“Connor spent the night at Corey’s, but he doesn’t stay there long, so he is due back any time. We better make this quick,” he tugged me towards the kitchen. As we got closer, he slowed and turned to me. “This is gonna be a bit brutal but just bear with it.”
I went to question what he meant but he shook his head and entered the kitchen.
Colton was standing beside the coffee pot waiting impatiently for it to brew it seemed. He was wearing pyjama bottoms and a loose cotton pyjama top. His hair was messy and unstyled and my fingers itched to run through it. He was completely unaware of me standing there looking at him. It had been a long time since I had seen Colton so unguarded. I liked this Colton. This was who he was, not the hard, cynical guy he projected to everyone else.
“Bit?” Matt had looked up from the breakfast bar where he had been assembling what looked like an ice pack. He too was in his sleepwear, only he was shirtless and that was a whole lot of muscle to be greeted with at this time in the morning.
Colton turned sharply and saw me there. I gave a small awkward wave – but as I saw his eyes narrow – I immediately crossed to Matt to inspect any injuries. He squawked in protest, but I examined every inch of him. My hand grasped his jaw and turned his head this way and that. He had some slight bruising to his jaw. I noticed he had purplish marks to his kidneys and I growled as I saw the bruising.
I turned swiftly to Colton next and marched across to him. He hadn’t moved from the coffee pot and as I approached, he held his hands up in warning.
“I’m not marked,” he said his eyes hard, but he started to pull up his pj top. “You’re more than welcome to check me over though,” I noticed the bite to his words and flushing I swiftly turned back to Matt who was now standing.
“Theo decided to call you I’m guessing, even though I specifically told him not to,” Matt groused glaring at Theo.
“I’m your best distraction,” I said boldly as I quickly looked back at Colton daring him to challenge me. The cold mask was in place and he was not a happy camper.
“That you are, but I am not sure you want to be in this position, do you?” Matt asked me. No of course I don’t but this is for you I thought. “Ari!” Matt snapped at me. I felt my temper rising.
“No of course not! I don’t want to be here on a Saturday morning looking at my friends beat up from a stupid fight that they shouldn’t even be involved in!” I grabbed a towel and started angrily assembling an ice pack for Theo. “But my friend called me and needed my help. What was I going to do? Say no?” I scoffed.
“Thank you Ari,” Theo moved forward and wrapped his arms around me. I sank against him. I felt some of my frustration seep out of me and I slightly relaxed. I dared a look at Colton. Who was completely furious. His eyes flashed at me and he folded his arms across his chest. That bloody eyebrow rose and like the coward I am, I closed my eyes and squeezed into Theo some more.
“I assume Theo bribed you?” Colton said slightly mockingly. I nodded. “What did he get you with?”
I sighed as I pushed back from Theo, who had tensed up. I turned to Colton. “The truth,” I answered, surprisingly my voice was strong. He smirked as if he knew that was the answer and flicked his eyes to Theo. Yeah Theo wasn’t popular at all.
“We don’t need you here Arielle. We could have gotten through today without having to involve you.” Asshat.
“Well I’m here now and I’ll stay for my friends.” Ok so I hadn’t managed to hide the quiver to my voice there. Damn it. He smirked at me and turned back to the coffee pot.
“Tell me you all at least won,” I muttered trying to change the subject as I turned back to help Matt with an ice pack for Theo.
Matt was not happy with me being here either it seemed. He was frowning at both of us. Theo interrupted my stare off with Matt. “Course we won, you think this is bad, you should see the other guys,” Theo mumbled as he picked up the ice pack and placed it to his face.
I rolled my eyes as I set about preparing another ice pack. I felt a warm body brush up against me and I stiffened as Colton reached around me. A large mug of steaming coffee was placed in front of me and then he stepped away, leaving cool air in his place. I struggled to hide my disappointment. I looked up and Matt was looking at me, far too in tune with what I was trying to hide. I flushed and looked away.
