by L. M. Heidle
I’d finally managed to find something to wear, or more like picked the first dress I saw after Kass went in search of shoes in her room. I was staring at myself, trying to decide if I resembled a hooker when Kass sidled up next to me. “That dress looks amazing on you.”
I stared at her through the mirror. “I’m not sure this qualifies as a dress.” It was an incredibly short black mini dress, so tight breathing may become an issue.
“Oh stop. If you didn’t love it, you wouldn’t have bought it.” Yeah, that’s not how I remembered it. This dress was a ‘buy it to shut Kassandra up’ purchase. I’d never actually planned on wearing it. I reached around for the zipper because I couldn’t wear this in public, and she smacked my hand away. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Kass, seriously I can’t wear this. If I bend over, I’ll flash the entire world.” She shrugged as she deadpanned, “Don’t bend over.” Cause that solved the problem.
I did one last once over deciding I didn’t look half bad, so I’d at least have that if I made a fool of myself. I muttered, “Whatever, let’s just go.”
I snorted when we walked through the door. I’d been joking about the disco ball, but apparently, they weren’t. There was not one, not two, but three of the biggest, gaudiest disco balls I’d ever seen. To make matters worse, they had colored strobe lights flashing on and off. “Who in the hell decorated this place? Someone on a bad acid trip?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. It looks amazing.” Disbelief had to be written all over my face because there was no way in hell she thought this resembled a club. She gave the room one more once over before sighing. “Fine, it’s horrible. Let’s hope a drink makes it a little more bearable.” When the bubble machine started, she amended her statement. “Or drinks.” This was going to be a very long night.
An hour later I was convinced this ridiculous night would never end. Beer had been spilled on me twice, not to mention the hundred or so times I’d been groped. If one more guy told me how hot my dress would look on his floor in the morning, I was going to lose it.
I was seconds away from dragging Kass out of here kicking and screaming if I had to when she grabbed my arm squeezing the hell out of it. “You’re never going to believe what just happened!”
“Probably not,” I replied as I pried my arm from her grasp. I had to clench and unclench my fist a couple of times to get feeling back in my arm. “But I’m going to take a wild guess and say it has something to do with Mark.”
I grimaced when she latched onto my arm again. “He asked me out tomorrow night.” I know I should be in best friend mode right now, but my attention was focused in a different direction, out the front window.
Trayton was standing by a black Mustang talking to an older man dressed in what I’m pretty sure was an incredibly expensive suit. From the way Trayton stood ram-rod straight, hands clenched at his sides, it was apparent whatever they were talking about wasn’t pleasant.
While Trayton’s body language screamed back off, the older man was as relaxed as if he was strolling through the park on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It was all for show, though, because there was no doubt in my mind he knew everything going on around him. It was the way his body slightly shifted and shoulders tightened whenever someone got too close.
I didn’t have to know who this man was to know he demanded respect, and not necessarily because he’d earned it. There was something dark and menacing about him that was hidden behind a well-groomed appearance and an expensive suit. A quality that sent a shiver of fear down my spine. I wasn’t alone in my thoughts because even drunk college students wouldn’t go within twenty feet of him. He reminded me of one of my mom’s favorite quotes. It’s not the bite of the snake that kills you, it’s the poison left behind. It was glaringly obvious that his poison wouldn’t only be deadly, but excruciatingly painful as well.
My head jerked to the left when I felt a hand on my arm. “Where are you going?”
I took in my surroundings and realized I was on the front porch. I hadn’t even realized I’d been walking. Kass snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Umm hello? I was talking to you then all the sudden you were gone.” She surveyed our surroundings before asking, “What’s so important out here?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. I just needed fresh air.”
“So you interrupted my story for nothing?”
“I’m sorry, Kass. Tell me again, I’m listening I swear.” In my peripheral vision, I saw Eddie joining Trayton’s conversation, his body language mimicking Trayton. It was clear they knew each other, but I couldn’t figure out how. Eddie had never mentioned Trayton, but come to think of it Eddie never talked about himself much.
“Seriously, Alex?” I pulled my focus from the conversation back to Kass. “You did it again.” She peered over my shoulder as she crossed her arms. “You were watching Trayton and Eddie weren’t you?”
“No.”
“Then why aren’t you listening to me?”
“Because I’m tired?” It came out sounding like a question instead of a statement.
“Whatever. Listen close, Alex. I’m only going to say this one more time. I’m going to grab a coffee with Mark so you can head home if you want. Unless there’s something that you’d like to stay around for. Maybe a certain someone?”
“Nope.” But I could feel my attention being pulled in that direction. I’d always believed in mind over matter, but in this case, I’m not sure my mind could stop my body from walking to him.
She pulled me into a hug, kissing my cheek. “Uh huh.”
“I will. Don’t forget to snap a pic of him and his license plate for me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah.” Anytime either one of us went on a date we took a picture of the license plate and the date. I know she only did it to humor me, but I’d seen way too many episodes of Criminal Minds to not be careful. “You want us to drop you off before we go?”
