Wingless Book Series (book 1) (7 page)

“
What is this?” he
griped.

“
This is what it is. I told you,
I’m not going to be duped by anyone. This whole mystery, I don’t
care to partake. If you’re that secretive, we are better off not
talking to one another.”

“
What?” he laughed with a huffy
tone.

“
It’s a bad sign.” I pulled
away.

“
Just sit down, Eve,” he said,
standing in the middle of the jogger’s path.

I crossed my arms,
sitting.

“
I’m going to tell you this one
time, I am not hiding anything, but I am not going to open up like
a book and give you all the answers, either. You enjoy being around
me, or you don’t. I’m not trying to impress you or sway any opinion
you will have or have already about me. I’m not a good guy. I’m not
bad, I’m me. You either like it, or not.” He blurted this out with
an irritated tone. “And I mean that. You either like me, or you
don’t.” He stood in front of me, waiting.

I stared at him. He looked like he
was out of anything more to say.

“
I like you, and I’m willing to
work on figuring you out, as long as it’s nothing that you’re
hiding from me.”

“
I’m not hiding, I’m right here.
I’m not trying to impress you. There’s not too much impressive
about me.”

“
There’s a lot, I just don’t
understand you.”

“
Give it time, you will. It takes
time to understand anyone, you know that. Just know I’m not here to
hurt you in anyway.” He kneeled down in front of me, staring up at
me. His eyes looked disappointed. He thought he’d lost my
interest.

I kissed his forehead, running my
hand through his hair. “It’s okay, I’m willing to learn all you
want me to know, and I do think you’re worth a shot.”

Chapter 6

No friend

The next day my parents were
packing for a little anniversary get away. It was their
twenty-fourth wedding anniversary and every year they took a trip
to wherever it
was they decided to get
away to, and spend some time together. They never had a
destination. They drove, did some sightseeing and then got a luxury
hotel and did whatever it was that two uptight people would
do.

I leaned against the porch
railing as my dad
put their suitcases in
the car. “You’ll hold the fort down while were gone?” he
asked.

“
Of course, have a good time.” I
said.

My mother got in the car waving
lightly; she was in her glory the best day of her life.

I went inside, shutting the
screen behind me, checked my hair and makeup (I had actually
decided to wear a little today for once)
and
put on some lip gloss in the mirror,
pulling my hair up in a pony tail.

Gray walked past staring at me
with a weird expression. “What’s with the primping?”

“
I’m a girl with hair, sometimes I
like to do it,” I said, pulling a few strands down. They fell
lazily and, deciding I didn’t like it at all, I pulled the whole
thing down. I fluffed my wavy locks and started into the
kitchen.

“
Are you expecting company, or you
going out?”

“
What’s it to you?” I asked him. I
swore, sometimes he acted as if I were ten and was being paid to
babysit me.

“
I don’t know what I am doing
yet.” I slammed the fridge shut, no longer in the mood to eat
anything.

Gray leaned over the counter,
looming like a nat. “If you want her to come over then have her
over I don’t care. I’m not going to tell Dad and Mom.” He eyed me
for a glimpse of sarcasm and then walked out.

I didn’t care because I planned on
seeing Ace after he was done with work- he said he had some stuff
to finish up.

I plopped down on the couch
turning on the TV. There wasn’t much to watch so I settled on an
old black and white movie starring some actress I didn’t recognize.
She was a singer and in a love triangle. So classy, I thought, for
being such an old movie. Even back then there was tons of
drama.

There was never anything to do
when you had to wait for something. I read a magazine. Quickly
growing bored with all the self-help bull, I tossed it on the floor
and dozed off.

Sometimes I didn’t dream.
Sometimes I had vivid dreams. They never were anything that made
sense to me, just being lost or falling, many
of stress and anxiety.

I felt tapping on my arm. I
swatted it away, rolling over to get more comfortable. The tapping
continued.

“
Stop!” I yelled, curling
up.

“
Eve,” Ace said, standing above
me. I jumped, sitting up in a hurry.

I felt my hair to see if it
was all over the place, seemed alright. He laughed at me, taking a
seat in my dad’s chair. He looked odd in the huge leather recliner.
My dad
was the only one who ever sat in
it. I smiled trying to wake up more.

“
Did you get that bored?” he
asked.

“
I got tired. I didn’t think I
would fall asleep.”

“
It’s alright, I’m feeling pretty
tired myself.” He moved to the couch, leaning back and putting his
feet up on the foot stool. I lay back nestling into his chest. Ace
smoothed my hair sighing.

“
What?” I asked through a
yawn.

“
Nothing. Just glad to be able to
see you today.”

We dozed off, not needing to
say anything, I could tell he was exhausted, and I could tell he
had
showered before coming
over.
He smelled
amazing.

I was in and out of sleep,
adjusting my face on his chest, he squeezed my arm every time I
moved as if to see if I was still right there with him. I turned my
head to look at the time. It was later than I thought it
was.

Gray came into the room. His face
wasn’t the happiest. I didn’t see much of an issue, but clearly, to
him, he thought something of it. What, I wasn’t sure.

His moody girlfriend stood
beside him taking the whole picture in. I nudged Ace; he snapped
awake, his body jerking back to life. Ace, not seeming too bothered
by the audience,
kept one hand on my arm
and yawned.

“
What is he doing here?” Gray
asked me in a hard stance, his hand in his pockets, his face
tensing up now as he looked past me to Ace.

“
We’re just hanging out,” I said
lightly, resting my head against Ace’s pecks and staring at the TV,
trying to give Gray the hint that I didn’t care nor did I want to
argue with him.