“What are you going to distract him with?” Matt asked me. I shrugged as I thought about the answer. Truth was, I had been thinking about it on the way over and I wasn’t sure what was best to hit him with. Ok, maybe poor choice of words. I heard a disbelieving snort from behind me.
Colton strolled past with his coffee. My eyes ran over the back of him appreciatively, the pyjama top sculpted to his broad back. He paused at the kitchen door. He half turned back and his eyes met mine.
“You owe us no favours.” A rush of hurt washed over me, he was unyielding as his eyes flicked to Matt and then he turned to Theo. “Theo,” he commanded. I heard Theo sigh in resignation as he got up and followed Colton out of the room.
I turned back to Matt and handed him his rapidly melting ice pack. I let out a frustrated breath. Matt took the pack mumbling his thanks.
“You need to go Bit,” he started.
“No! Theo asked me here, he needs and wants me to help him. I am helping him,” I protested.
“You’re stubborn is what you are,” Matt countered. He reached round and tried to put the pack on his kidneys. I jumped off the seat angrily. I snatched the pack off him and placed it none too gently on his back. Matt drew in a sharp breath.
“Jesus Bit,” he flinched away from me.
“Stop being a baby. You knew I was doing it, you should have braced yourself,” I snapped as I followed his retreat with the ice pack. Yeah that’s right, I am an ice wielding ninja.
Matt growled something unintelligible and I stuck my tongue out at his back.
“Will you please listen to me?” Matt asked me softly. No no no no I am not listening. I’m an ice wielding ninja. I shook my head. Of course, he couldn’t see me. He grunted again. “Words Bit.”
“No.”
“Bit!” He tried to turn to me, but I pressed the ice pack in more and he cursed. He’d had enough of my nursing as he jumped off the seat and turned to me. Ah shit.
“You need to go. You don’t have to put yourself through whatever you are eventually going to come up with for a reason for being here with Connor. Colton is not going to allow Theo to tell you what’s happening. I am not going to tell you. Will you please understand, this is not for you to get involved in?”
My response was to glare at him.
“Bit. This is bigger than us ok? It’ll be over soon. Just stay away from Connor, don’t listen to Theo and for God’s sake, stop winding Colton up.” I was properly incredulous. I could feel my eyes were the size of saucers. I took a step back.
“I don’t wind Colton up,” I whispered. Matt went to take a step forward but stopped himself.
“That’s the only bit you heard?” He shook his head ruefully. “Please Ari, just...go home?” He pleaded. He just looked so exhausted I felt my chest clench.
I dropped the ice pack on the counter. Bending swiftly, I picked up my purse and then swallowing back tears, I slipped past my best friend and out of the house. I ran to my car and only when I was out of sight of the house, did I allow myself to cry.
When I got home, I peeled off my clothes and stood under the shower for a very long time. The tears ran freely and I ended up hunched over with my hands on my knees and my chest far too tight.
I knew that Matt would never purposefully hurt me but that didn’t stop the tears from flowing. Winding Colton up hadn’t been the only thing I had heard when he had told me to go home, but it was the first thing I had latched onto. I stumbled out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. I towel dried my hair and made my way pitifully to the kitchen.
I had run out earlier, so the coffee that I had switched off was still in the pot and just need
ed warming up – it wasn’t the best way to drink coffee, but I didn’t want to waste it. I merely switched it back on and waited for it to heat. A good French roast and a book. That’s what I needed. I could wallow in self-pity all day and gorge on chocolate. With that in mind I started rummaging through my cupboards.
I was as partial to chocolate as the next person and as long as I had a supply in the house, I was ok. What I couldn’t stand was not having a supply. I didn’t eat it every day but knowing it was there when I needed it was what mattered. Bit like my friends, I thought sourly.
However, a few weeks ago I had let those friends into my home and Theo had the worst sweet tooth out of all of us. So much so that he seemed to have found all my stash and eaten it.
Damn him I thought as I slammed the last hiding place cupboard shut. It was totally unbelievable that they had been through my stuff like this. Again, I should have felt invaded or something, but they just didn’t think when it came to me. I was simply one of them. Well to two of them at least. Although after today, maybe not even two of them.
