Copula Chronicles: The Complete Collection: Origin, Descend, Ascend, Legacy

by Venessa Kimball

  She smiles softly. “Sounds like you have it. How about you close the store within the hour? It’s slow today and you’ve studied hard today.”

  “Okay.”

  After Miss Olivia leaves, I pick up Sagan’s book again, just to read a few more pages when the sound of the cowbell at the front door rings. I lean back in my chair to look through the store doorway for the customer. A guy is standing at the front of the store with his back to me. He’s picked up one of the books on the end cap and is reading the back blurb.

  As I stand and pass through the doorway, he cocks his head in my direction, but not enough to fully see his face. “Can I help you?”

  He cocks his head in my direction, not quite revealing his face to me. “Hey, I’m looking for something full of suspense and mystery. Can you recommend anything?”

  As soon as he turns to face me, I feel the familiarity he holds, along with the deep tan of his skin, the way his white t-shirt hugs his arms, or the way the intense gaze he’s sending my way. The familiarity has me hung up. I can’t place it. I realize I’m standing frozen in the middle of the aisle and walk toward him slowly. His eyes, a striking green I’ve seen before. It’s stupid, but looking into them as I get closer makes me think of home. Nate’s the only one that’s given me that feeling. It’s ridiculous. He’s just a good-looking guy looking for a book to read. That’s all. I find my senses so I don’t look like a drooling imbecile any longer than I already have and give my suggestion. “Dan Brown’s books are always a sure thing.”

  I walk toward the third row of stacks and scan the shelves for the one I’m thinking of. As I feel his presence behind me, I pull “Angels and Demons” from the stack turn to hand it to him. As he takes the book, his hand grazes mine. The small skin-to-skin friction stirs a current unlike any I’ve felt. I look into his eyes again and the familiarity is back instantly. An intimacy from some other time and place. But where? When? Think Jes.

  Suddenly, his brow furrows a little as he extends his hand to me. “I’m Xander.”

  What’s he thinking about? I can’t get a read on him. I look down at his hand suspended in front of me. “Oh, sorry. I’m Jesca.”

  As I place my hand in his, the sensation of knowing his touch is too recognizable to not try to figure out. “I think I’ve met you before.”

  We both pull our hands back at the same time as Xander’s smile lessens, becoming reserved. “I get that a lot. I must have one of those familiar faces.”

  ***

  Xander

  I think I know this girl. The distraction of her presence keeps me from focusing too much, on where I know her from though. She’s gorgeous in this natural beauty kind of way. I look down at the book cover. “Angels and Demons. Do I look like an angels and demons kind of guy?”

  She seems to take concern with my comment. “Oh, it isn’t what you think. You said suspense and mystery.”

  She’s about to continue on, which I’m tempted to let her do just to linger longer, but I stop her. “I was just joking with you. I trust your judgment.”

  I glance at the back room where she was sitting when I walked in. I angle my head toward the doorway. “What’re you reading back there?”

  Jessica replies seemingly nervous, “I’m taking a few classes at the nearby community college, and it’s pretty slow today. So I just set myself up in the back.”

  “Well, it sounds extraordinarily—boring.”

  This puts another smile on her face, which is instantly gratifying, but another expression giving me reason that I know this girl. “Sorry, you just look really familiar also and I’m trying to place where I have seen you before.”

  That’s it! She’s going to think I’m a stalker. I turn the tables on her before she can think my motives sinister. “And since you said it first, that can’t qualify as a cheap pick-up line.”

  Jesca smiles and moves quickly to the cash register, but not before I glimpse the slightest blush on her cheek as she asks, “So, will that be all?”

  I’m not ready to go. I need to figure out how I know her. “Actually, would you like to grab a cup of coffee?”

  She stops mid-stride and I worry I’m scaring the shit out of her.