“No that’s okay, I’ll get a ride with Stan the Man.” Stan the Man was a service a professor at the university created after his son was killed in a drunk driving accident a few years ago. If you were too drunk to drive or you just needed a ride, all you had to do was call or use the free app on your phone. It started out with a couple of cars, but the university added several more when the numbers on drunk driving accidents slowly decreased. The name was dumb as hell, but it was a great program.
“Okay, be safe. Let me know when you get home.”
“Will do. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“So basically I’ll be doing nothing.”
I shoved her toward the door. “Har har.” Once she was gone, I couldn’t stop myself from heading in the direction of Trayton and Eddie, but by the time I got through the crowd Eddie was gone. The older man had his hand on Trayton’s shoulder, leaning in to talk to him. At first, it seemed like a loving gesture, but after a few more steps it was obvious he was trying to hold him back. If I had to guess, I’d say from Eddie. What the hell happened between those two?
I leaned against the huge oak as I continued to watch them. Seeing Trayton slowly start to relax was intriguing. He unclenched his hands, slowly flexing them until they rested at his side. Then the tension started to drain from his neck and shoulders. After a few more minutes the man removed his hand, and Trayton took a deep breath.
ALEX
I jumped when Eddie stepped in front of me, blocking my view. “Hey, Eds.”
“Don’t, Alex.” My brows shot up at his sharp tone. “Stay away from him, Alex.”
“What happened between you two?”
“It doesn’t matter, it’s the past,” he said in a dead tone. I laid my hand on his arm, but he shook it off. “I’m heading out. You need a ride?”
“No, I’m good.” He gave me a quick hug before heading to his car. I focused my attention back across the street, wishing I knew how to read lips. I’m not sure how much longer I stood there before the older man left.
Wi
th nothing more to watch, I pulled my phone from my clutch to order a ride. Two minutes later I was back to leaning against my tree as I waited, lost in thought. When my phone vibrated, I figured it was Stan, but I was wrong.
Trayton (yes I’d changed his name): Are you holding the tree up or is it holding you up?
I looked up from my phone to scan the crowd, but I couldn’t see him anywhere.
Me: U watching me?
Trayton: The same way u was watching me.
I could play it off, but what’s the point? I totally was watching.
Me: Who was that guy?
Trayton: My uncle.
A text from Stan came through before I could reply.
Stan: Your ride is two minutes away.
I started moving toward the Stan the Man pick up zone sign when he texted me again.
Trayton: Where are u going?
Me: Home.
Trayton: Have a drink with me.
I nibbled at my bottom lip. I should go home, but what would one drink hurt? I could always call Stan again. There were already three girls standing under the sign, so it’s not like the ride would be wasted.
Trayton: Come on, u know u want to. I’ll make sure u get home safe.
I gave one last fleeting glance toward the sign as the car pulled up.
Me: Okay, where r u?
“Right here.”
I jumped not only because he scared me, but because of the shock that ran up my arm when he put his hand over my phone. I gulped before lamely saying, “Hey.”
He put my phone into his pocket as his other hand landed on my lower back directing me toward the house. We walked through the house into the kitchen, but I couldn’t focus on anything besides the feel of his hand.
He grabbed a couple of beers and kept walking, leaning over to whisper in my ear. “Let’s go to my room.” I weakly nodded knowing full well it was probably a bad idea.
I ignored the catcalls that rang out as we made our way to the third floor. Once he unlocked his door he stepped back, letting me in first. I stopped five feet in as I gazed around at ... nothing. There were no pictures or decorations of any kind. Not even a poster of a half-naked woman. The only thing in here was a bed and a TV sitting on top a dresser.
“Where is all your stuff?”
“In my apartment.”
“Wait. You said this was your room.”
“It is, I crash here sometimes.”
“Oh.”
He threw a remote at me. “Pick a movie. I’m going to change my shirt real fast. Some idiot spilled beer on me.” I almost swallowed my tongue when he proceeded to take off his shirt. Right. In. Front. Of. Me. My brain short circuited, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I was drooling a little. Perfection was the only word my brain could come up with. A perfection I wanted to run my hands all over.
I knew he had a nice body the second I saw him, but this was something else. Every part of his lean body was defined, from his ripped biceps to the unbelievable eight pack to the heavenly V. His body reminded me of an MMA fighter’s. Not only its definition but because every muscle worked seamlessly together. I had no doubt he was just as lethal as one too.
I’d never been a huge fan of tattoos, but on him they seriously worked. A black and gray thorn design covered his right pec and shoulder, winding down his right arm, and stopping at his wrist. His left side had the name Mary written in pink, the only color besides black and gray on his body. The name was intricately weaved into a pair of praying hands. Suffer us not, at our last hour written below. It was heartbreakingly beautiful. On his left bicep, he had what reminded me of the family crests we talked about in History last semester. It was a circular shield with a skull in the middle and two swords crossing behind it. The word Russo written above it and Fino Alla Morte below it. I had no idea what it meant, but it was as beautiful as the rest of them.
I didn’t snap out of my trance until he put a shirt on, a shame really. He sat down with his back against the headboard. “Going to stand there with your mouth open all night?” I took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the mattress. That had lasted all of five seconds before he wrapped an arm around my waist bringing me to sit right next to him. He snatched the remote from the death grip I had on it. “If you’re not picking I will.” He clicked on Amityville Horror. “Hope you like scary movies.”