I walked back into my bedroom and flung on some comfy clothes to allow myself to sit and wallow. As I slipped on my yoga pants, which had never seen a yoga mat, I began to get angry. What was I doing? I was not this little mouse anymore. OK, I wasn’t in on the big stupid secret that was probably a good thing, because I knew, knew, they would never be such dicks to me otherwise.
I huffed as I drank a cup of coffee, I scrunched my nose, yeah maybe I shouldn’t have been such a tight ass and made a new pot. So much for losing myself in caffeine heaven.
My phone beeped. I was tempted to ignore it. Which was ironic really. This morning I had been desperate to get to the phone and now I was dreading the text. I reached for it and grinned. It was Jay.
Jay: Hey, how are you?
Me: I’m good, you?
Jay: Fine. Thinking I need to see you
Me: Really? You just saw me last night.
I was biting back a smile.
Jay: Shut up. Meet me in the square at 9:00 tomorrow. We’re going hiking
My nose screwed up. Hiking? It wasn’t one of my pastimes.
Me: Hiking?
Jay: Yeah, look out the window, those hills are the Flat Irons, you don’t want to walk up them? Or…you don’t want to come with me?
Me: Um…I don’t know how to hike...?
Jay: You know how to walk though?
Me: Don’t be smart!
Jay: Good girl x
That silly x at the end of the text had me grinning like a Cheshire cat. Ok, so I was going hiking tomorrow. Did that entail boots or would my Skechers do? I mean they were called ‘Go Walk’ after all.
My phone beeped again. I grabbed it.
Jay: Yeah…I can’t wait for tomorrow. Meet me later?
A laugh escaped me as I agreed to meet him after work. He gave me directions to an autobody shop that was just a few blocks down from campus. He finished at 5:00, so with a plan for later, my mood improved.
I still dwelled far too much on this morning and the bruises on the guys, well except Colton. Although, he could have been black and blue and just not shown me. However, as the morning passed, and I forced myself to do some homework – I found myself looking forward to this afternoon.
Theo texted me in the afternoon, but I ignored him. Well I read his text which apologised for this morning. He and Matt had left the house early so Connor wouldn’t see them which is what he should have thought of earlier without involving me.
I growled at the phone and the message, still slightly pissed off. I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to get into it. They managed without me, that was the message. Good for them.
When my assignments for the week were completed, I went to look at my wardrobe for what I could wear to meet Jay. He hadn’t said we were doing anything, so I didn’t know what to wear. Though it was Saturday and Jay wasn’t someone who was going to go home after work and eat tacos in front of ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
I opted for black jeans and a black lace trim studded camisole top. I paired it with a pair of black stiletto ankle boots. I fished out a black chiffon scarf which I wrapped loosely over the camisole. It was still warm outside, so I decided against the coat.
After my second shower of this morning, I had let my hair air dry. I pulled out the hair straighteners and messed with my long locks until they were sleek and shiny.
A coat of mascara and a pinky/plum lipstick and I was ready. I transferred all my stuff from my usual purse into a smaller cross body purse that had a sequin trim. It wasn’t too flashy but wasn’t dull like my tote either.
I caught the bus into the city centre, I didn’t want to drive and there was no way I was taking the bike. My boots were the reason I had opted for the bus and within three blocks regretted my choice of footwear. However, I was hiking tomorrow so I better toughen these feet up. Though blisters probably weren’t the best way to go I mused.
J & Sons Auto Repair shop greeted me just off Madison Avenue. It was a one-story warehouse building with a corrugated roof. It had three metal roller doors and a small annexe that seemed to be an office. I walked across the yard and knew I had been spotted when the wolf whistles started.
Feeling very uncomfortable I plunged onwards. I saw Tattoo Neck who was walking out towards me. It suddenly clicked that this could be Jay’s business, or at least his dads? He never mentioned his dad but if Tattoo Neck was here, then I was betting that they were the ‘sons.’
