But Easton and I are already gathering up random plates and cups.
As we hurry toward the French doors, I hear Reed’s grumble of annoyance tickling my back.
“Great minds think alike,” Easton murmurs.
I flash him a quick scowl. “Oh, so now we’re friends again?”
His expression flickers with guilt. When we reach the kitchen, he sets the plates in the sink, glances discreetly at the catering staff, and lowers his voice. “I’m sorry about what I said at Sav’s party. I was…wasted.”
“You’re not allowed to use that as an excuse,” I retort. “You’re always wasted and you’ve never said anything like that to me before.”
His cheeks redden. “I’m sorry. I’m an asshole.”
“Yup.”
“Forgive me?”
He dons his trademark little-boy look that usually makes people melt, but I’m not letting him off the hook that easily. The comment he’d made the other night was mean. And hurtful. So I shake my head at him and walk out of the kitchen.
“Ella. Come on. Wait.” He catches up to me in the hall and takes hold of my arm. “You know I say stupid shit without thinking.”
My face heats up. “You pretty much told everyone at that party that I’m a slut, Easton.”
He moans. “I know. I messed up, okay? You know I don’t think that about you. I…” His features crease. “I like you. You’re my baby sis. Please don’t be mad at me.”
Before I can respond, a soft noise snags my attention. It sounded like a groan. Or maybe a sigh?
I glance toward the end of the hall. There are only three rooms in this section of the house: a small powder room, the walk-in pantry, and a closet.
“Did you hear that?” I ask Easton.
He nods grimly.
Something compels me to creep farther down the corridor. I pause in front of the pantry, but I don’t hear anything behind the door. Same with the closet. The bathroom, though…
Easton and I both freeze when we hear the moan. It’s a woman, from the sound of it. My blood runs cold, because there are six females in the Royal mansion right now and five of them are accounted for. Brooke’s on the patio. The waitresses are in the kitchen. And I’m right here.
Which means…
I turn to Easton with wide eyes, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.
He must have put two and two together, because his mouth falls open slightly.
“Easton,” I hiss when he reaches for the doorknob.
He holds the index finger of his free hand to his mouth. Then, to my horror, he turns the knob and eases the door open about an inch.
An inch is all we need. An inch is plenty for us to catch a glimpse of the couple inside the bathroom. Dinah’s blonde head. Gid’s dark one. His hands digging into her hips. Her body arching toward him.
With disgust in his eyes, Easton soundlessly closes the bathroom door and stumbles backward as if he was just slapped in the face.
In unspoken agreement, we don’t say a word until we’re a safe distance away.
“Oh my God,” I whisper in horror. “What the hell is Gideon—”
Easton clamps a hand over my mouth. “Shut up,” he says in a low voice. “We didn’t see anything, you got it?”
His hand is trembling as it drops away. He gives me one last punishing look, then spins on his heel and disappears into the foyer. A few seconds later, the front door slams.
20
The phone rings at midnight. I’m not asleep. When I close my eyes, all I can see is Gideon and Dinah’s heads and his hands on her ass. It’s too close to how I picture Brooke and Reed, and I wonder if that’s where Reed got his stupid idea in the first place.
I stretch my arm out and grab the phone off the nightstand. The display shows Val’s pursed lips blowing me a kiss.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?” I whisper into the phone.
Silence greets me.
I sit up. “Val?”
After a shuddering breath and a half sob, I hear, “Ella, it’s me. Val.”
“I know. I saw your name on my phone. What’s wrong? Where are you?” I’m out of bed and pulling on my leggings as I wait for her response.
“South Industrial Boulevard outside some warehouse. There’s a rave.”
“What happened? Do you need a ride?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry to call you.” She sounds miserable. “I caught a ride out here because I heard Tam was in town, but I couldn’t find him, my ride took off, and it’s a bad scene.”
I sigh but offer no judgment. After all, wasn’t I kissing Reed just a few nights ago? I’m so ashamed of it that I haven’t even been able to confess this to my best friend.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I promise.
She starts to say something and then stops.
“What?” I ask, grabbing my keys off the dresser.
“It’s just…this is a rough place. You might want to bring someone with you.”
Does she mean Reed? Yeah, right. I’d cut off my leg before asking him for help. “I’ll check if Easton is home.”