A Blue Tale (12 page)

Shaw didn’t speak, so I pushed past him. “What’s she doing here?” I demanded.

“What?” He asked, completely confused as to why we were asking about his latest conquest.

“Look, it’s not my fault if you can’t hang onto your man for one night.  So don’t be all pissy with me when it’s him you should be mad at.” The girl shrieked in her defense.

“Her?” Dave asked. “This is who you screwed around with? Seriously, son, her? I’m disappointed.”

“Dave!” The girl whined.

“Yeah, Dave, it is.  I don’t really like seeing her here with you, either.  What the hell is wrong with you guys?” I asked disgusted.

“No clue what my son’s problem is, but I was just looking to get laid.” He shrugged.

“Shit dad! We thought we were gonna have a day at the beach, and this is what we find.” Shaw said.

“Apparently, the beach just isn’t for us.” I mumbled under my breath, vowing to never step foot on the beach with a man again because blonde bimbos were bound to swarm.

“Nonsense, this is just a small inconvenience.  I’ll get her out of your hair, and it’ll be like this never happened.” Dave waved me over and patted the seat next to him and reached toward the counter, then turned to hand me a steaming mug of my favorite brown liquid.  “Honey, I’m so glad to see you. Sit; talk.  I won’t leave ‘til you do.”

I followed his orders and sat next to him. 

“Dave.” The blonde girl whined.

“Shh, I think you’ve damn well done enough around here. I’m going to visit with my family then we’re leaving.  Go get your things so you can be just another disappointing memory for us all.” He said, effectively dismissing her.

“You’re such a Casanova.” I teased.

“Hey don’t knock it, I do alright for my age. Even if it’s my son’s leftovers.” He winked at me.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting!” I shrieked at his male humor.

“Too soon for jokes?” He teased.

“Dad, seriously. Stop!”

“Son, calm down. I promise I’ll leave in thirty minutes, or less; I won’t ruin any plans you have of wooing our dear Elizabeth today.”

I laughed, but Shaw rolled his eyes.

“You two talk all you want, I’ll get the things from the car.” Shaw leaned down and brushed his lips against my hair before he headed back to the front door.

“So, what did my son have to do to drag you here, anyway?  I thought you were done with him?” He raised both eyebrows at me, making his eyes grow wider.

“Now…is that any of your business?” I teased, raising my eyebrows, too.

“No, no it’s not.  But that’s never stopped me before, so spill.” He leaned back in his chair, propped his feet on the window ledge, and started sipping his coffee. He obviously wasn’t going anywhere soon.

“Just taking a break.  Taking a day away from it all, and Shaw just happened to be there when I needed him.” I sighed. “It’s all just too much sometimes, ya know?”

“Yeah, I definitely do. You know you can tell me anything, Elizabeth.  I love you like you’re my own daughter; I’d do anything for you.  I hope you know that.” He said, reaching out to lay his hand on mine.

“I do, I really do. But I don’t have anything more to tell. I swear.”

“We can talk in half-truths if you want. But you’ve never been untruthful with me before, so I don’t know why you’d start now.” He didn’t even turn to look at me thinking his words would be enough to make me spill – they usually were.  But there was no one that could make me talk about a blue eyed guitar player, not even Dave.

“That is the truth, honest.  It just might not be all the truth, but since when have any of us been completely upfront about anything?”  I threw his guilt trip back at him and watched as it put a smile on his face.

“Touché.”

“I’m not ready to spill, but if I need to, you’ll be the first one I cry to.” I finally said and he stopped asking me questions.

“I truly hope so, love.” He said then we sat in silence enjoying our coffee.

He would occasionally peek at me and smile, but I knew it was just because he missed me.  After my dad died, Dave practically became my fatherly protector, but as things got rocky with Shaw, I had pulled further and further away – even from Dave.  Shaw was his son; I wasn’t his daughter, no matter how much he loved me.  I’d never let any of the shit between Shaw and me come between him and Dave.  Never.

 “I love my son, but I love you, too.  Don’t let him hurt you again, you deserve more.” He said, breaking the silence.

I nodded just as Shaw came back into the room.

“Okay, we’re all set. You get your old ass outta here, and don’t forget to take your visitor with you,” he said, pointing to his dad, “and you get your cute ass into this string bikini and let’s go swimming.”