I hesitated in front of Tattoo Neck, his eyes ran over me and I fidgeted. He licked his lips and I found it difficult to meet his eyes.
“He’s in the shower,” he greeted me.
“Oh, ok. Um, I’ll wait out here then,” I said as I looked around the yard, there was absolutely nowhere to hide. His laugh annoyed me, I looked at him and I was irritated that he was still lazily looking me over, like I was a piece of meat. He was wiping his hands on a cloth and I took in his appearance. Torn jeans, a black wife beater showing off more of his tattoos. Good grief there wasn’t a spare piece of flesh on his entire body, he was tattooed everywhere it seemed. His grin was lazy as he watched me assess him.
“What?” I snapped. His eyes narrowed and I realised belatedly that this was maybe not the tone to take with him.
“His last piece of ass used to go in and shower with him,” he commented. I felt myself tense. I was not a piece of ass nor was I going to give him the satisfaction of rising to the attempt to rile me.
“Well, as you said, she’s history and I am sure Jay’s capable of cleaning himself.”
“I dunno, she used to clean him out real good. Used to take a long time too.”
Pig.
Instead I smiled and didn’t budge. His laugh was low and throaty and he flashed that smile at me. Despite his words and his obvious danger vibe, the smile transformed him. Good grief, he could be a model.
“Well, I’m good out here,” I reiterated. Much to my dismay he didn’t go away. He stayed standing right in front of me. Shit.
His grin returned, “C’mon you can wait in the office,” he said as he started walking across the yard. I reluctantly followed conscious of several pairs of eyes on me from within the garage.
“So, do you fight?” Holy shit where did that come from?
His grin turned wicked as he turned back to look at me. “Why? You done with the other brothers and moving on to the next set?”
Dickhead.
“You’re funny,” I deadpanned. I looked away as he held the door open for me to the office. It was a simple counter and a chair, with a door that I surmised led into the workshop area. Welcoming. I walked in and looked around, willing Jay to come find me.
“Why you asking if I fight? Do I look like I have been fighting?” His eyes danced with humour – not the fun kind – as he gestured to himself. I turned back to Tattoo Neck to see him leaning against the doorframe.
I remembered my talk to myself this morning, when I had decided that aski
ng Tattoo Neck directly was not my best option.
“Making conversation,” I muttered. Why was I making conversation with this guy? Because you’re an idiot Elle, the replying inner voice sounded more Colton than me.
“I don’t fight. I arrange fights. People fight for me,” was the smug reply.
“Why?” Seriously Elle, shut up!
“Why not?” I flicked my eyes back to him and he was just standing there, perfectly at ease as if we were discussing the weather. He crossed his arms in front of him and I noted the bulge of muscles as he kept a steady gaze on me. It wasn’t like he couldn’t fight I surmised.
“What makes them fight for you?” I asked it softly. He straightened and walked into the office, he leaned into me and I forced myself not to take a step back.
“If your boys haven’t told you, what makes you think I will?” He smirked. A cold shiver ran down my back and I forced myself to hold his eyes. He flashed that mocking smile at me and turned and walked through the door and back into the workshop.
The breath I had been holding expelled itself forcefully and I felt myself start to shake. Holy shit that had been intense.
“Darling.” I jumped about twenty feet in the air. Jay laughed out loud at my reaction. I’d been so fixated on watching Tattoo Neck walk away I hadn’t noticed Jay entering from the other door.
“You are looking too good, you been here long?” I ran my eyes over him. He was channelling his inner country boy rock singer look again. His hair was loose, grazing his chin, he had overgrown stubble, a black Henley and worn faded jeans. Black biker boots completed his look.
“No,” I lied, “just got here,” I forced a smile. Jay grinned at me and slung his arm over my shoulder.
“You want to get some dinner?” He asked as we walked out of the yard.
“Sure.” I smiled up at him and as we were about to turn out of the yard, I looked over my shoulder. Tattoo Neck was resting against the garage door still wiping his hands on that cloth. He held my gaze, nodded and turned back into the shop.
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