Page 29 of Light It Up Red

“I’m sleeping. Why?” I ask him.

“I didn’t ask what you were doing. I asked you where you were. We gotta go home. Pops is losing his mind. So where the hell are you? I’m coming to get you,” he says.

I groan into the phone. “I’m at the Four Seasons. I’ll meet you outside,” I tell him before hanging up and dragging myself out of bed.

I head straight for the bathroom, shower as quickly as I can, and then get dressed. I pick up my phone and bag and walk out. Dropping the keycard in the check-out box on my way through the lobby. I manage to get to the front of the hotel before my brother pulls up. Tapping the screen of my phone while I wait for him, I open the missed messages.

Travis:

Miss you already. Let me know when you get home.

A stupid smile spreads across my face as I tap out a reply and pocket my phone right as Alessandro pulls up in front of me.

Me:

On my way to the jet now. Think of me when you’re jerking off tonight.

My phone vibrates but I don’t have time to check the notification. Instead, I drop the device into my bag and climb into the back of the car.

“Why is Pops losing his mind?” I ask Alessandro as soon as I slam the door shut behind me.

“Because he hasn’t laid eyes on his pride and joy for the last twenty-four hours.”

I roll my eyes. “I really need to move out.”

“Good luck with that.” This comes from beside me, where my cousin Lorenzo is seated with a stupid smirk plastered on his face. “There is no way in hell Zio Theo is letting you leave that house.”

“I’m an adult. I can do what I want,” I’m quick to remind him.

“Mhmm, let me know how that works for you.” Alessandro laughs from the driver’s seat.

“I hate you both,” I mutter under my breath while staring out the window. “I’ll discuss it with Mom first. Once she’s on board with it, she’ll make sure Dad doesn’t blow a gasket when I bring it up to him.”

My parents love hard. My brother and I are their world. Which makes it difficult for them to let go—my father more so than my mother. If he could, he would literally have me locked in a room where no one could access me. I’m not complaining. I’ve grown up surrounded by love, but there are times that it can all be very… suffocating.

My phone vibrates again in my bag so I pull it out and navigate to my unread messages.

Travis:

Fuck, Lili, you can’t say shit like that to me when I’m a million miles away from you. Now I have a hard-on, sitting on a jet surrounded by my teammates.

Travis:

Don’t touch yourself. When I get back into town, I want you weeping and ready for me.

Travis:

Already counting down the minutes till I can slide into you again.

Me:

Is now a good time to tell you my father probably has my phone cloned and likely reads my messages?

Travis:

Shit? Really?

Travis: