call you Kitten.”

  Her big eyes widen and she nods. “Okay, Reed,” she whispers.

  “So, I guess you don’t have to worry about Tess anymore. Reed seems to have claimed her.” My dad laughs at the guy standing next to him who must be her father. Thankfully, she looks a lot like him. He has brown wavy hair and the same blue eyes as hers.

  He frowns. “Yeah, it appears so.”

  “Oh, Robert, lighten up. They are eight for heaven’s sake,” Claire snaps. “He’s never any fun anymore.”

  The room goes silent enough that Tess’s small hand finds mine. I give it a tight squeeze, and she peers up at me.

  My mom unexpectedly sits down on the other side of Tess, her hand stroking her long dark curls. “Reed, Jax, why don’t you show Tess around? Maybe show her the playroom.” She smiles at us.

  “You’re making a scene. Stop drinking now,” Tess’s dad hisses at Olive Oyl. All three of us look over at them. They’re in the corner behind our grand piano. I wonder if they think it’s hiding them? I glance back at Kitten—her eyes almost look too big for her head as she sucks on her bottom lip.

  “Sure.” I jump up, excited to get away from her parents since they seem to upset her.

  Tess stands quickly too. She’s wearing some type of shoes that are covered in glittering gold stuff. Jax has finally looked up from his Game Boy, noticing her shoes too.

  “Wow, um… well, we can always play Nintendo or watch TV because in those shoes”—he shakes his head—“I don’t think you’ll be able to keep up with us.” He grumbles as we start to show her the upstairs, where our rooms are located.

  Her small face looks crushed. “What do you mean? You don’t like my shoes?”

  Jax stares at her. “I said you wouldn’t be able to keep up wearing them.” He points at the heels.

  She looks at me as if I should tell her I like her shoes. I don’t. Instead I tell her the truth. ”Listen, Kitten, if you want to hang with us, you can’t dress like this. First, it’s stupid, and second, how are you going to be our partner in crime, wearing shoes like that? See, it just won’t work.”

  “Oh… I don’t have any other clothes than this.” She motions to her ridiculous outfit. “This is all my mother lets me wear.” She nibbles on her bottom lip as if that’s going to help her.

  “What? This is how you dress, every day?”

  She nods her head yes and lets out a small sniffle as she looks at her stupid shoes.

  “Reed, you’re making her cry. I hate it when girls cry.” Jax puts a friendly arm around her shoulders.

  I stare at them, this weird tightening in my chest. Now that she is getting comfort from my brother, she is full-on crying. If I didn’t want to kick my brother, I would be laughing at him—the look on his face is priceless.

  “Enough with the baby tears. Jax, let go of her. She’s fine.”

  He glares at me, as she weeps some more. “Way to go, dumbass.” He pats her back.

  I don’t know why I’m angry. I mean, it’s some girl I met moments ago. But I stomp over, grabbing her arm, and pull her to me. She buries her head in my shirt and sobs. My brother and I are super tall for being eight, so her head comes up to my chin.

  “God, stop, Kitten.” I sigh. “You can wear these stupid dresses if you want. I have to toughen you up.”

  She shudders and mumbles something about hating New York, her mother, father, and being alone.

  “Hey, if you stop crying, we’ll let you in our club. It’s us against the world. But you can’t be a crybaby, okay?” Tightening my arms around her, I notice she’s awfully skinny. She must get that from her mom.

  She looks up at me. I mean she’s only a girl, but with her long dark eyelashes that are spiky with tears and her deep blue eyes, she’s so pretty I almost look away. Almost. Before I can stop myself, I blurt, “You don’t ever have to be alone again.”

  It’s then that her big red puffy lips break into a smile and I smile back. “I like your dimples.” She reaches up and pokes them. We both start giggling.

  “Gross, come on. Are we going to have any fun? Or are you guys going to stare at each other all day?”

  “Oh, we’re going to have fun all right.” I grab her small hand, pulling her with me.

  TESS

  Present day – twenty-five years old

  Santa Monica, CA

  Lifting my head, I squint at my phone, glaring at it like it’s the phone’s fault it displays 4:45 a.m. on the home screen.

