She flies with her own wings (19 page)

I walk slowly toward my office. I help myself to a t-shirt and pants from a lab changing room I pass. My clothes are torn and caked in dirt. I wash my face in the bathroom and get changed. I stuff my clothes in the garbage.

I take my purse, keys, and cell and leave the building. I get into my car. It’s 9:39. I look at my cell. 20 missed calls and 13 unread text messages. Fuck.

I scan through the messages for one from Will and start driving. All I want to do is fall into bed, but the missed calls and messages tell me that Will and Tom are worried, and I don’t want to leave them wondering what on Earth has happened.

Will opens the door, when I ring it. Tears of exhaustion trickle down my face, and he pulls me into his arms.

“What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He sounds worried.

I shake my head and try to stop the tears. Will’s mother appears behind him.

“Thea, is everything okay? We were so worried!” She pushes Will to one side and takes me in her arms.

“What are you wearing? ” asks Will.

I look down at my clothes. “We had a little accident in the lab. My clothes were affected and this was all that was available.” I shrug my shoulders.

Will ushers me into the house—which is close to a palace—and into a bathroom so I can freshen up. I wash my face again and brush my hair.

Will comes up behind me and pulls me to his chest. “Everything okay again, baby?”

I nod, lean into him, and it feels good to be in his arms. He softly strokes my stomach. He holds my chin, pulls me to him and kisses me, long and deep. It’s as if he wants to remind me that I belong to him.

He looks deep into my eyes, searching for the truth. But the truth is, I’m okay again. Here, with him, in his arms. With Tom and Miranda close to me. It somehow feels like home.

“I’m okay,” I murmur. “I’m okay because I’m here with you, in your arms.”

He smiles at me, and it’s one of those panty-melting smiles, that reminds me that I still don’t have any of those on. He gives me a little kiss, before he grabs my hand and leads me out of the bathroom.

We enter the dining room and suddenly I feel all their eyes on me. I wave sheepishly. Tom comes over and kisses me on the cheek. He looks worried, but I just smile back at him.

“Okay, everyone, this is Thea, our new roommate,” he says to everyone.

He introduces me to his parents, Cindy and James Andrews. His sister Julia and her boyfriend haven’t come this evening. He then introduces me to Matt’s parents, Nora and Peter Baker. Matt’s sister Linda isn’t here, but his brother Michael is.

Will’s father greets me with a kiss on the cheek and introduces me to his mother, Rosalind King, and his two other sons, Stuart and Simon. Their wives, Abby and Tricia greet me with a hug.

“I apologize for being late. There was an incident at work, and I couldn’t get away. I’m sorry I didn’t call. My hands were…full,” I keep apologizing.

Will’s grandmother gestures for me to sit next to her and says, “Poppycock, child, life doesn’t always go according to plan.”

I sit at the table and Miranda lays a plate before me. It smells good. My stomach agrees and growls loudly. Oh God, please let the floor swallow me whole, now.

“Mom, you can put a little more on her plate; Thea’s not your typical girl.” Will grins.

“Wow, thanks.”

That gets them laughing. I start eating, and it’s delicious. It’s so damn good! I feel like I haven’t eaten for days. It’s all I can do not to sling it all down in one go.

I barely notice Will’s cell ringing and it doesn’t interest me. All I’m interested in is this amazing food.

“Thea!” Will’s sharp voice echoes in the room.

I look up, shocked. Everyone has gone quiet,

He looks furious. “A small insignificant incident? Your damn lab blew up!”

Oops. I should have known he’d react like this.

“Stalker much, Will?” I hear his brothers laughing.

He glares at me. “It’s on the news.”

Yeah, I probably should have seen that coming, too. “Okay, an oxygen tank exploded and made a hole in one of the outer walls. There were a few injuries but the worst was a broken leg.”

“What really happened to your clothes?”

“Ripped and covered with soot.”

“So you were in the lab?”

I shake my head and then I nod. “I was on my way but when I heard the explosion, I ran toward it and then in to the lab to check if anyone needed help.”

If looks could kill… “Are you crazy?” His mother lays a hand on his arm but it doesn’t calm him down. “Something terrible could have happened! I don’t understand how you could be so stupid!”

I bristle. “Don’t you dare.”

“I don’t want you working for that crappy company anymore!”

“It’s a good thing that’s not your decision!”

He shoves his hands angrily through his hair. “You are, without a doubt, the most irritating person I know!”

“Back at you, now shut up, I’m hungry.” I laugh inside. Will still looks furious, but he relaxes and sits down.

Rosalind suddenly claps her hands and roars with laughter. “Finally, he’s met his match!”

“You know what, Grandma? It’d be nice if, just once, you could be on my side for a change.” Will snaps, but he winks at me. And I know exactly what he’s saying: I told you; they love you already.

“I am always on your side, my boy. Just not when I’m on hers.” She pinches my cheek playfully.

Conversation around the table resumes. I finish my meal and feel eyes on me. When I look up, Will smiles at me. This guy kills me, seriously.

“Thea,” Will’s father addresses me. “Is it okay if I call you Thea? I’ve read your doctorate.’

I look at him, surprised. “Really? Why?”

He laughs. “After we met last Friday, I was curious to know what the thesis was about, and I was inspired to read the 300 pages over the weekend. I’m very impressed but can’t help wondering why you didn’t stay in genetics.”

I shrug my shoulders. “Jobs in the field are few and far between.”

“You know that BioKing has interests in this field. Your area of research would fit in very well in our department.”

“I heard that.” My cheeks go pink, and I look at Will quickly. That asshole is enjoying this.  He’s sitting back, relaxed in his chair. So much for having my back.

“Didn’t you apply to us after college?” he asks.

