Page 32 of Cedar Edge
“You said there is no reality here.” I remind her.
She offers a sad, small smile before looking around us. “You really did all this for me?”
“I needed to remember you, remember the feelings you gave me. It kept me… grounded.” I say, unsure how to tell her that the times the darkness ate at my soul the most were the times I found myself here. It was like this was my church and she was the god I needed to worship. Her body moves around the space, ignoring the rain and focusing on the flowers I’ve planted. The silence stretches on and on until it hits a crescendo. “Thea please tell me what you're thinking…”
“I’m thinking I need time. And space” She says finally, turning back to me. Slowly she starts to back away towards the gate and despite her asking for space and time my feet follow. “Ace, please. Don’t follow me.”
“Cricket I’m sorry for earlier, I’m sorry for what I said.” I try.
“I know.” She says and yet she doesn’t stop. Instead I watch her sprint towards the house.
Thea
My mind is a mess.
Ace has always overwhelmed me. Ever since we were little. But now that feeling feels ten fold and it’s at war with the anger and hurt I feel for the words he spat at me. Despite that, my body feels alive, every nerve is awake and firing, needing moreof whatever Ace injected into my veins through that orgasm. My lips still tingle from the kiss that could have sucked my soul free of my body. And had I stayed in that garden I think I would have begged him to fuck me.
Even now I can feel his eyes on me. Feel that burning stare that seems to see every little thing in my soul. Or at least he used to. Ace saw me more clearly than anyone ever did, which is maybe what made the word vomit in the barn all the more painful. Because if he saw me, really saw me, maybe some of what he said was true.
“It is true. You wanted me. But you got bored. I understand. You needed to slum it for awhile.”
A sob rips from my throat as I run. My feet pounding into the path leading me up to the backdoor of the house before I’m throwing myself through it and running straight into Law’s chest.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Law asks, his grip on my arms a steady pressure as he keeps my body upright. He takes one look at my face, the state of my general appearance and frowns. “Answer me now, darlin'.”
“Ace… he uh…” The words tumble out but I can’t seem to make them make sense. I haven’t organized it in my mind yet, cannot even begin to fully verbalize what just transpired. My silence, however, does not help ease whatever tension is moving through the man holding me.
Law looks over my head and back at me, eyes narrowing before he’s handing me off to Logan who had appeared suddenly from the back bedroom.
“ACE!” His voice bellows out, the sound startling me.
“Law! Wait!” I cry out after him. But he doesn’t listen. He’s gone from the house and down the stairs, rushing towards the figure who is now standing in the rain and in full view of the door. “Logan, you have to stop him!” I look up pleadingly athim. His face is set in a grim line so uncharacteristic of what he normally is like.
When he doesn’t say anything I rip myself free of his hold and sprint back out towards the man I just fled from. I watch as Law’s fist connects with Ace’s mouth.
“What the fuck did you do?!” His voice shakes with anger. Ace goes to open his mouth but Law cuts him off with another punch.
“Stop!” I scream out, but Law doesn’t. He grabs onto Ace who has yet to fight back. “Law stop!”
Ace’s eyes catch mine over Law’s shoulder and a sob catches in my throat. I see it all in a flash. And understanding hits me in the gut as I realize Ace is taking the hits as punishment for what he said in the barn. He is using his blood as atonement.
“I told her she wasn’t welcome here. I told her to leave and to go back to her boyfriend.” The words come from him all while he keeps his eyes locked on mine. I wait for him to continue, to explain that it’s fine, everything is okay now but instead he digs his grave deeper. “And then I fucked her pussy with my fingers.”
Law hits him again, the punch landing to Ace’s hardened stomach before he lets his body drop to the ground. I feel frozen in time as Logan brushes past me trying to get between the two. Law goes to launch himself at him once more, only for Logan to grab him from behind.
Ace keeps his eyes on me, only occasionally glancing at the other two. He looks at me like he knows I know exactly what he’s doing. I shake my head and fresh tears well in my eyes. Ace may have jumped to far too many conclusions but this violence is unnecessary.
“Stop fighting!” I yell again, my voice louder and stronger this time. My body finally kicks into gear and I jolt forward, pressing between Logan and Law before stepping back and looking at the three of them through the rain. Lightning cracksoverhead and wind whistles around us, the previously beautiful morning gone.
He spits on the ground again shaking his head as Law steps backwards. For a split second I think I did it, I stopped the fight. That is until Ace opens his mouth again. “Have you two seen what she looks like under that dress?” The statement opens up a wide, yawning chasm in my soul.
“See, I told you they wouldn’t want you. No one will want you but me.”
Law growls low, the wind ripping at us as he goes to launch himself at Ace again.
“God damn it you two, knock it off!” Logan yells. His chest is still bare from waking up and his muscles ripple as he holds Law back. “Go cool off, you’ve got your shift soon!” He shoves Law back who keeps his eyes locked on Ace.
Finally my body seems to unlock and I press closer to him, my hand delicately resting on his forearm. He looks down at me, concern shining in his eyes. “I’m okay, Law. I promise.” Law drags his hand through his hair clearly not believing me so I reach up on my tip toes and dust my lips across his before pulling back again. “Take me inside?” I loop my hand in his and gently start to pull him away from Logan and Ace.
