by L. M. Heidle
My uncle shook his head as he watched him run off. “That boy.” I smiled, he may act like the players drove him crazy, but I know he wouldn’t trade it for anything. When he faced me again, he asked, “We still on for lunch this week?”
“Always, haven’t missed a Tuesday in two years.” No matter how busy we may have been, we always made time to get together at least once a week, usually for lunch.
“Alex.” From his tone, I knew where this was going.
I started shaking my head before he could finish. “Don’t.”
“You’re just as stubborn as he is.”
I didn’t answer, simply gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked over to Kass. It killed me every time he brought up my brother, which lately was every time we talked. I know he meant well, but I still had a hard time dealing with what Trip did. Losing a parent is hard, but losing both of them in the same night is crippling. Add losing your brother even emotionally, and your world crumbles to ashes.
We were so close before the accident, but after I felt betrayed. He wasn’t there for me to lean on and that hurt almost as bad as losing my parents. I missed my parents’ every day, but I missed my brother more. Maybe it was because I knew they were truly gone, or maybe it was because he was less than an hour away, and I was too much of a coward to go see him. I kept telling myself it was because I wouldn’t know what to say after all this time, but the truth was I’m scared. I knew I could forgive him for the betrayal, heck I already had, but what if we couldn’t be as close as we once were? So instead of visiting my brother I clung to the memories of the past.
I also felt a tremendous amount of guilt. What kind of sister doesn’t visit her brother when he needed her, even if he didn’t know it? I should have fought tooth and nail to see him, but I did nothing except hide behind excuses.
I knew Kass could tell I was about to fall apart when she pulled me out of there as fast as she could. Not even bothering to apologize to the people she shoved out of her way.
This whole day was a nightmare. I don’t know what was going on. Okay, that’s a complete lie. I knew exactly why the memories were crashing through the wall I’d built and why I’d been close to tears all day. Yesterday was the four-year anniversary of my parents’ death. Like I said before, sometimes that whole thing flies out the window.
ALEX
I thought about staying home tonight, but I knew it would only make it worse. Distraction had always been my go-to to get out of my funk and what better way than a frat party? So two hours later Kass and I were walking through Sigma’s doors dressed to kill.
Kass looked stunning as usual. She’d finally, after about five different outfits, decided on a black strapless dress with red heels. Her long black hair was styled in big curls that fell down her back.
My blonde hair was its normally straight, and I’d quickly decided on jeans and a teal halter. Kass just as quickly vetoed my attire, and since I was too mentally drained to fight with her, I ended up in a jean skirt that was probably too short for public.
Once we finally made it into the frat house, we weaved our way through the mass of bodies to the kitchen, where there was more alcohol than most bars had. I closed my eyes the second we crossed the threshold when I felt electricity zap through my body because I knew. Trayton was here. I took a deep breath before opening my eyes to stare straight into the hypnotizing gaze of Trayton.
Kass distracted me when she asked, “Tequila?” I nodded in agreement, and she made her way to the pledge that was handling the alcohol. When we both had shots, we clanked our glasses and threw them back.
I grabbed her hand leading her to the dance floor when Chase Rice’s Ride blasted from the speakers. “Let’s dance!” Music was a great way to distract myself and frat parties, especially Sigma’s, didn’t play anything slow. We had danced through five songs before we headed back to the kitchen to get a drink. I was grateful I hadn’t worn jeans because it was hot as hell with all the bodies crammed inside the house.
Trayton hadn’t moved from his spot, and he tracked me the second I stepped into the kitchen. This time, though his eyes were hooded with lust. I ran my hand through my hair to disguise my quick peek over my shoulder to make sure he was looking at me that way. Apparently, I wasn’t as discreet as I’d hoped because he was smirking when I faced him again.
