Shattered Heart (The Hart Series) (12 page)

Alex seems
slightly bothered by the question as his eyes meet mine.  I flash him an
apologetic look hoping he realizes that I didn’t bring Oliver to intentionally
hurt him.  Damn, I didn’t even know
he
would be coming.  If I had, I
certainly would not have extended an invitation.  He knows that right? 
Shit.
 
How would he know?  That’s all I’ve done in the past few weeks is hurt him. 
This is not good.

Bryan comes back
just in the nick of time.  Alex was just about to open his mouth and I can only
imagine what was about to come out of it.  Instead, Bryan returns chuckling,
holding a glass of wine.  “Anyone need a drink?”

I raise my hand
and head to the kitchen leaving the three men alone.  I’m sure Bryan can handle
the two of them.  Then again, Bryan being team Alex may decide to help him beat
the crap out of Oliver. 
No, it’s Thanksgiving…they wouldn’t.  At least, I
hope not.

“What the hell,
Rach?”  I kick her lightly in the butt causing her to jump in surprise.

With wide
angelic eyes, my sister looks at me as if I’m the pot calling the kettle
black.  “I should be asking you the same thing.  I thought you were in
love
with Alex; and miserable.  El, who is that?”  She points towards the door with
a large foolish grin on her face.

“That is
Oliver.  He’s a
friend,
who didn’t have a place to go for the holidays.”

“Then there’s no
problem.”

“Ugh, there is a
huge problem.”  I grab a flute from the cabinet and pour myself some cabernet. 
I decide to keep the bottle close.  Even though I rarely drink, this is gearing
towards being a whole bottle kind of night.  “Oliver and Alex aren’t exactly
friends.”  Rachel furrows her brows and breaks out in a sly grin, with her a-ha
moment. 

“I get
it…Oliver’s trying to get a piece of the Ely pie.”  I roll my eyes.  “Does he
realize that you’re in L.O.V.E. with Alex?”

“No, and I’d
like to keep it that way.  I’d like it if Alex didn’t realize I was in L.O.V.E.
with him as well.  I need some D.I.S.T.A.N.C.E. from him, Rach.”

“Wait,” she
turns her attention to me and away from the pot of mashed potatoes she was
stirring, “Why?”

I shake my head
and make my way to the living room leaving my dear sister with more unanswered
questions.  It’s not like I want to keep anything from her, but now I’m more
than a little terrified of what I would say if she asked the wrong question. 

Just as I’m
about to walk into the living room, I’m stopped in my tracks as I hear the deep
stifled laughter coming from around the corner.  I walk towards the noise to
find Travis and Trevor sitting on the couch with a beer in hand.  The dynamic
duo has been sitting there the entire time getting their kicks off my emotional
turmoil. 
Oh, they think this is funny, huh.  Let me show them funny. 

I place my hand
on my hip as I twist my lips to the side, giving them my angry face.  “What the
hell are you two doing?” 

“Happy
Gobble-Gobble Day to you too, Ely!”  Trevor rises and pulls me into a giant
hug, squeezing the air out of my body as he twirls me around like a rag doll. 
His arms tighten around me as he dips his face to the crook of my neck and
inhales.  “Damn you smell good.” 

“Alright, that’s
enough.”  Alex’s voice stops Trevor enough to lower me to the ground, but keeps
his arms wrapped around me. 

“Hey, I thought
we were all sharing in some Ely love today.”  Trevor takes a low blow at Alex
right when Bryan and Oliver walk in behind him.

Releasing me,
Trevor approaches Oliver and extends his hand.  “Trevor…you must be the guy
with a death wish.”

Travis bellows
behind him.  “Stop being a douche and sit your ass down.  Don’t mind him…he’s
had a few too many.”

Oliver stands
awkwardly off to the side, but holds his ground.  “Well, if I’m about to meet
my demise I guess I better wash my hands before that happens.”

Bryan points him
to the same bathroom Alex exited moments ago.  And as if on cue, I’m being
pulled by my elbow toward the back guest bedroom, spilling some of my wine in
the process.

“Alex, what the
fuck?”  I cringe away from him when I hear Trevor making kissing noises in the
background before he closes and locks the door.

