Page 13 of Evading Exodus
“Oh yeah.”
I turned around and tugged his body to mine, sealed the deal with a heated kiss and a slap on his ass. “Batter up, Ace.”
? ? ? ?
Lunch at T.J.’s was, as I expected, an exercise in futility.
Seth was all bravado, snide remarks, and underhanded comments. All in front of his son, too. I could tell even Ace was getting annoyed with him. Not once did an apology pass his lips. I lasted all of thirty minutes in Seth’s company before escaping to the kitchen with nothing more than an “Excuse me” whispered in Ace’s ear.
When I entered, I turned and slapped the wall, startling Terry. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I muttered loudly.
“Wanna talk about it?”
I turned, sighing, and leaned against the wall I’d just assaulted, frustrated because it couldn’t be who I wanted to slap into tomorrow. “Not particularly.”
Terry nodded. “Wanna smash some potatoes for me?” He held out the smasher.
“God, yes! Give it here.” I snatched it from his hand and walked over to the big pot on the stove but then detoured towards the sink—luckily, I still had a few functioning brain cells to remind myself to wash first.
Sleeves rolled and hands scrubbed clean, I smushed and smashed and beat those potatoes into submission. With a final picture of Seth crumpled on the floor, a black-booted foot keeping him down, I stepped away, bumping into a solid body and an envelopment of arms. I hadn’t even heard Ace come into the kitchen.
“Feeling better?” He lightly gripped my shoulders as he placed a kiss on the back of my neck. I let my head hang forward as he attempted to massage away the tension I could still feel beneath my skin.
“Not really. Maybe I shouldn’t go tonight.”
He spun me around, a frown marring his features. “Why not?”
“Look, if I can’t even last thirty minutes in the same room with him, how am I going to last hours at your parents’ house?”
“We could tie him up and gag him, leave him in a corner?” Ace’s eyes brightened with his over-the-top attempt to cheer me up.
I shook my head as I tried to keep a straight face. “Unfortunately, my bedroom Dom doesn’t like to come out of the bedroom.”
“That’s okay,” Ace whispered, taking my face in his hands, “he can stay there.” He glanced right and then left. Seeing no one but Terry, he kissed me hard, stealing my breath.
“Wow. Well. Okay then.” I was at a loss for more substantial words, my brain dizzy from lack of oxygen. I had to admit that Ace knew all the right things to do to make me forget.
“Besides,” Ace said, “it doesn’t matter anymore. Seth has decided he’s going to head back today. Said he’ll stop at my parents’ and visit with them, but he’ll be gone before we get there.”
“Why’s he doing that?”
“Because he’s my friend, and he does realize that he’s put me, and you, in an awkward situation. After you left the table, I could only stare at the kitchen door, waiting for you to come out. Terry brought our food over but wouldn’t tell me where you were when I asked. Seth made some asinine comment, and I almost punched him. Thankfully, Terry is stronger than he looks. Jake took Owen to eat at the bar, and Seth finally spilled. He was apologetic, or at least seemed to be, but I’ve known him a long time. Our friendship may not last after this last bit of nonsense.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means it’s a long story, and he’s pissed me off in the past, but I don’t want to think about it right now. What I want to do is take you home, plant you on the couch, and feed you lunch.”
My stomach took in the word lunch and growled its approval. “That sounds perfect.”
? ? ? ?
Lunch was laid back and relaxed, until I was laid back on the couch and anything but. Our postprandial activities resulted in our arriving thirty minutes late at Ace’s parents’ house, added to the fact that I was a tiny bit nervous about meeting Ace’s brother and the rest of his extended family. As we drove, Ace told me funny stories from his youth, so by the time we got there, I almost felt like I’d known his brother Jack forever.
We parked on the street and got out of the car. Ace came around the front and reached for my hand. I gladly gave it and was rewarded with an elegant bow and a kiss to my knuckles. A happy sigh escaped me, and I licked my lips, hoping for one last taste of him. Ace gave a slight shake of his head before turning and leading me towards the house.
He held tight to my hand as he pulled open the screen door, braced it with his body and twisted the front doorknob. I grabbed hold of the door awkwardly when he let go, and I was looking down at my feet to avoid tripping over myself as I stepped inside. It ended up hitting me in the ass when I bumped into Ace’s back. I looked over his shoulder, my eyes panning the room, stopping cold at Seth’s presence.
Backpedaling, I cursed and tried to pull my hand out of Ace’s grip, but he only tightened his hold. I grabbed his wrist and yanked my hand out of his. Stepping back outside, I leaned heavily against the shingled wall, blowing hard in anger, my hands pressed to the rough textured wood. Ace leaned out, his gaze boring into mine. I closed my eyes, tilted my head back to the wall and tried to breathe slowly, hearing him as he stomped into the house.