“
You talk about me having people
over here and you want to go and tell Dad and Mom, yet you’re here
doing the same,” he snapped at me.

“
Gray when are
you going to understand, I don’t care what you think?” I said,
sitting up now. I was getting annoyed, and when you’re annoyed, you
want to be in the best stance in case you want to punch someone.
Ace grabbed my wrist and pressed my hand into the couch cushion. I
figured he must have
sensed my mood
change.

“
That’s right. You don’t care what
anyone thinks. You’ll go around town making whatever name you want
to make of yourself. Who cares what Mom and Dad have to go through
because of it.”

I went to jump off the couch but
was held down my Ace’s strong grip. I jerked hard but was stuck.
Gray grew amazed and started to smirk at the restraint Ace had on
me. I could tell this was playing in his favor.

“
Let me go Ace!” I
yelled.

“
I’m not letting you go so you can
deck your brother,” he said, pulling me back down. I sat down in
annoyance.

“
Hold on Gray, let me ask you
this. What is it that Eve is doing wrong? And believe me, you won’t
offend me.” Ace moved forward on the couch cushion resting his arm
on his leg and the other on me.

Gray was silent staring at the two
of us as if it was some kind of trap, then finally opened his big
mouth.

I never saw what I saw happen so
fast.

“
She is eighteen, she has no idea
what involvement with a guy your age is like, nor does she need to.
And if you want to get in someone’s pants, I see why you chose Eve.
Not the brightest bulb in the box. But nonetheless, she is my
sister and I know what you are.”

Before the last word came rolling
out of Gray’s mouth, Ace flew over the footstool and interlocked
with Gray, grabbing his shirt and slamming him up against the wall,
Gray’s head hit with a loud thud, knocking my parents’ pictures to
the floor with a crash-Devan almost knocked over in the midst of it
all. She screamed and ran across the room. I wasn’t sure if she had
it in her to break two guys apart, but I think it was the sheer
fear of Ace. I stood up myself but didn’t move. In the back of my
head, I was hoping he would put Gray in his place.

“
I’m going to tell you this and I
will say it only once.” Ace bounced Gray’s head off the wall, his
voice so calm and low I barely could hear. Gray kept his eyes fixed
on Ace barely moving or even blinking.

“
I am not the guy to mess with.
And I am not the guy trying to do anything to your sister in the
way that you imply. And if I ever hear it come from your mouth
again, I will break your jaw. And after that, if you’re still
feeling man enough to try me again, I’ll go for something a little
more painful. Something you need to function in everyday
life.”

“
Who do you
think you are!” Gray yelled, pulling at the hand gripping his
shirt. It didn’t budge. Finally Ace released his hold, but grabbed
Gray’s throat
instead. Gray panted. Devan
screamed again. He pushed Gray’s head up against the wall holding
him there.

“
Who do I think I am? I think I am
the guy you don’t want to try your little childish game with. I
think I am the guy who doesn’t play around. Do you understand me?”
he asked him, still holding Gray to the wall.

Instead of answering his
question, Gray wrapped his fingers around Ace’s fist and
demanded,
“Take your hand off me, now. You
don’t come in –“

Ace pushed him harder into the
wall then let go. Gray stumbled to his feet. I could tell he was
rattled, but he was stubborn and he wasn’t going to just give in so
easily. And by the look on Ace’s face, his best bet would be to
just surrender.

“
Ace, just let it go,” I said,
coming to his side. Gray stared him down.

They both looked at each
other saying nothing for a few seconds
more
before
Ace seemed to notice me. “No, he doesn’t need to talk to you
like he does.”

“
It doesn’t matter. I don’t even
care. Thank you for sticking up for me, but just let it
go.”

Ace didn’t move. He stood ready to
fight- Gray the same.

“
Yeah, listen to my sister. It’s
her one bright moment,” Gray said with a smirk.

I stared at him in disbelief. He
was an idiot. I was trying to do the right thing and not let the
crap get beat out of him and instead he kept running his
mouth.

Devan came back to Gray’s side and
grabbed his arm. “Come on babe, let’s just go.” She clung to his
arm staring at Ace in horror. I chuckled a little to
myself.

“
No, I’m not leaving my own house
because of some bullying meathead. It’s not going to happen.” He
stepped forward putting his face inches from Ace’s.

“
I’m not afraid of your
intimidation techniques and I will tell you one time, you ever do
anything to my sister and it won’t be pretty for you.” He pointed
his finger in Ace’s face. I held my breath, waiting for Ace to
pummel him. He didn’t.

“
Keep your comments to yourself
about her and we won’t have a problem. There is no reason for a
grown man to disrespect his little sister. She’s your sister, give
her some respect.”

“
When she acts like she deserves
some, then I will. Don’t tell me what I need to do. I’ve known her
longer than you have.”

“
Fine, you don’t want to give in?
Watch yourself, is all I can say to you.” He backed off.

Gray eyeballed him once more then
left the room. Two stubborn guys were never going to come to any
kind of agreement, but I was sure that he had rattled Gray enough
to think twice about what he said in front of him. I was sure, but
that didn’t mean that I was right. Those were two different
things.

Chapter 7

Don’t mind

I was frazzled, to say the
least. I was still standing in the middle of the floor trying to
think of what had just happened. Ace took charge and went after
Gray. In one sense I was happy that he had. I was thrilled to have
someone willing to stand up for me. Everyone else had an issue one
way or another with me. And for him to just stand up, regardless of
not
knowing anything about me, it was
truly amazing. It was a good feeling.