One Percenter (Entangled Embrace)

by D. R. Graham

  He bites his lip in a sexy way that makes my cheeks feel like they are sunburned. I’ve changed my mind. I wish he would skip his exam. It must be obvious to him what I would rather be doing with him because, instead of kissing me, he winks, then jogs toward the auditorium door just as the instructor is pulling the doorstop up to close it. He always did like to leave me wanting more.

  An hour and forty minutes has passed and nobody has come out of the auditorium, so it must not be an easy exam. The lounge in the lobby is filled with students. It’s weird. Even though Aiden got good grades all through school, I never pictured him as someone who would fit in with the studious crowd. I wonder what else I was wrong about.

  Aiden left his book bag with me and, since I’m bored, I pull out his phone to see if the password is still the same. It is, so I play games for a while, then eventually break down and snoop through the photos he has saved. The first thirty or so pictures are of me, or him and me together. The last picture is one of Cooper and me that was taken right before my dad was killed. Cooper’s arm is draped over my shoulder and mine is around his waist.

  I already can’t remember what it’s like to touch Cooper. It makes me feel like he was only a dream. Shit. I wipe the tears from my cheek and rub my nose on the sleeve of my sweater. Staring at the picture, I try to remember everything about him. If I close my eyes, I can almost remember the warmth of his body next to mine. Then I open my eyes and the air feels cold and empty again.

  “Hey.” Aiden sneaks up and tickles my waist.

  I turn off his phone and hand it to him. “Hi.”

  “Were you snooping?”

  “Yes.” I move over on the vinyl couch to make room for him to sit beside me.

  “Find anything juicy?”

  “Nope. How was the exam?”

  “Hard, but I think I did okay. Were you crying?” He tucks my hair behind my ears and shifts to look directly in my eyes.

  I wipe my cheeks and breathe. “I saw the picture you have on your phone of Cooper and me, and it reminded me that he’s gone.”

  “Oh, sorry.” He reaches his hand over to hold mine. “I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Sometimes I have moments when I miss him so badly I wish I were dead so I wouldn’t have to feel the pain, and sometimes I have moments when I forget that he’s not just in his room or out with a friend.” Sobs convulse through my body despite my attempt to control them.

  Aiden wraps his arms around me, and I can tell that he knows how much it sucks. Cooper was like a brother to him, too. He doesn’t say anything; he just holds me. By the time my tears subside enough to see, there is nobody left in the lounge and the last stragglers in the auditorium stumble out looking disheveled and dazed. Aiden moves his hand to rub my arm.

  I stare at his blue eyes—they are beautiful. Over the years that I’ve known him, he’s changed. He has stubble and he walks with a bit of a limp from when he dumped his bike. He has a bunch of tattoos and a couple of battle scars from fights, but his eyes are the same as they have always been. I memorized every one of his expressions by heart, and the way his eyes are looking at me right now is the same way he looked at me the first time he told me he loved me.

  I sigh and say, “Maybe we should go get something to eat since we have to be back in time for your exam at two o’clock.”

  He chuckles. “I should have changed the password.” He holds my hand as we walk to the cafeteria. We both order breakfast burritos and orange juice. I also get a slice of banana bread. As he eats, I try to get a read on his mood. He still seems pretty relaxed. Maybe a good time to press him for information.

  “Are you going to tell me why your dad has been keeping tabs on me?”

  The way he shakes his head makes it seem like he wants to tell me, but wants to protect me at the same time. “He’ll tell you when he can.”

  “Or, I can bug you until you tell me.” I tickle his ribs.

  “Not going to happen.” He tickles me back until I give in. “Talk to my dad.”

  “Fine. I will.” I dial Randy’s number. He doesn’t answer and he doesn’t have voicemail, so I can’t leave a message. “Is he avoiding me?” I ask.

  Aiden raises his left eyebrow to point out what a stupid question that was. We both know I’ll have a better chance of tickling it out of Aiden than getting Randy to share club business with me.

  It is a harsh reminder that Randy doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to, which will include letting Aiden leave and build a life with me. Part of me wants to know if Aiden has a plan for how he is going to deal with his dad, but part of me won’t be able to handle the disappointment of hearing him say he hasn’t figured it out yet. Avoiding the conversation isn’t going to make the problem solve itself, though.

  “So?” I finally ask. It’s only one word, but it’s loaded with a truckload of questions. I want to know what it means that my feelings for him have not only not gone away, they’ve become stronger. I want to know if the outlaw life can ever go away. I wonder if it’s stupid to hope that maybe we could make a different life together than what our parents had. I wonder if this is how my mom felt when she was trying to choose between Dad and Chet.

  “So,” he repeats slowly. I can tell that he knows my “so” was a loaded question, but he changes the subject. “I should probably go over my notes before my next exam. You can come with me to hang out at the library, or I can drop you off somewhere. What do you want to do?”

  It seems like what I say next is important to him because he watches me cautiously as he waits for my answer. “I would rather be with you.”

  He grins and stands to pull out my chair for me.

  “Aiden. Do you have a plan?”

  He whispers, “Yes. Don’t worry about that right now.”