  ***

  Jesca

  His words are so sincere, and while it’s a little odd to ask a complete stranger to go to coffee, a big part of me wants to say yes. Hell, I haven’t even rung him up on the register. I slowly turn back to face him as he says, “I’m sorry if I’m being too bold.”

  Slowly, Xander makes his way toward me. “Just to be clear, I don’t go around asking girls out for coffee. I’m not using it as some pick up line or anything. Just coffee.”

  Standing in front of me, he puts his hand on his forehead and looks down, seeming embarrassed as he speaks under his breath. “Shit, I sound like an idiot.”

  I’m surprised by his sudden hesitations as he appeared so confident moments ago. His candor is charming as hell. “No, you don’t sound like an idiot. It’s nice to be asked. I’m pretty new to town and business is slow so coffee sounds great.”

  A small part of me is hearing Ezra telling me to watch my back, but I would feel it in the pit of my stomach, literally, if this guy were a threat. Everything I’m feeling says he’s safe. “I can meet you out front in a couple of minutes. I just need to lock up.”

  Xander asks as he pays for his book. “Do you mind walking a little? There’s this place a few blocks down. Local.”

  He hands me the cash and I’m careful to keep our hands from touching; don’t need any more drooling idiot moments. “Sounds great.”

  As I hand him his change and his book, he lingers at the counter then seems to realize he’s stalling then thumbs toward the door. “I’ll just wait out here while you lock up.”

  I nod at him, half-smiling at his how this gorgeous guys seems nervous. “Okay.”

  As soon as the door shuts behind him, I run to the back, start shutting off lights and grab my purse. Xander gives me a brief recent history of Miami on the way to the coffee shop. He insists on treating since he invited me. I order a Caramel Macchiato, my favorite.

  As we sit across from each other, I try not to stare at him, but it’s hard not to when he’s so good looking. I glance out the window, then down at my steaming cup to hide my grin. “So, what’s your story, Xander? How long have you been in Miami?”

  “My whole life from what I can remember. My grandmother raised me until I was five, when she passed. Then, foster homes and shelters and I can’t believe I’m telling you all of this about myself.” His chuckle is both nervous and vulnerable as his eyes leave mine and focus on the coffee mug he’s clutching in his hand. Part of me wants to give him my condolences for the loss of his grandmother and what a tough hand he’s been dealt. But I have a feeling that would just make him feel worse. I take my mug in both hands and pull it closer to me, feeling the warmth through the porcelain warm my hands. “Well. The past is what shapes you to handle your future. It doesn’t matter where you were. History is just that. What matters is where you are right now.”

  My comment seems to relinquish some of his worry as he glances up at me from his mug and says, “Yeah, I think your right.”

  Xander picks up his cup and takes a drink of his coffee before he puts it down and focuses on me. “Something tells me I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

  While I can contain my smile, I can’t contain the heat creeping up on my neck and face. Xander’s widening smile as he watches me shift in my chair is a testament that he’s definitely seen the effect he’s having on me. As he brings his mug to his lips again, I can’t help but stare a little too long before shifting my gaze to the window, my distraction. “So, how’s life now? What do you do for work that allows you to be out browsing for books in the middle of the day?”

  “Life’s good. I work closely with my adopted father, Sam. He
did more than take me in when I was at my worst. He literally saved me.”

  His smile grows all of a sudden. “And as far as what I do that allows me the luxury of visiting book stores and having coffee with a beautiful woman, I work evenings.”

  It’s hard to avoid the beautiful woman comment, but my curiosity of what he does seems to overshadow it for the moment. “Work evenings? Anything specific?”

  He doesn’t seem like he wants to disclose, so I let it go. “So your adopted father sounds like a great guy. I’m adopted also.”

  As soon as the words leave my mouth, my gut tells me I probably shouldn’t have said that. I expect him to ask more about it, but instead he says, “I’m going to get a Scone. You want one?”

  Just him saying the word makes my stomach growl. “Yes, please.”