I blushed fifteen shades of red, but thankfully Kass saved me from making more of an idiot of myself by handing me a beer. Then she linked arms with me and led me back to the living room, a.k.a. the dance floor and over to a few of her friends. After the obligatory hugs and air kisses, I tuned them out nodding, saying oh my gosh, and uh-huh randomly. For the most part, I stood there with my back against the wall people watching. It always fascinated me how people could act so differently depending on who they were around.
As I continued my sweep of the room, the crowd shifted like a cheesy 80’s movie, causing my eyes to catch on a familiar set of blues. He had a beer tipped to his lips as he stared at me from across the room. I watched fascinated as he drank. He even made something as simple as swallowing sexy. When he licked his lips, my body temperature climbed until it felt like I’d combust. Our surroundings became less and less visible the longer we stared at each other. Eventually, everything was gone. No music. No people. Nothing but us.
Then just as fast as it happened it ended. The crowd moved again swallowing him up and snapping everything back into place. The music was louder, and the room was fuller, but all I could focus on was the warming sensation leaving my body. In a matter of mere seconds, the warmth he caused was gone and the room suddenly chillier. I stood there for a few more seconds hoping to get another glance, but once it became obvious, I wouldn’t I turned back toward Kass.
“So he totally ignored me,” Jessica or Jennifer or maybe even Jackie said. All I know is they called themselves the three J’s and they were annoying as hell.
I was getting ready to tell Kass I was going to find another drink when Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood came on. Kass turned mid-sentence and shrieked, “This is my song!” She grabbed my arm and dragged me to the dance floor. It wasn’t long before Mark, a guy she had a serious crush on, joined us. Kass’ smile lit up the room when he pulled her into his arms.
Shortly after I felt hands on my hips. “Hey, sexy.” Eddie. I twisted my body slightly to face him but stopped just short when I saw a striking face scowling in my direction. His eyes weren’t focused on my face but on where Eddie’s hands were.
My brow pinched together when I turned to see Eddie shooting the same look toward Trayton. If the saying, ‘if looks could kill’ were true, both of them would have been long gone.
I moved my hand to Eddie’s shirt and pulled, causing him to look down. “What’s with you? This is the second time tonight I’ve seen you staring at him like that. Do you know him or something?”
Something I’d never seen from him crossed his face, pain. I’d recognize it in a second because it was a familiar expression I often wore. His eyes normally so full of life, looked empty, defeated. “Yeah a long time ago.” With that, he spun on his heel and was out the door within seconds. I stood there with my mouth hanging slightly open in complete and utter shock and a whole lot of confusion. There was definitely something going on here. My mouth closed as I faced Trayton to find his focus on the door. His face held a whole different expression— regret.
When he took a step in that direction my body took an involuntary step following him. Every step he took my body automatically followed, like magnets. We stopped five feet from the door, mere inches separating us, eyes locked.
“Alex, right?” Mind. Completely. Blank. I opened my mouth to respond only to close it quickly. I tried again, but the only thing I accomplished was making a great impression of a goldfish. From the twinkle in his eyes and the twitching of his lips I’d say he was amused. Just the reaction a girl wants from the hottest guy alive.
Instead of trying to downplay my sudden muteness by playing cool, or hell even an
swer his question, I blurted, “What’s with you and Eddie?” The twinkle instantly left his eyes, replaced by something much, much darker. Something that made me want to cower in the corner. Then the weirdest thing happened, my body relaxed and an overwhelming sense of peace washed over me. In that instant, I knew he’d never hurt me.
He clipped through gritted teeth, “None of your business.” I opened my mouth, but nothing came out...again. This time, it was because of the anger rolling off of him. Even when he was gone, I could feel the hatred pouring from him. I’d never felt anything like it. It was overwhelming, overpowering all my senses and leaving me completely breathless.
TRAYTON
The glass rattled as I slammed the door behind me. What the hell was wrong with me? She was just another blonde who couldn’t put a sentence together around me, and that shit was getting old.