  I groan and lie back down. Tiredness bears down on me like a heavy cloak draped across my body. Fluffing my pillows, I turn onto my side and stare at my dark room. What is wrong with me? Something’s not right. I never do this. All night, I’ve tossed and turned but can’t fall into a deep sleep.

  “God…” I murmur, laying a hand over my eyes. Whatever this is, I’m on edge. This is ridiculous. I have to get up in two hours. I rarely, if ever take Valium anymore. It is strictly for emergencies. Unfortunately, after tossing and turning all night I wish I had taken one.

  Closing my eyes, I take measured, slow breaths in and out, visualizing I’m on a raft, and the peaceful ocean is all around me. The warm water soothes me; the waves gently rock me.

  If only this nagging unease would go away, then sleep would come. Even an hour will help me get through the day, and I do need to get through the day.

  At last, I start to drift. And then I hear it—my phone vibrates as if it has a life of its own.

  Sitting up, I grip my sheet like a security blanket, the feeling of doom taking over my body. I know whoever awaits me on the other end of the line is what has kept me up all night.

  I think about ignoring it. Prolonging my fate, my body in fight-or-flight mode. Slowly I reach for it, transfixed as it vibrates then stops.

  Pulling my knees to my chest, I wait.

  I have long ago given up on trying to make amends with myself. My pain pierces into me and I wonder if I will ever get over it. The decisions I made will haunt me, torture me. And I own it. I’m not the same scared girl anymore—I can’t be.

  The phone comes back to life in my hand and I jump. Blinking at the name on the screen, I don’t hesitate this time. I answer it because I’m not running.

  “Hello.” My voice is gravelly and I try to clear it. I have a raspy voice to begin with; the morning makes it worse.

  Silence. “Tess?”

  “What’s wrong?” I demand, barely able to swallow, my guilt threatening to pull me apart, my body starting to tremble.

  “Oh, Tess,” I hear him sigh. I can almost see him pinching his nose.

  Dread snakes around me, almost crushing me. “What?” I snap. “What is it, Jax?”

  “I’m tired.” His voice cracks. Compassion floods me along with terror. Jax rarely admits weakness.

  “What’s wrong?” I’m trying to hide my panic, but I can sense the truth. My heart pounds so hard, I feel it in my temples.

  He snorts. “Funny. That’s exactly what he said.” He chokes on a sob.

  Holy shit, this is bad!

  “Jax? You’re scaring me.” My own harsh breathing is audible. I swallow, trying to stop a panic attack from coming on.

  “You need to come home, Tess,” he sighs. Your time’s up. I wish… shit, I don’t even know what I wish.”

  “What are you talking about?” I almost scream, my throat tightening.

  “Come home. It’s time,” he demands rather harshly. I must not respond because his next statement knocks the breath out of me.

  “My grandfather died last night, and all hell’s going to break loose.”

  I drop my phone.

  TESS

  Past – fourteen years old

  My mother bursts into my room, right as I finish packing.

  “Tess, come on. You know I need
to get you over to Caroline’s.” Pleading, she presses her palms together at her chest. “I can’t be late for this appointment—it took me three months to get this plastic surgeon.”

  “I’m almost ready.” I try to smile at her. She looks so nervous, and without makeup, she almost looks normal… well as normal as she can.

  “I swear to God, Tess Rose Gallagher, if you make me late.” She’s screeching now.

  “Mom,” I snap. “I’m ready. Jesus, you are getting more surgery. And I’m not coming home for weeks. I have to make sure I have everything.”

  I haven’t spent the night at Reed’s in probably a year. When we were little, I slept over at their penthouse all the time. Not so much as we got older and it became apparent that Reed and I were together.

  “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.” I stop for a moment. I can’t help but laugh because really? My mom has a mouth like a truck driver! She glares at me.

  “Why don’t you have Alex drop me off?”

  “Because I need Alex with me.” She nervously pulls her bleached-blond hair into a messy bun on top of her head.

  That’s weird, but whatever—my mom is weird. We run out of the house. Alex is waiting and helps me with my Louis Vuitton duffel. It’s my latest gift from my absent father.