  After I finish the last bite of my scone, I realize the time. We’ve been here for an hour talking about everything, but at the same time nothing. I made sure that I stayed superficial and kept the cover Ezra coached me on. We talked about good places to eat. Local fast food that I have to have. Where I went to college came up, but I dodged it by staying true to my cover, saying I’m taking a break and just working right now. I sit back in my seat. “I can’t believe we’ve been talking for over an hour.”

  He nods casually, the same content smile he’s held the entire time we’ve talked on his lips. “Yeah. I don’t want to go.”

  I pick up a crumb from the table sensing this isn’t about some dreaded business trip he’s going on. “Don’t want to go?”

  “I don’t want leave. This, right here.”

  He motions between him and me, then seems to get embarrassed again. “I’ve never talked with anyone like this before. About everything and nothing. And there I go, sounding like I’m feeding you another pick up line.”

  He laughs at himself and shakes his head. I could be hung up on a number of things his body and words are saying, but his referring to our talk as being about everything and nothing are identical to my thoughts. While part of me likes the coincidental thoughts we’ve shared, what we’re sitting here sharing now, I know it can’t become anything and it fucking sucks. Reality begins to seep back into the time we’ve had here at the coffee shop. “No, it doesn’t sound that way at all. I’m glad you invited me. But, I kind of need to get going.”

  It always sucks being the one to end something nice, but extending this between him and I, it’ll just make things more complicated. I can’t have complicated right now even though his complication is so much more attractive than my current complication.

  On the walk back to the bookstore, I’m silently cursing everything that’s happened to shift my life from normal to chaotic over the past two months while trying to appear happy being with Xander the last stretch of whatever this is. Budding friendship that’s going to be nipped in the bud? The beginnings of a romance that’ll never be because I’m this fucking freak of nature meant to save our universe along with all the other hidden freaks.

  Suddenly, I feel a warm hand cover mine. “Hey, are you okay?”

  I look down to our joined hands, his fingers interlocking with mine. I come to a stop and stare down at them as he squeezes my hand reassuringly. “It just felt like things changed all of a sudden.”

  Did he read my thoughts? No, that’s stupid Jes. He’s just a normal, adorably handsome guy that you can’t have. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  I force a smile and pull him along. The quicker we get back to the bookstore and I can head home and sulk about how much this sucks the better. “I just remembered, I have this thing with my dad. I need to get back.”

  Good play. Always blame it on the dad.

  As we come up on the bookstore, I pull my hand from his and dig through my purse to find my keys, avoiding any long goodbye. Keep it short. You’re only making it harder on yourself if you play along. “Okay, well thanks again for the coffee.”

  I start to walk away from him when Xander calls after me. “So, you said you grew up in a small southern town. Where?”

  I stop in my tracks and debate giving him a straight up lie or telling him the truth. Screw it. I’m probably never going to see him again. Call me sentimental, but I don’t want my parting words with him to be lies. “ Marietta, Georgia.”

  The solid smile Xander’s held for the past hour and half suddenly fails. Immediately, I’m worried. “What? Have you heard of it?”

  Oh shit. Did I make a mistake bringing up something from his past?

  He shakes his head, pulls the keys to his car out of his pocket and jingles them in his hand. He seems distant all of a sudden, as he walks down off the sidewalk where I still stand. “Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”

  He taps the keypad on his key ring and the shiny sports car in front of the shop unlocks. While a quick goodbye is something I had hoped for, I don’t feel comfortable with the way things are being left with him and me. Now I find myself prolonging the conversation. “What’ve you heard?”

  He gives me a small smile over the roof of his car and shakes his head. “Not much. Just had some business there not too long ago.”

  “Oh.”

  “Where’d you say you went to college?”

  His question burns in my chest all of a sudden. “Nowhere. I told you I didn’t. I’m just working right now.”

  Still leaning on his car, he stares at me nodding slowly. “Yeah, that’s right.”

  Suddenly, he walks around his car and back to me. “Hey, you want to have dinner some time?”