I probably could have ignored that because she had a rocking little body, but then she brought up Eddie. Seeing my best friend—sorry, ex-best friend—pissed me off. It wasn’t her fault he was a spineless excuse of a man, but she was there and apparently she knew him. I don’t know how they knew each other, and I really didn’t give a shit. The only thing I cared about was him keeping his damn mouth shut. Eddie wasn’t stupid, but people seeking revenge were dangerous, unpredictable. His obsession for vengeance against my father tore our friendship apart. A friendship we’d had for over ten years. A friendship he’d thrown away for nothing.
It was his dad who screwed up. His dad who let the gambling get out of control. His dad who put a gun under his chin and took the coward’s way out. My father had absolutely nothing to do with it.
My father was not a good man by anyone’s definition. His only redeeming quality was his loyalty to those he loved, as much as a man like him could love. Jim, Eddie’s dad, was the closest thing my father had to a friend, so after the suicide my father stepped in. Eddie took it as an insult like he was trying to replace Jim.
No matter how much his mom and my father tried, he wouldn’t accept that his dad took his own life, and instead of dealing with it, he got angry. Angry at the world and everyone in it, and that’s when things between Eddie and me started a downward spiral.
His anger turned to pure hatred when he overheard a conversation between my father and his mom. A conversation where he learned that his dad was $800,000 in debt to a loan shark. A loan shark my father wouldn’t pay off because he was a big believer in owning your mistakes. Even though my father said no, he still went to talk to the loan shark and made a deal. He paid the debt and arranged it so every payment Jim made would go through the shark to my father. He essentially saved his life while teaching him a lesson. A lesson that Jim didn’t stick around to learn. Before I knew what happened, a friendship I’d had since childhood was replaced with a hatred so strong I felt it every time we crossed paths in school. Then in some twisted turn of fate, I arrive at the University of Texas and bump into him.
As I made my way down the street to my car I was a little surprised to find him pacing beside it, because he avoided me like the plague. His head jerked up when I hit the unlock button and followed me as I meandered around the front of the car.
“Something I can help you with?”
He didn’t say anything for a minute, only stared. Then finally, “What are you doing here, Russo?”
“Right now? I’m getting in my car,” I said as carefree as possible because I knew it’d piss him off.
He stepped up next to me and shoved. “I meant in Austin, jackass.”
“This is the first time we’ve talked in years, and that’s what you want to know? No how have you been? How about sorry for stabbing you in the back?”
He snorted. “Stabbing you in the back? How exactly did I do that?”
I stepped up to him. “I don’t know maybe the fact that we’d been friends our entire lives and then poof, all the sudden you hated me.” Yes, I was a twenty-two-year-old guy who still felt the sting of losing the closest person to him, and I make no excuses for it. People think because of my family’s business that we’re all heartless. That was mostly accurate with my dad and brother. My uncle used to be that way too, but his daughter softened him up a lot. Don’t get me wrong I could be ruthless if I needed to be, but my mom and step-mom made it their goal not to let the lifestyle harden me. My mom by taking me from the life and my step-mom for basically pushing me out.
“You don’t tend to want to be friends with the son of the man who killed your dad.”
This time it was me shoving. “He didn’t kill him, and you know it.”
“He may not have pulled the trigger, but he could have stopped it. In my book, that makes him responsible.”
“When are you going to accept the fact he killed himself? He’s been dead over five years. It’s time to move on.”
“Like you’ve moved on? Still have that picture of your mom in your wallet?” I narrowed my eyes. That was low even for him. My fists tightened as my blood started to boil. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the blonde from earlier studying us, so instead of hitting him I lashed out. “Well, at least she died an honorable death. She didn’t take her own life because she couldn’t man up to her responsibilities.” When pain flashed through his eyes, I momentarily felt remorse, but for him to bring my mom up like that— to disgrace her memory— he deserved all the pain imaginable. She died when I was five after fighting breast cancer for two years. No matter how much he hated me, I would not let him disgrace the only woman I’ve ever truly loved.
“Don’t, Trayton.”