I actually loved scary movies for two reasons. One, it’s fun to yell at the stupidity of the characters. Who in their right mind would run into a dark basement when a killer was after them? Two, because they’re a family tradition. Some families watched It’s a Wonderful Life at Christmas, not my family. We watched a scary movie every year. When I was little it was movies like The Grinch, then it was Jaws, and so forth. Once I hit thirteen, my dad and brother made it their life missions to make sure Mom and I were scared a little more every year. I used to ask Trip to sleep in my room when we were little, and he did without question every time. After a few years, I didn’t have to ask anymore, he’d just wordlessly follow me into my room and sleep on the floor.
That being said, I’d seen so many scary movies that I rarely got scared anymore. Unfortunately, he’d picked one of the only movies that terrified me. I don’t have any idea why, but every time I watched this I was jumpy as hell. Which is why I screamed bloody murder and jumped ten feet into the air when he moved my hair over my shoulder.
I felt him shaking with laughter as he pulled me back to him. “Sorry, so sorry.” He was definitely not sorry.
I turned my head glaring at him, putting our lips mere inches from each other. My heart started pounding in my chest as he moved his hand to my hair carefully guiding me to him. I was seconds from probably the best kiss of my life when a blood-curdling scream came from the TV. I jolted in his arm causing my forehead to connect with his nose.
“Dammit!” He made a grab for his nose as it started bleeding, knocking me in the face. His hand diverted from his nose to check on me. Sweet right? It would have been if his nose hadn’t started gushing blood. Instead of hitting me in the face, this time he knocked me to the floor as he grabbed his nose. “Alex, I’m so sorry.” He went to help me up with the hand holding his nose.
I waved my hands frantically. “I got this, you get to the bathroom.” He nodded before turning and rushing into the hall. I put my hands palm down on the floor and pushed myself up.
Trayton
I put the towel to my nose as I tilted my head back. Of all the times to get a bloody nose it had to be tonight. This was just icing on the cake of a day that had sucked since I opened my front door. I knew the second I saw my uncle’s scowling face that it wasn’t a friendly visit. Apparently, someone had tried to kill my father last night in prison. This wasn’t the first time someone tried to kill him, and it wouldn’t be the last. I’d lost count how many attempts had been made over the years. I’d stopped caring when I found out why he never went to any of my mom’s numerous appointments.
I’ll never forget that day. It was January 28th, I was ten-years-old when I asked. He sat me down across from him and answered me matter-of-factly, no emotion what-so-ever. “Son your mother was dead to me long before cancer killed her. She died the day she filed for divorce.” He took a swing from his beer, turned back to the TV, and laughed at whatever he was watching like he hadn’t just shook my life.
After that day our relationship was one of indifference. We’d go months barely talking, and that was when we lived in the same house. It’d been years since I’d said more than five words to him. My loyalty to my family had absolutely nothing to do with my father. It had everything to do with my uncle, my cousin, and even my step-mom. The only three people in this world that mattered to me.
So as you can imagine, I was a little on edge about this visit because it was pointless for him to fly down to tell me something that was irrelevant. After an hour of him jacking around he finally told me the reason he came down, to tell me I was staying here for law school.
It wasn’t until after
I’d stormed out of my apartment, making him follow me to the party that he told me why. My step-mom had to be hospitalized after the attack because it wasn’t just on my father. My step-brother Anthony, who was in the same prison, was attacked too. I despised Anthony almost as much as my father. He’d hated me from the moment I’d walked into his house, and the resentment had only grown over the years. He hated how his mom seemed to care more about me, but that wasn’t even slightly true. She just knew he was already lost to my father’s way of life.
The night went from bad to worse when Eddie showed up. He knew damn well the attacks wouldn’t bother me, but he felt the need to taunt me anyway. If it wasn’t for my uncle, I would have laid him out flat on his back. My uncle may have stopped me physically, but Alex is the main reason I calmed down. I’d seen her watching us earlier, and with every step in our direction the calmer I became. I waited until I was sure my uncle was gone before finding her.
Now I was standing in a piss smelling bathroom with a towel pressed to my nose. This is not how I saw this night turning out. We were supposed to have a drink and see where the night took us. Instead, we hadn’t even had the drink, and I’m pretty sure the night was ruined. When the blood finally stopped, I carefully cleaned myself up and walked back to my room, hoping she was still there.
I opened the door to my room and stopped dead in my tracks. Alex’s blonde hair was sprawled out over my pillow as she slept. She was curled into a ball with her hands tucked under the pillow. Usually, a woman sleeping in my bed had me breaking out in hives, but not her. She calmed every part of me. I didn’t know why, and I wasn’t going to dig too deeply into it. I was just going to enjoy the feeling while it lasted because we were never guaranteed tomorrow.
I quietly closed the door behind me as not to wake her. I sat on the edge of the bed, lightly pushing a wayward strand of hair out of her face, causing her to let out a soft sigh as my finger ran over her cheek.