“You’re killing
me, Elyssa.”  Gripping my shoulders, he moves me to the far wall.  With my back
pressed against it, he encapsulates me with both of his hands.  Leaning closer,
Alex rests his forehead against mine as he attempts to reign in his anger. 
“You are literally ripping me open.  Slowly.  So, please,” he starts to raise
his voice and then thinks better of it, “Please enlighten me as to what I did
to deserve any of this shit?”    The ache in his voice threatens to derail both
of us, and with a last ditch effort to control his temper, his eyes close.

I set my glass
of wine on the windowsill before reaching up to brush my fingers down his
chiseled jaw line.  My hands pause on the back of his neck as I enjoy this
brief moment.  I want nothing more than to bring his lips down to mine, but
we’ve already complicated our situation more than we should have.  “Alex, I’m
not doing anything to you.  I’m trying to get through this mess, just like you,
and you’re making it nearly impossible.”

“I thought you
needed space…time…whatever to figure your shit out, but then you bring that
asshole to Thanksgiving dinner.  Do you know how much strength it’s taking to
keep my cool?” he shakes his head, clutching his eyes tightly together. 

“He had nowhere
to go, Alex.  His family is in California and I was trying to be his
friend
.” 
Pulling me even closer, my eyes lull shut when I take in a deep breath of his
scent.  The hint of citrus and man awakens something inside of me and my hands
are no longer under my control.  With my eyes shut, my senses are heightened
and I shiver; the feel of my hands exploring the length of his arms.  I caress
both elbows, fingers gently grazing over his smooth skin, running along the
curves of his muscular forearms until they rest on his wrist.  Heaven.

With our eyes
open, I notice his normally bright blue eyes have darkened as he reaches down,
running his fingers against the apple of my cheek before resting against my
bottom lip.  “Your touch tells me that you still want me, but…”  He fixates on
my lips as his fingers press roughly against my pout.  “But your lips say
something else.  I don’t know what to trust.  If your lips are lying to me
about how you feel, then how do I know you’re not lying about something else?”

Turning my head,
I move away from his touch.   The hurt and betrayal in his voice is dominant
and I’m on the verge of giving in, again.  Just to take his pain away.  “I’ve
never once lied to you!  When I said I needed time…I meant it.  I can’t be with
you right now.  One day, you’ll realize that what I’m doing, I’m doing for you,
for…” 

With a huff,
Alex pushes past me, heading to the door.  “You are the most frustrating woman
I’ve ever met.  I’ve turned into a fucking pussy whipped bitch over you and
you’re doing nothing but fuck with me.  You need to make up your mind.”  So
much for reeling in his emotion and keeping quiet.  No, now Alex has not only
raised his voice but the anger he desperately tried to keep tucked away has
seeped through his tightly veiled mask.

Unfortunately
for him, I carry the stubborn gene and refuse to back down.  I point my finger
at him and glare.  “Don’t you dare blame…” 
Knock, knock, knock.
 

Bryan’s voice
travels through the locked door.  “E, Rachel needs you to help her set the
table.”  Wiping the tears pooling in my eyes, I attempt to push past Alex, but
just as I’m about to get to the door he grabs me again. 

“Hart, I didn’t
mean…”  I pull away, letting the few stray tears slide down my cheeks.  Not
giving him anything else, I bolt out the door leaving Alex and Bryan to
themselves.  I don’t make it far before I feel my chest tighten and pain
rolling through my stomach.  I stop and bend over resting my hands on my bare
knees catching my breath.  I wish I could have made it a few more steps, then I
wouldn’t have had the wind knocked out of me by Alex’s words. 

“Alex, you gotta
chill out.  E doesn’t respond well to your Neanderthal antics.  You can’t
threaten Oliver’s life and throw her over your shoulder and expect to get the
girl.  At least not
that
girl.”

“She’s so
fucking frustrating.  She treats me like I’m yesterday’s news and brings that
prick here.  You said it yourself Bryan, she doesn’t bring guys home to meet
you guys.  You’re the one that told me that when she brought me over, it had to
mean something.  Yet here’s this DICK coming around and…”  Alex yells the word
“dick” loud enough for the neighbors down the street to hear.  I shake my head
and continue to try and take deep breaths. 
He thinks I brought Oliver home
to meet my family.  He thinks he wasn’t special to me…that he is special to
me. 

“Hey, I need you
to calm the fuck down and stop acting like such a pussy,” he teases. 
Thump.
 