“What? You can talk about my mom, but I can’t talk about how selfish your dad was? You should be mad at him, not me or my father. He’s the one who abandoned you.”
There was murder in his eyes. “Don’t. You. Dare.”
I shrugged. “It’s the truth, besides you’re the one who brought it up.”
“Ah guys, is everything okay?” the blonde hesitatingly asked. Both our heads whipped to where she was standing. Eddie’s posture instantly deflating.
A fake, easy going smile crossed his face. “Yeah, Alex, things are great. Go back inside, I’ll be there in a minute.” She tentatively looked between us before nodding and turning back to the house.
“Not going to introduce me to your friend?”
“Stay away from her.”
“Oh come on, Eddie.” I put my hands out to the side. “I’m such a friendly guy.”
He didn’t speak until Alex was out of earshot, and when he did his tone was frigid, dead. “Why aren’t you in New York? Thought you wanted to join the family business.”
My jaw tightened slightly. “Why I’m here is none of your business.” With that I shoved him out of the way and got in the car, revving the engine before peeling out.
ALEX
“Come on, baby.” I turned the key, nothing. “You know you wanna start. Please baby girl, I’ll get you something pink.” I turned the key and it made a thunk, cough, and sputter noise before it died. I dropped my head on the steering wheel. “If you don’t start this time I’m calling Lucas to take you to the junkyard.” When I tried the key this time it roared to life. Seems cars listen to threats, too. Who knew?
My plan was to go to the library and study, but I decided to take a detour when the rattle coming from the engine overpowered my radio, which was as high as it could go. I guess that wasn’t saying much since half the speakers were blown, but you get my drift.
I pulled into a Starbucks parking lot (not shutting the car off) digging for my phone in what Kass liked to refer to as my suitcase. After a few minutes, I finally found it. “Ah ha!” I brought up Lucas’ number and hit call. Five unanswered calls later I said screw it and drove to Diablos garage. That’s where he usually was when he didn’t answer his phone.
I barely made it into the lot when the car sputtered before dying, probably for good. Lucas and Trip only let me come here once, and I’d had to stay in the car the entire time. Trip told me it was because the garage wasn
’t a place for a girl, which was odd considering there were like fifteen woman hanging around at the time, but I was happy they let me tag along so I kept my mouth shut. I tried Lucas one more time as I opened my door. “Come on, Luc, pick up.” When he didn’t, I climbed out of my car. “Screw it, I’m going in.”
A Rico Suave looking guy stepped in front of me when I was almost across the parking lot. “Hey, gringa.” He ran his hand down my arm. “Car trouble?” Thank you, Captain Obvious.
“No, I want it to make that sound,” I sarcastically replied. “I’m looking for Lucas.” When he gave me a blank look I huffed. “Playboy, I’m looking for Playboy.”
I mentally rolled my eyes. That was the dumbest nickname. Trip and Lucas thought they were so cool when they came up with it in seventh grade. Trip’s was just as stupid, Romeo. I remember laughing so hard I had tears because those two couldn’t even speak to a girl. Unfortunately, they got over that problem when they hit high school.
I’d lost count of all the times I’d seen those two making out with girls. Don’t even get me started on how many girls tried to get to them by trying to befriend me. I learned pretty fast who my true friends were, mainly Kass.
Back to Rico who had grown a little pale, and a lot panicked. He stammered, “You’re. You’re Alex?”
“Yeah, so is he here or not?” Before he could answer Waking Up the Devil by Hinder started playing. Lucas. “Where are you?”
“On my way to the garage. Why, what’s up?”
“My car died.”
“Told you to get rid of that rust bucket. Where do you need to be picked up at?”
“It’s not a rust bucket, it has character.” I sighed. “Fine, it’s a rust bucket, but I don’t need to be picked up. I’m already at the garage. Thought you could try to Frankenstein it.”
His tone went flat. “You’re where?”
“You wouldn’t pick up your phone so I drove to Diablos.”