He shot my bikini at me like a sling shot. I caught it midair and stood to find the bathroom. “Your wish is my command.” I said. As I walked by, he reached out and slapped my ass, causing me to gasp in surprise.  I turned to look at him and decided today might be more than I bargained for.

Before I made it into the bathroom, I heard Shaw tell his dad goodbye then he ran after me.

“Elizabeth, I’m really sorry she was here.” He said, his eyes searching my face.

“Really couldn’t have been worse timing, right?” I groaned.

“I would have never brought you here if I’d have known.”

“I know you wouldn’t have, Shaw.  Honestly, it just shows me what kind of person she truly is; it almost makes it easier.” I shrugged. “If that even makes sense.”

He smiled at me, and I disappeared into the bathroom to change.

“We’re definitely staying on the private beach.” Shaw announced when I came back out with my bikini on.

“Why?” I asked, confused.

“Because I don’t feel like punching some guy’s lights out today, it’d ruin the mood.”

“What are you talking about?” I laughed.

He walked to my side and ran his hand up my arm, from my fingers to my shoulder, in one long stroke.  “I’m talking about the way you look, so much skin.” He whispered softly.

His eyes were on fire with desire, and I felt that fire light my insides as he snaked his tongue out to lick his lips.

“Oh Lord, don’t say things like that to me.” I said, turning to face him. “You never know what they’ll make me do.”

He had changed into his swim trucks, and his bare chest was even more beautiful than I remembered.  I ran my hand from the waist of his shorts up his rippled abs, across his chest, and circled my fingernail around his nipple.  He inhaled a sharp breath at the sensation then crashed his mouth to mine, and there was no gentleness from either of us in our kiss.

I ran my hands into his short hair and held on tight.  His mouth felt nice, familiar.  It reminded me where I once belonged, and who I used to be.  His tongue felt like molten lava against my mouth, hot and needy.  But it didn’t feel right – something was off, something was missing.  Desire was pooling in my core and spreading everywhere all at once, but it wasn’t like it used to be; it was all want with no emotion.  Once again my body couldn’t decipher its needs from its wants, and my heart would pay the price.  Every inch of my body screamed to be filled, but I wasn’t sure it was Shaw I ached for.

My lips slowed and my grip on his hair loosened.  He pushed his mouth harder against mine, trying to deepen the kiss again, but my lips had already stopped moving.  I tried to pull away, but he continued to press deeper, his kiss became wild and desperate.  I put my hands on his chest and lightly pushed him away.  His tongue disappeared then his lips, and he pulled back with one last sharp nip to my bottom lip then ran his thumb over the spot his teeth had just left.

“Shaw, I ca-“

“I know, baby.  We just need to slow down, that was too fast.”

I nodded and he pulled me into a deep hug that felt like a desperate act of the heart.

“Don’t leave me,” he whispered into my hair. “Let’s just go to the beach. Okay?  Just give me today.”

I nodded again, and he led the way from the house down the long walkway to the white sand.

***

Deacon

I’d been locked up in my apartment with Angela for days trying to get her straightened out, but it felt like years since I’d snuck out of Eli’s house while she slept on the couch; forever since I’d seen her.  After I got Angela here that afternoon, I tried to take her to the hospital to have her eye looked at but she swore it was fine, even though it was swollen shut and covered with crusted blood, I didn’t argue. I just cleaned it up and forced her to eat something before locking her in my bedroom to sleep.  Of course, she still hadn’t offered any information about what caused her face to look like she’d just lost her first MMA fight.  I didn’t bother to push her for details either; not yet anyway, not until she was clean.  The marks on her arm were enough for me to know drugs were involved, so I’d already called every drug rehab center I could find asking for an open spot, but the damn things were booked—fucking druggies and their relapses. 

The days had been rough, but the nights were worse.  We’d been through this before, Angela and I, but that still hadn’t prepared me for round two of the cold sweats, shakes, vomiting, and the overwhelming bitchy attitude.  If anyone ever questioned my love or loyalty for my friend, I’d be sure and tell him about cleaning up her piss for the third time in one day.  It was the worst few days of my life, but I knew it was worse for Angela.  I had no doubts about the Hell she was currently living in.  Which made my neediness to see Eli seem a lot less important, but no less real for me.