  Say no Jes. Before I can speak, he’s stepping up onto the sidewalk and standing in front of me. “I know this sounds weird, but for some reason something inside is telling me to not let this, whatever it is, go. Shit, I’m not normally like this. I’m not following someone I just met. It’s normally the other way around.”

  I raise my eyebrows at his sudden arrogance. He sees my unimpressed response and quickly adds, “I know that sounds like a douche bag thing to say.”

  His expression warrants a smile. “Ya think?”

  His addictive grin returns. “And I’d totally agree with you if I wasn’t standing in front of you right now asking if you’d please just consider seeing me again over dinner.”

  He takes his receipt out of the book he bought from the store, pulls a pen from his pocket and starts scribbling on the paper. “Here, this is my cell phone number. I know I sound crazy, but seeing you again—I don’t think I’m the only one feeling like it’s a good idea. Am I right?”

  I can’t help but smile wider as he waits on baited breath for me to respond.

  “Yes? No? Hell no? Maybe?”

  His playful charm is back and really making me consider.

  “A maybe.”

  I move around him and step down off the sidewalk, tapping my keypad to unlock my car parked two back from his. I make sure to tuck the receipt with his number in my jeans pocket for safekeeping.

  “Maybe’s good. Where are you headed?” he asks

  I open the door to my car. “Home. You?”

  He holds up his phone. “About ten missed calls from work, so I’m headed there I guess. Being with you was worth every single one of them.”

  As I open the door, I look down at my phone. Shit. Three missed calls, one voice mail, and two texts all from Ezra.

  “How about tomorrow night?”

  I glance up at him, my smile lessened by the missed calls and texts. “What?”

  Xander’s standing at the door to his car, his dark hair rustling in the coastal breeze, his piercing eyes smiling at me. “Dinner. Tomorrow.”

  “I’ll call you.”

  He shifts the weight on his other leg and gives me a sideways look. “I’ve used that line. Doesn’t sound promising. What’s your number?”

  Just before I get in, I look up at Ms. Olivia’s sign, then back at him. “You know where to
find me if I don’t call.”

  He nods, “Fair enough.”

  I smile. “Bye Xander.”

  CHAPTER 18: NEIGHBORS

  Jesca

  I read both of Ezra’s texts and listen to his voicemail as I drive.

  “Why aren’t you picking up? We need to train tonight.”

  His voice sounds tense. I text him back as I pull through the gate.

  “In the Cloisters. Be there in a minute.”

  As I pull into the driveway and get out, I see a girl walking across our yard toward me.

  “Hey, are you watching Mr. Haynes house while he’s away? I’m Corinna Caine, your next door neighbor.”

  Her medium-length, red hair and the volume of her perky voice remind me of Elicia as she steps in front of me. “Yeah, we’re watching the place.”

  I start around her, hoping to end the conversation. Less talking, less covering I’ll have to do. She doesn’t give up though. “I came by earlier, but no one was home. I guess you were at work. You and that guy are out a lot.”

  She sounds like she’s fishing for information. “Yeah, my dad and I both work.”

  She nods, “Coolio.”

  Even her word choices are like Licia. I miss her so much.

  “So is he your dad or is he your ‘sugar daddy’?”

  Yep, just like Elicia. “Um no. He’s just my dad.”

  The more I refer to him as dad as my cover, the stranger it feels. I hear Corinna step onto the front porch behind me. She’s persistent, I’ll give her that.

  “What is your name neighbor?”

  I turn to face her and the kind look on her face makes it too hard to tell her to back the hell off. Plus, I’m just not that harsh of a person even if I’m totally wishing she’d back the hell off. “Jesca Sera. Jes.”

  She smiles widely. “Nice to meet you Jes.”

  I turn back to the door to unlock it, when she asks yet another question. “Where are you from, Jes?”

  I totally should have told her to back the hell off. I stare at the door and lie flatly. “East coast. Dad had a career opportunity so here we are. I’m working still debating going to college.”