“Fuck man that hurt.”  I can only imagine where Alex must have punched him for
the pussy comment.  “My point is, just try to put on a happy face and get
through dinner.  The prick will leave and you’ll have a chance to talk to E and
get to the bottom of things.”

“Fine.”  Alex
huffs and I quickly straighten myself and walk down the hall to the kitchen. 
Distance,
Ely.  Put some distance between the two of you and you’ll be just fine.  Ha,
yah right.

~~~~~

Like usual,
Rachel went all out for dinner.  A succulent turkey surrounded by homemade
mashed potatoes, rolls, stuffing, corn on the cob, salad, and of course my
green bean casserole sit on top the tangerine table cloth.  Rachel and Bryan,
being the conspirators they are, thought it would be cute to sit Alex and I
next to each other. 
You remember that distance I said I needed earlier? 
Well, I guess that’s not happening.  Cue eye roll.

An even more
awkward picture is Oliver.  He’s been placed between Travis and Trevor, and if
this situation wasn’t so desperately depressing, I might laugh.  Both brothers
sandwich my poor friend who’s been searching my eyes for answers, and only
getting disappointed.  I honestly don’t know what to say to him.  This
situation is a mess and he knows it.

Rachel starts
dinner with grace but before allowing us to dive in, she asks us to join hands
and say what we are thankful for.  This is something we’ve done ever since our
parents died.  We never had a chance to thank our parents for the life they
gave us, regardless how short our time together was.  So even though it’s once
a year, we always tell each other how much we appreciate each other.

I attempt to
hold back my giggles and fail, when I look across the table at Oliver holding
both Trevor’s and Travis’s large hands.  Oliver rolls his eyes in my direction,
but eventually flashes me his playful grin.  That’s one of the things I love
about Oliver.  He’s easy going and just rolls with the punches. 

“Well El, since
you are in such high spirits, you can start first,” Rachel teases.  Usually
it’s just me, Rachel and Bryan for dinner so saying what I’m thankful for
doesn’t extend past the other two people I’m eating with.  But this year, I’m
thankful for so much more and regardless of what Alex thinks I feel, I am
thankful for him.  Now, if I can just tell him that without clueing in the rest
of the table.

I feel a blush
as all eyes are on me.  “Geez, no pressure, guys.”  The table chuckles at my
discomfort.  “Well, I’m thankful for my beautiful sister and Bryan for always
loving me unconditionally.  I’m thankful for great friends to share this
holiday with.”  My eyes glance over at Oliver who’s unabashedly staring at me. 
“And I’m thankful for bottles of chocolate and moments of fate at gas
stations.”  The words escape my mouth without thinking and once they’re out,
Alex’s grip tightens on my hand while I studiously avoid his stare.

Rachel gives me a
look of confusion before glancing around the table.  “Okay, well that
was…different, who’s next?”

“Okay, I’ll go
next,” Travis chimes in.  “I’m thankful for friends who take in a pair of
scruffy brothers for Thanksgiving.”

“Who’re you
calling scruffy?”  Trevor leans forward to shoot Travis a glare past Oliver. 

Clearing his
throat, Travis continues.  “Although that little bastard over there is all I
have nowadays, I can honestly say I don’t feel alone knowing we have people
like ya’ll in our lives.”

Because she’s
sitting next to Travis, all of us can see Rachel’s eyes glisten while listening
to him speak.  On a day like today, it’s nice to know you’re loved by your
friends.

“Dude Bryan, you
may want to move my brother away from your girl.  He’s got her all misty eyed,
giving him the baby-making eyes.”  

The table erupts
in laughter as Travis leans behind Oliver to slap his brother in the back of
his head.  So much for holding hands during our giving thanks. 

“What did ya do
that for?”  Trevor rubs his head as the table tries to rein in their laughter. 
“Fine, I’ll go next…I’m thankful that I take after my mother and got the good
looks in the family.”  I snicker watching Trevor fist his hands against the
orange table cloth.  “I’m thankful Rachel puts up with my foul mouth and
obscene comments while continuing to allow me to come back to her home.  And
I’m even more thankful that Rachel and E have amazing genes which make them
smoking hot.  You can’t beat good food and hot chicks!”  Trevor raises his beer
in the air and then takes a large swig.