  He smiles, and his white teeth clash with his tan. It’s so startling because no one is that tan in Manhattan.

  The traffic is awful and Alex is swearing away. My mom doesn’t scold him about his language. We sit in uncomfortable silence as I stare out the window. My mind is going a mile minute. I get at least two weeks with Reed. That means we get to spend twenty-four hours a day together. Just as I start to think about Reed’s full lips and the hot way he kisses me, my mom decides to appease her guilt and talk.

  “So, Tess…” I roll my eyes. “I know I said it would be a couple of weeks, but it might be more like three, is that all right, Kitten?”

  I hate when my mom calls me Reed’s nickname. It’s his and only his. Shooting her my best disgusted look, I turn back to look out the window. It’s gray as usual, and dirty, also as usual. We have lived in Manhattan for almost seven years now and I still hate it. If I didn’t have Reed and Jax, I would seriously be depressed.

  “Whatever, Mother. Take as long as you need,” I mumble.

  She sighs, fidgeting with her wedding ring. “Exactly, I mean I need to heal properly. Since your father is never home, you will be happier with Caroline and Brad.”I turn to glance at her, and she looks small even though she is not a short woman. She’s so skinny, she looks petite.

  My father has been gone for months. He left one morning, claiming he had an urgent case in London, which makes no sense because I’m pretty sure he can’t even practice law in England.

  That was six months ago, and even though she hasn’t said it, obviously they are having problems. As much as either one of them talks to me, they could be divorced and I would never know.

  I snicker at the thought. My mom would rather swallow poison than divorce my father. It’s one of her few joys, tossing around his name, spending his money. See, he is a famous lawyer, or at least as famous as you can get in the legal world. He has won so many high-profile cases that he’s become a bit of a celebrity.

  Yeah, they’re not divorced. He simply can’t stand her, and she won’t ever give him up. Pathetic!

  “Tess?” Her nasal voice makes me cringe. Reed constantly makes fun of my mom in general, but her voice… He loves to imitate her voice. Now any time she sounds nasal, I have to fight back the laughter. Today, I can’t help but crack a smile.

  “You know you will almost be on summer break when I’m healed.” Biting my bottom lip, I try not to burst into laughter. So, I look out the window for a moment, then back at her.

  “Yeah?” Giggling, I can’t help it.

  She tries to raise an eyebrow, but with all her Botox, it looks like her eyes are big. “Am I amusing?”

  I shake my head no, not trusting myself to speak.

  Staring at me for a second before continuing, she says, “Anyway, I was thinking we should go to Paris. You know, buy a whole new wardrobe. Maybe go to London and visit your father.” Her eyes light up—it’s the first real spark of interest I have seen in them in a while.

  I’d rather take a bullet to my head than go to Paris with my mom. All right, that might be a bit dramatic. But there is no way in hell I’m spending time away from Reed. Also, why would I want to surprise my dad? If he wanted to see us, he would come home.

  “No, thanks. Reed and I have plans.” I smile, and her eyes narrow as much as her tight face allows.

  “What does that mean, Tess?”

  “It means I’m busy, Mom.” I smirk at her. “And for the record, do you honestly think you should get more work done? You can barely smile as it is.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” She flings a hand in the air.

  “Language, Mom,” I remind her.

  “Knock it off. I’m the mother, not you.” Her face is turning red—a sure sign I’m getting to her. I snort in disgust at that comment.

  “You know, Tess, I feel sorry for you.” She’s so fake, it makes my stomach hurt.

  “What are you talking about?” I snip, not wanting to look at her when she gets ugly like this.

  “I’m talking about your boyfriend.” She sneers. “He will leave you so fast. The first time you do something wrong, or you do something he does not approve of, he will drop you like you never existed.” She snaps her skinny fingers in my face. “So, prepare yourself.” Leaning back into the gray leather seat, she wears a disturbingly satisfied expression on her skinny face.

  I’m taken aback. “Why would you say that to me? It’s so mean.” Shaking my head at her, I tell myself it doesn’t matter what she says, but it does. Deep down, I feel it.

  Suddenly, I desperately need Reed.

  This time, she snorts. “Please, Tess, you need to grow up. I don’t even recognize you anymore.” Her eyes sweep up and down me. “You have completely changed since you’ve been with him.” She crosses her arms over her fake boobs.

  I can barely react. Once again, she has stripped me of all my self-confidence. What is wrong with her? She’s my mother. Shouldn’t she be my biggest fan?

  “I guess I will take my chances,” I choke out.

  Alex clears his throat. My face heats up, and I’m embarrassed that he has heard every ugly thing. “Um… we’re here.” His deep voice is filled with sympathy.

  “Thank God,” I say, grabbing my purse.

  Turning to my mother, I glare at her. “Good luck, Mother. Try not to die on the table.”

  The door opens, and I can’t get out fast enough. Strong hands reach for me. I’m filled with relief as I stare into the most intense blue eyes with a ring of green around them.

  “Hello, Kitten. I’ve been waiting for you.” He flashes me his incredible dimples and my heart skips a few beats to the point that I absently wonder if I should have it checked out.

  “Reed.” I breathe in his fresh scent. We’re standing on the curb. It’s crowded with people, but all I see is him.

  “You’re fine, beautiful. I’ve got you.” And just like that, I am fine. Those little words erase all the ugly things my mother said. She’s right that I’ve changed—hopefully for the better. If I ended up like her, I don’t know what I would do.

  Bringing me close, he brushes my lips with his. There’s that flutter again.

  This time he smiles and holds my hand up to his strong heart. “Mine flipped too.”

  “I doubt that yours feels like a machine.” I love Reed’s heartbeat; I’m kind of obsessed with it.

  He kisses my nose. “Come on,” he says, lacing our fingers together as he pulls me toward his massive building.

  “My mom is waiting for you. She’s got some new rules.” He winks.

  Suddenly, I remember turning away from my mother. She’s gone. “Great!”

  What, if she does die on the plastic
surgeon’s table? And the last thing I said to her was “Good luck.” Now I have guilt.

  “What’s wrong?” His dark brows arch at me.

  “God, Reed, I told my mom to try and not die on the plastic surgeon’s table.” Putting my hands over my mouth, I swallow. “I’m the worst daughter ever.”

  He bursts out laughing as we zigzag through people. “Why the hell would you feel guilty about that? All you said was the truth.”

  See? I feel better. Reed is like a drug I can’t live without.

  “You think?”

  “I know. You have to stop letting her crazy insecurities affect you. You’re too strong for that. The only thing you need to worry about is how to sneak into my room tonight.”

  “Reed!” Slapping my free hand on his bicep, I wave hello to Thomas the doorman. He winks at me, causing Reed to glare at him.

  “What do you mean sneak?” I glance around at the elegant lobby. It’s pretty much all gray marble with giant mirrors.

  “I always sleep with you whenever I stay the night,” I whisper, so Thomas doesn’t hear us.

  “Yeah, that’s part of the new rules Mom is going to talk to us about, I think.” He slips my purse strap back on my shoulder, grinning. The sound of a ding makes us turn, and we enter the private elevator for the Saddington family’s penthouse. It’s the only one that can go from the ground floor to the top. Even making it work is a whole ordeal. He punches the code, then uses his thumbprint to start the thing, and… up we go. It’s so smooth and fast, we are there before I can even comment.

  The elevator opens to vast elegance and an incredible view of Manhattan. Thank God, I’m not scared of heights. Mozart’s playing softly in the background.

  Reed stops me, caging me in. “Kitten, Mom is going to try and guilt you. Do not let her!” He rubs my bottom lip with his thumb, and I quickly kiss it. My pulse speeds up.

  “What is going on today? First my mom, now Caroline. You know I hate this kind of stuff.”

  When he cocks his head—he’s so hot!—his blue eyes are filled with tenderness.

  “You’re mine. That’s all you need to know. She’s going to give us the ‘we’re too young’ speech.” He shakes his head, his eyes locked on mine. “I don’t care, Tess. I will not have her dictate what is mine. Especially, when I get you for two whole weeks.” His warm, clean breath caresses my lips. He rubs his nose on mine, and I can’t help but smile.