Chapter 144: Family problems
1606words
As I sat out by the pool the following morning, I sipped on my piping hot coffee and glanced around at the flowers I had planted a few days ago. The house was quiet and the birds chirped all around me. It was extremely peaceful, but I knew it wouldn't last forever. When Drake woke up, I knew he'd have a million things going on in that head of his and I'd have to explain to him about Dakota. I might have promised her that I wouldn't say anything, but now that his brother and mother were here, it was probably best to tell him everything. I had to.
"Ugh, remind me to never go away with Drake for the weekend ever again." Luis groaned as he slumped down on the lounger next to me and covered his eyes. "He knows far too many people who like to party."
I giggled. "But I thought you would be able to keep up? You're the biggest partner I know, luis."
He snorted as he glanced at me. "I enjoy going to the club, drinking a few Appletinis, and praying a guy comes home with me. I don't do the late night shit anymore."
That answered my internal question of where they had been last night and why neither of them had answered their phones.
"Did, um, did it go alright?" I nervously asked as my cheeks turned red.
"It went great. Your guy was able to get enough workers to kick Monique to the curb, and that's exactly what he did."
My heart fluttered in my chest. I didn't normally wish bad on anyone, but she was one woman I did. Now she was gone and there was one less woman to have to worry about.
"So last night was weird..." luis scrunched his nose.
I laughed and nodded. "Weird is an understatement. I kissed his brother thinking it was him. It's weird how much they look like."
"And here I thought he didn't have a brother. Think he's gay?" Luis winked at me.
My laughter boomed. "With how he kissed me last night, I'm going to say no. Sorry, buddy."
Luis waved me off. "It's fine. Maybe he's bi. I can work with that."
I kept to myself as I looked over at the calm waters of the turquoise pool. Luis played around a lot, but I knew he wanted something real. The guy I met at the photoshoot was right up his alley, now I just needed the two to really meet. I wouldn't be the one to introduce them. Luis needed this win for himself.
"So, before Drake wakes up-"
"Too late," Drake cut me off with his deep, raspy voice. I jumped and saw him approaching us. He slipped behind me on the lounger and pulled me to his chest.
I stared over at luis and wondered how I was going to get this all out without Drake freaking out. Glancing over my shoulder, Drake had his head rested against the lounger with his eyes closed.
"You two must have had loads of fun last night," I teased.
Drake groaned. "Yeah, Lane never fails in that department."
I furrowed my brows. "Lane? Who's Lane?"
"Lane Parker," luis answered. "He's a huge pornstar from the Western region. He's decided to join ranks with Drake. He took us out to celebrate last night."
"That's nice," I said. "Luis also told me that you got enough actors and actresses."
Drake tightened his hold around my waist before he sat up and buried his face into my neck. "We got more than enough. Monique is gone for good. I fired her last night."
My pride boiled over in my chest, but I wouldn't say as much. He already knew how I felt about Monique, I didn't need to rejoice so I'll just revel in the joy of knowing she was gone.
"But enough about that, what the hell was last night all about?" Luis asked, totally ruining the moment. I wasn't ready to talk about that so early, but it was too late for that.
Drake groaned behind me before he fell back against the lounger and let go of me. "I'd sure as hell like to know myself. My mother said Dakota had called her, but why would she do that? Dakota hates them about as much as I do. It doesn't make sense."
I nibbled on my bottom lip before I came out with it. "Dakota called me yesterday from Orlando. I actually flew home early to pick her up there. I didn't have a clue that she called your family though."
"Wait, you what?!" Drake sat up again, this time completely getting off the lounger as he loomed over me. "Dakota made you come home early? For what fucking reason?"
"Something to do with Lex." I shrugged my shoulders. "She didn't give me much information, but she had a black eye and I'm pretty positive she had done drugs again." I knew I shouldn't have thrown Dakota under the bus like this to Drake, but he had a right to know. She needed help and that couldn't happen without Drake knowing everything.
His hands balled up at his sides as the veins in his neck bulged. "She's upstairs sleeping?" I nodded before he spun on his heel and stormed inside.
I stole a glance at luis who showed his teeth and scrunched his nose. This wasn't going to be good. I knew he couldn't be of help, but I kind of needed him.
"Don't go anywhere, we'll be right back." Luis snorted. "As if I'd miss this. This is some good drama and I'm here for it." He snapped his fingers and got up, following me inside before I heard a door upstairs nearly be torn from its hinges.
"Dakota!!" I heard Drake scream.
I took the steps two at a time until I reached the top and paused outside of her door. My heart was up at him with a go-to-hell look.
"I'm sleeping here!" She scolded.
"Not the fuck anymore you're not! What the hell is going on, Dakota? Lynn told me that you called her back early yesterday with a black eye and then mom and Diego show up?!"
She hissed through her teeth. "They actually came?"
"Why the fuck would you even call them? You know nothing good can come from that."
Shrugging, Dakota sat up. "You don't know that. I've been talking to them lately. They seem different, Drake, give them a chance. People can change."
"People like them can't change!" He shouted. "And what the fuck is going on with Lex now? Are you doing drugs again? So help me God, Dakota!"
"Oh, will you just stop it, Mr. Perfect?! I can't take it anymore. I can't ever do anything right in your eyes!"
He stepped back and ran a hand over his face. "It doesn't help that you're constantly fucking up, Dakota. What else am I supposed to think? And now you've called on family that has never been there for you?! What am I? Chopped fucking liver?"
As much as I wanted to be here for Drake, I knew this was a family matter that didn't need an audience. I slowly stepped away, but not before Dakota saw me.
"You promised, lynn!" She yelled at me. "You said you wouldn't tell Drake a thing!"
I held my hands up in surrender as I glanced between the two of them. "I wasn't going to, Dakota, but he has a right to know."
She scoffed. "Remind me not to come to you with anything ever again."
"Hey, listen here you little twat-waffle!" Luis barked out as he stepped into the room. "Lynn is the best damn person I know. She did what she did for you. If she didn't care about you, do you honestly think she'd have flown home to pick you up? She may have promised to keep this a secret, but you screwed that up the moment your family made their way into Drake's home. You're being a selfish little bitch to people who clearly love you!"
Wow. I didn't expect that from luis at all. He was known for sticking up for me and what he thought was right, but holy hell. I could hug his little gay neck right now.
Dakota's mouth opened and shut several times before she huffed out a breath. "I'm just going through some things right now."
"So let's take it out on the people who are trying to help?" Luis inquired as he rolled his eyes at her. "Sweetheart, you're out of your damn mind."
"I know!" She cried before she covered her face with her hands. "And I'm so sorry."
I glanced at Drake who gave me a small smile before he stepped up to me and rubbed my arms. "Give me a moment with my little sister, yeah?"
Nodding, I stepped out of the room and pulled luis with me. They really did need a moment together and I'd give it to them. I hadn't even had breakfast yet but I could definitely use a drink. And here I thought my family was the only messed up one. Jesus.
Luis and I had just stepped into the kitchen to make mimosas when the front door opened. We glanced at each other with confusion before the culprits joined us. I stared right into Drake's mothers eyes before they moved to his brothers. God, that was still eerie as hell.
"Hey, sweet lips," Diego commented with a wink.
Oh shit. As if today couldn't get any worse.