My eyelids felt like they were coated with sand and refused to stay open much longer, I’d spent so much time taking care of Angela I hadn’t eaten or slept.  Since she was finally passed the worst, I knew I had to sleep.  I closed the blinds on the windows in my living room, trying to block some of the annoyingly bright sunshine that was filtering into the room.  I landed face first on a couch cushion that smelled like ass and stale beer – not a good combination.  I’d always loved that couch, I bought it with some of the first money I earned doing studio work – it symbolized how far I’d come from the lowlife I used to be.  But now I longed for a fancy leather couch that smelled like someone had soaked it in berries.  I wanted to curl up next to a dark-haired beauty with soulful green eyes and bury every ounce of frustration I had deep inside her.  But that wasn’t going to happen—sleep, I needed sleep.

I woke what felt like minutes later, but I knew it had probably been hours, with a soft warm body pressed against the front of mine.  I pressed my hips further into it and felt a nice round ass wrapped around my dick.

“Deacon, you know I love you, but if you don’t get your boner outta my ass, I will Lorena Bobbitt you.”

The mere mention of the words Lorena or Bobbitt would send any dick back to half-mast in the blink of an eye, and Annie was no different. I opened my eyes and was immediately consumed with wild, curly hair I had to push away from my mouth to speak.

“I love your sexy-ass hair Ang, but I don’t want the shit in my mouth!”

She laughed and rolled over so she was facing me. She wrapped her arm around my side and pushed her head into my chest.  It wasn’t a sexual hug; it was a show of love.  I smoothed her unruly hair and lightly kissed the top of her head.

“You must feel better, first time you’ve been outta my room since we got here.”

“I do, I think the worst is over.”

“Good, I’m glad.  But it’s not over yet, not by a long shot.” I warned.

 “I love you D. You’re the only one that ever cares.” She whispered into my chest.

“I love you, too, Ang, I always have, and I always will, no matter what happens.” I paused to let my words sink in before I shattered them. “But you gotta stop fucking up left and right.  Get your shit together, hear me?”

“I know; I was trying.  I wanted to get away; they didn’t want me to.”

“How many speedballs total?” I asked harshly and felt her body tense.

She shook her head lightly, “None, I swear.  I stayed away from it, I knew it’d kill me this time.”

I felt her words crawl into my heart, and I prayed they weren’t false.  “What has it been then?”

“Just coke. I swear, Deacon.”

“Swear to me, Ang, swear right now: no more.” I demanded, leery of her reply.

“No more, Deac, I swear.”

The room was dark except for a small amount of light filtering from the bathroom, so I couldn’t see her face to gauge her honesty.  Angela could never tell a lie without biting her lip or twirling her hair—everyone has a “tell” once you get to know them well enough—and I always watched for it.

“I gotta tell Tony.” I said softly, fucking dreading that conversation.

“I know.” Was all she said.

“I’ll go see him tomorrow.”

“No, I’ll go.  I need to tell him.”

“I don’t know, that won’t go over well coming from you.”

“It’s my fuck up, so I will deal with it, Deac.” She snapped, a little too harshly.

She had no fucking clue what she would be walking in to, but I’d let her mend her own fences if that’s the road she wanted to take.

Tony was how I knew Angela; he was her older brother, my best friend.  We met close to fifteen years ago when I ran away from my last foster home.  It was so cold that night I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes, which I took as a sign the Gods were cursing me even further. I’d lived on the west coast all my life, and had never seen it as cold as the night I finally decided to run away after suffering through the last beating I’d ever allow.  At first, my warm breath came in large puffs blocking my sight as I cautiously walked down the dark, deserted street.  After a while, when every inch of my outsides were frozen, my breath barely made a hazy cloud beneath my nose. I thought I was tough; I’d spent years going toe to toe with some of the toughest assholes I’d ever met.  But I didn’t have a fucking clue what cruelty awaited me on the hard streets of Los Angeles.

I was lucky a hard-ass know-it-all like Tony saved my ass from the gang whose territory I’d encroached on.  I don’t know what he saw in me, but he took me in and protected me.  A smart-ass boy never would have stood a chance without someone tough like Tony.  He showed me the ropes of LA, the legal and illegal side of life, and I learned that shit well.  His protection of me was the only reason I’d be the one visiting him at a state penitentiary this weekend to tell him the little sister he got hooked on drugs started using again, instead of him visiting me in the local cemetery.