  Don’t worry about it? My entire future depends on it. “I need to know what it is because I can’t commit to this if I’m going to end up losing you to the club.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Of course. It’s just that some things are impossible to change.”

  “There is only one more thing I have to do to make it happen. I promise.”

  I study him carefully as we walk and get back on the bike to ride across campus to the library. He leads me to a private study corner away from other students, sits at the table, and pulls out a stack of papers covered in his neat printing.

  “Wow. Do you have to know all that for one test?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hmm.” I trail my fingertip across the spines of the books on the shelf. “You must be clever.” He watches intently as I saunter past him. When I reach the end of the stack, I turn and lean up against it. He rubs his chin, then looks down and tries to focus on his notes. Only a second later he glances back at me. I subtly lick my bottom lip and run my fingers through my hair. He chuckles and shifts in his seat. Arching my back slightly, I turn and walk slowly past him again. “Why aren’t you studying?” I slide my hair over one shoulder and turn so my back is facing him.

  “You’re distracting me.”

  “Really?” I bend over to look at the books on the bottom shelf.

  “Careful. If you keep acting flirty like that, I might take you behind the stacks and make you forget all about that loaded boyfriend of yours for a few seconds.”

  “Ah, a few seconds. You can say that again.”

  “Hey, we both know I can rock you all night long.”

  “Mmm hmm.” I straighten up and read more titles. “I don’t see why you keep insulting his net worth since I can guarantee that your dad makes more money than his dad.”

  “My dad doesn’t flaunt it like a pretentious prick.”

  I look over my shoulder. “He can’t flaunt it because he didn’t earn it in a legitimate way.”

  He chuckles. “What do you consider legitimate? You might want to do a background check on that boyfriend of yours.”

  “Stop calling him my boyfriend. I don’t w
ant him to be my boyfriend anymore.” I frown and sit on the table. “Back at your house, why did you say he was a liar?”

  “Ask him.”

  “I’m asking you.”

  He shakes his head and focuses on his notes. My phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s Leland. Speak of the devil. I would rather avoid the call, but I don’t want our relationship lingering on, either.

  “I should probably take this, excuse me.”

  Aiden’s jaw tightens and he blinks slowly before looking back down. I can’t tell if he’s jealous or glad that my opportunity to break up with Leland is literally in my hand.

  I answer the phone as I walk through the stacks and quietly say, “Hold on one second.” I rush toward the door and step outside. “Hi. Sorry, I was in a library.”

  “How are you doing?”

  “Not good.” If he were here, he would know that.

  “Yeah,” he says, preoccupied.

  Something is up with him, more than just not being able to be here for me. He doesn’t sound like himself at all. “Is everything okay?”

  “I’m busy with problems at work. I might have to stay away even longer than I thought. I’ll let you know when I know. I’m sorry, Tienne. I know I’m letting you down because I’m not there for you.”

  “Yeah, well, whatever you’re doing must be pretty important.”

  He sighs. “I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

  “Don’t bother. This isn’t going to work out.”

  “Tienne, please, give me a chance to talk to you when I get back.”

  “Bye,” I say with zero enthusiasm. I don’t wait for him to say anything else before I hang up and glance over my shoulder. Aiden is watching me through the window. He knows what else is going on with Leland. I can tell by the concern in his expression.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Aiden met me outside the library and took me to his dorm room. Apparently, he moved onto campus right after we broke up because he knew he wouldn’t get any studying done at his dad’s house. It blows my mind that he’s working on his undergrad degree.

  It’s four o’clock and he’s not back from his exam yet. I fell asleep after he left, and now I’m just lying in bed taking in the décor. It’s plain—a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf. There is a framed picture of me on his bedside table, and his one pillow smells like him only.

  Sliding out from under the covers, I layer one of his sweatshirts over my sweater. His laptop is on, so I sit on the desk chair, pulling my knees into my chest, to snoop. Most of his emails are boring and about school related things, but there is one from the police department that catches my attention. I glance at the clock and then open the email. I assume that it’s going to be a citation or order to appear or something. His key slides into the lock before I have a chance to read all the information. I slam the laptop shut and leap back into bed.

  He swings the door open and smiles. “Good. I was hoping you’d still be in bed when I got back.”

  “Oh? Why’s that?” I roll onto my side, bend my elbow, and rest my head on my palm.

  He drops his bag and kneels on the mattress to take off his jacket. His mouth angles suggestively as he slides down beside me. “I was hoping you’d still be in bed because—” He gazes down my entire body and gently touches my chin as if he’s going to kiss me, then he rolls over so his back is toward me. “I’m exhausted and I need a nap.” He pulls the covers over his shoulder. “Night, T Bear.”

  “Hey. I’m not tired anymore.” I tickle his ribs and he rolls onto his back, laughing.

  “Well, what do you suggest we do if you’re not tired?”

  “Hmm.” I sit up on my knees and look down at him. “How did your exam go?”

  “It probably would have gone better if I wasn’t visualizing you in my bed the entire time. I was a bit distracted.”

  “Maybe I should go home. I noticed on the calendar in your phone that you have an English exam tomorrow at eleven. You should probably study, and I don’t want to be a distraction.”