“No.” I throw Will a pleading look, and I see him relent.

“Dad, I fired Pierce today.” I look up sharply. He fired his head of HR? “It was clear we weren’t on the same page when it came to promoting young talent.”

His father looks at him surprised. “Which means what, exactly?”

“Have you ever wondered why no women apply for jobs with us?”

I see confusion in his eyes. “Now that you mention it…”

“Pierce obviously doesn’t think much of gender equality and has been systematically scaring women off.”

His usually kind face transforms into something dangerous. “What? And how did you…?” His eyes move to me. “Oh…”

This whole conversation is so unbelievably awkward. Where’s that hole in the floor when you really need it? I try to make myself small, blend into the background, but it doesn’t work.

“I am very sorry, Thea. I can only apologize. We would be lucky to have someone like you.” Robert looks me earnestly in the eyes.

“I’ve told her that already,” Will interjects. “And now this shitty excuse for a company has exposed itself as a safety risk, I hope she’ll accept our offer.”

“Only if pigs learn to fly.”

“Bitch.”

“Douche.”

He grins at me, and I can’t help but grin back. My Will.

Later, I sit with Tom’s parents. His mother, a primary school teacher, is also from Florida.

“And whereabouts are you from?” she asks me.

I don’t like where this is going but say, “Sarasota.”

She looks at me, surprised, “I’m from Saint Petersburg.”

Shit.

“What do your parents do?”

Tom looks uneasy, and I give him a small smile, as if to say ‘it’s cool,’ even though I wish this conversation was over. “My father’s a lawyer.”

She considers this. “I’ve never heard of any lawyers called Bennet.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“My parents’ name is McCormick.”

“Theodor McCormick is your father?” she asks wide-eyed.

I nod and wish, with all my heart, that I were on a beach on a desert island far, far away from here.

“Your mother is such a lovely lady! We were at school together. She’s also from Saint Petersburg.”

A lovely lady?

“Hmm,” I say, non-commitedly.

“How come you don’t have the same surname?” Tom’s father asks.

I shrug my shoulders. “I took my grandmother’s name on my mother’s side.”

Tom’s mother opens her mouth, but Tom jumps in, “Perhaps we can continue this inquisition another time.” I look at him gratefully.

Tom’s mother takes my hand. “Sorry if I act like I’m prying, Thea. I’d like to get to know you and those who make my son smile like that deserve closer inspection.” She winks at me.

I feel my cheeks beginning to burn and inwardly curse myself. What do these people have that makes me so shy all of a sudden?

I feel an arm around my shoulder. “Thea, would you like to come on a spa weekend with Abby and Tricia?”

That sounds amazing!

“We already have plans for next weekend,” Tom interjects. I look at him questioningly, and he leers back at me.

“What about after?” Miranda asks.

“That would be lovely, Miranda, thank you,” I answer, making sure I am the first to respond.

“Looking forward to it, sweetheart.” She smiles at Matt’s mom. “Isn’t she just darling, Nora?”

Nora Baker smiles at me. “That she is, may I join you?”

I nod. Matt’s mom.

Tom is deep in conversation with his parents.

“I’m very glad to meet you, Thea. Matt only talks about you these days. You’ve completely enchanted him.” She smiles shyly, and I fall in love with her there and then. “I very much wanted to meet you and get to know the girl who’d made my son so happy.” She pushes her hair behind an ear. “I hope I’m not embarrassing you when I say that I’m glad you’re you. You are clever and funny, strong and beautiful. Just what my whoring son needs.”

I choke on my wine. Did she really just say that?

“Oh don’t look so shocked.” She giggles. “I know exactly what my son is like, and it’s his life. I always knew some woman would come along, knock him for six, and make him consider a loving relationship.”

I have no idea what to say to that.

She takes my hand. “He likes you, Thea. Very much. Don’t break his heart now that he’s discovered he has one.”

“I’ll do my best,” I manage.

She strokes my arm. “I know I’m putting you in a difficult position. I’ve seen the way Tom and Will look at you. All three of them are smitten. And whenever the decision gets made, there will be two very disappointed men left over.”
Hmmm
, I think,
maybe not
. But of course, I don’t tell her that.

She looks at me earnestly. “Whether this breaks them apart, whether they stay friends or not, that’s all up to you, Thea. You have all the cards, just make sure that whatever you decide to do creates as little collateral damage as possible. That’s all I ask of you.”

I try to blink away the tears that are welling up. “If anyone’s heart is going to get broken, it’s going to be mine.”

She pulls me into her arms. “Take care of your heart then, my darling.”

“Mom, have you done it again?” I hear a man’s voice say. “Why must you make everyone cry?”

She looks embarrassed, and I have to laugh.

Matt’s brother sits next to us. “I know you from somewhere. I’ve been wracking my brain.”

“No idea, Playboy? Porn film?”

He grins at me. “I would have recognized you from those.”

His mother gives him a stern look. “No, mom. I only read Playboy for the fascinating interviews, really.”

“Really? I always look at the pictures,” I say, which earns me a stern look from Nora, but I can see her suppressing a smile.

Michael laughs loudly. “I’m not going to be able to sleep until I find out where I know you from. Tell me, what do you do in your free time?”

“Hmmm, not much. I don’t have much free time at the moment. The only thing I make time for is dancing.”

His eyes light up. “Ha!” he shouts. “I knew I’d seen you somewhere before!”

I’m confused.

He takes my hands. “Thea, I need you to do me a huge favor.” I nod. “Take me to Underground.”

I look at him, a little shell-shocked. “You dance?”

He nods excitedly and goes to the other side of the room to put his iPod into the docking station. Suddenly the room is filled with the sound of salsa. He moves back to me, bows and says, “May I have this dance?”