CEO Of My Heart

Lake House

AMELIA’S POV

—

Sugar coating is for the week, and even though I’m sweet, I can be sour too.

“Grayson, I said no.” I roll my eyes while I try to find my bag. “And I told you that I’m not asking, my mother is the one insisting.” He sounds annoyed, angry that they’re going to the lake house. “I have my last exam tomorrow morning, I can’t make it.” I believe that he thinks my exam can be taken on any day of my choosing. “She said she’ll wait.” he huffs, now sounding like he doesn’t want me there.

“I won’t have time to pack.” Excuse after excuse, yet he still isn’t taking no for an answer. “My mother will wait,” he grits out, talking to me like I’m a child. “I don’t want to go,” I snap, finally admitting the truth. “Ashton won’t even bother us,” he argues, sounding desperate. He knows that his brother and I don’t get along, and what does he think will happen when we sit in one car for hours? “Please, my mother really wants this.” the defeat in his voice breaks me and the thought of this being her last adventure also breaks me.

I have no choice, I have to go.

"Fine, just give me the morning. I'll be ready at one." I roll my eyes, unable to believe that I'm going back there. I haven't been to the Lake House in forever, and the last time I was there, I think I was thirteen, and even then Ashton made life miserable, so imagine now that we're adults. "Thank you, I really mean it." Grayson's sincere tone is sweet, "Anything for my best friend," I sigh, making sure he could hear that I'm not excited. "Good luck with your exam." he murmurs, and I hum in response, "I gotta go," I end the call, tossing my phone on the bed.

--

I press my knee into the suitcase to get it shut and I struggle to zip it while I keep on glancing at the time. I have five minutes, because I just know that if I'm late, Ashton will throw a fit and he will start a fight, and all I have to do is stay clear of him and his bad moods. I grab my vanity case, slip my feet into my Birkenstock sandals and grab my suitcase's handle, dragging it down the stairs and outside into the street, finding Ashton and Grayson packing the car while Aunt Eloise slowly strides down the driveway. Even though she's sick, she's so tidy and always looks her best.

"Grayson, help your mom!" I yell at him from afar, worrying that she might fall. Both of them whip around, and Ashton's eyes narrow on me before he looks at Grayson, muttering something I couldn't hear because I'm not that close yet and Grayson rolls his eyes before walking over to his mom.

I stop beside Ashton, "Hi," I murmur, not once looking up at him. He's so intense, so cold-blooded and closed off, it makes me wonder if he's even here for his mother, or something else. I don't see him caring for Aunt Eloise, and he didn't fight her on the topic of going to the lake house. "I didn't know you were coming," He sneers, and my gaze lifts, locking on his cold stare for only a second and I glance towards the trunk, "Your mom invited me," I make it clear that it wasn't Grayson who invited me.

Grayson and Ashton never fought, but there's always this lingering thought that Ashton will, and that scares me because even though I dislike Ashton as a human being, I would never want to come in between their bond. They are identical twins, and that's special, they share everything, except for me and I will hate myself if Grayson and his brother fought because I'm here at their mother's request. "Just load your things," He sneers and walks off towards the driver's seat. I load my luggage and Grayson appears beside me, "Let me help," He hauls my large suitcase into the SUV and I pack my vanity case in.

Grayson has always been the kind one, and he will always be too. Since the day I met them, Grayson has been my favorite, and Ashton...well he just got under my skin, taunting me and bullying me, but as we got older, the bullying stopped, mostly and after he's been gone for so long, it just feels strange to have them both here because for a few years, it was just Grayson and I and it was peaceful. I don't know what to expect with Ashton back in my life...

"Sit behind my mother," Grayson shuts the trunk, nudging me towards her side of the car and I happily accept because I just know that Ashton would push his seat back all the way to mess with me, or tell me to stop breathing so loudly in his ears if I sit behind him. He'll complain that my knees are digging into his back just so that I'd have to sit uncomfortably, or he'll tell everyone that he thinks I stink and say that I'm the one sitting behind him, so it must be me.

Every possible scenario is burned into my mind, and there's nothing I can do except try and avoid him the best I can. The drive over to the lake house is long, and while Aunt Eloise plays her songs, I mouth along to the lyrics, not wanting to hear the backlash of Ashton's insults if I sing off key and when the road starts to become a dirt road, I hold onto the door as our bodies rock side to side and back and forth, it's not hard, but it's also not fun. "Slow down, Ashton!" Aunt Eloise scolds her son, and I notice his veiny hands tighten around the steering wheel.

An hour later, we stop at the lake house, and there are leaves scattered around the wrap around porch, the light is broken by the front door and the pathway is covered is branches and sticks. "What a mess!" Aunt Eloise looks really upset, her sad eyes travel all over as she takes in a few damages. I rest my hand on her shoulder, "We'll fix it, don't worry," I reassure her as the guys clear the pathway to the house, and she turns her head, looking at me with tired eyes, "It's because we don't come here anymore," she tuts.

What she said is true though, this place isn't being looked after, and that's sad because it's such a beautiful place. "Go inside with my mom, I'll bring your things," Grayson demands as the darkness surrounds us. The lights are out, and it's too late to have someone come out to fix it. The house is lit up with candles, and I grab a broom and start sweeping the floor while the guys get our bags. I don't like the dark, it reminds me of that night someone broke into our house...and it's dark enough to remind me of it.