  He shakes his head, pretending to be annoyed. “I forgot what a snoop you are.”

  “Speaking of snooping, did you get a speeding ticket recently?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Were you called for jury duty?”

  “No. Why?”

  “I was just wondering. I saw an email from the police department.”

  “Oh. That was nothing. An unpaid parking ticket.”

  I slide my knees closer and grab the hem of his shirt to pull it up and off over his head. My palm slides over his TDAGF tattoo. “So, you’re not wanted on some sort of warrant?”

  He smiles and reaches up to cradle my face in his hands. “Ti. I will give you the normal life you want. Will you please give me a second chance to prove that to you?”

  My eyes fill up with tears, excited that normal is what he wants, too, but worried it’s not possible no matter how much we both want it. “I’m so proud of you for going to school. If I get accepted to the Academy in New York, I’ll be moving away. I don’t want you to quit school.”

  He shakes his head to indicate that it doesn’t matter. “I’ll transfer.”

  “You would move to New York to be with me?”

  “I would move to New York just to be near you. I would move anywhere in the world to be with you, if you would let me.”

  I’ve dreamed about leaving everything behind for a long time. In that dream Aiden always leaped up and went with me. I honestly never thought that the dream could come true. The tears trickle over my eyelids and slide down my cheek. “What about the club?”

  “Don’t worry about it. If you want me to go with you, I will.”

  I’m too overwhelmed to speak, so I nod and wrap my arms around his neck tightly. He abruptly flips me onto my back and his upper body hovers over mine. His hand moves down my side and over my hip. He pulls my hair back to expose my neck and kisses from my collarbone up to my ear. I turn my head so our mouths meet. I wiggle out of my jeans and he pulls the sweatshirt and my sweater off over my head. His jeans drop and his belt thuds against the wood floor. My bra is already hanging from the chair and he’s gently kissing my ribs. His left hand takes mine, interlacing our fingers. His right hand slides my underwear down my legs and he runs his thumb along the TDAGF tattoo on my bikini line. “I love that you have that there,” he whispers before kissing his way up from my tattoo, along my abs, and over my breasts to the ridge of my collarbone. When he reaches my lips, he pauses and opens his eyes to gaze into mine. “I love you so much, Ti. If you don’t want this forever, tell me now, because I can’t survive you leaving me again.” His face is locked in the same expression of undying love that I saw yesterday.

  My fingers clutch clumps of his hair and I pull his face closer before whispering, “You’re the one I want. Forever.”

  He smiles, elated and reassured, then his hand slides up the inside of my thigh. I gasp and drop my head back. “Oh my God.” My back arches and I breathe out before clutching the bedspread and wrapping my legs around his hips. The tension in his muscles makes me tremble, and I gasp again as he hoists me closer and makes love to me with a renewed passion that sends bursts of euphoria through me.

  We were meant for each other—there is no doubt about that.

  We lay in bed snuggling for a long time, staring at each other. Both our phones are ringing, but we don’t get up.

  I trace my finger across the lines of his super-chiseled muscles. “You kind of let yourself go after we broke up.”

  He rolls onto his back with his hands resting behind his head. “We didn’t break up. You took off and had an affair. I had to go to the gym twice a day just to make sure I didn’t snap that prick’s neck.”

  “Well, anger management workouts seem to be good for the physique. You look extra sexy.”

  He pulls me in to his chest and kisses the top of my head. His fingers unclasp my necklace, then remove the ring from the chain. He lifts my left hand from where it is re
sting on his chest and slides the ring onto my finger. I smile and turn my head to kiss him.

  “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to. I just wanted to see it on you.”

  “I want to wear it.”

  “I didn’t mean to rush you or pressure you when I gave it to you.”

  “I know. I should have talked to you about why I was scared. I’m sorry.”

  He smiles, then hugs me. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here now.” We lay quietly for a while before he asks, “Did Crofton tell you that he knocked up a girl?”

  Really? He wants to talk about Leland right now? “Yes.”

  Aiden seems surprised. “Have you met the kid?”

  “What?”

  “His son. Have you met him?”

  I sit up. “What? He doesn’t have a son. He said that she miscarried or had an abortion.”

  Aiden laughs scornfully.

  I blink as if that will help the information sink in. “He has a kid?” That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he have hidden that from me?

  “A son named Braden.”

  “Oh my God.” What else did Leland lie about? I am such an idiot.

  “Do you know about the drugs?” Aiden asks.

  “Yes.”

  His eyebrows climb in surprise. “And you were okay with it?”

  “No, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. He was just selling pot to some people at the country club. He stopped when I asked him to.”

  Aiden makes a snort of contempt. “Sounds like he kept more secrets from you than I thought.”

  Jesus. The lies just keep piling up. “You don’t think he quit?”

  “No, I don’t think he quit, and it wasn’t just weed for socialites.”

  This is too much reality to take in at once. I lean over the edge of the bed to grab my clothes and slip into the bathroom. I take my time in the shower, thinking. I can’t believe Leland has a son he didn’t tell me about. And it was more than weed. God, I’m so stupid. How could I have been that blind? What if I’m still living in a naïve la-la land convincing myself of what I want to believe to be true?