Slice (The Elledge Family #1) (13 page)

Cypress was in the room across the hall from mine. I placed her bags on the floor and kissed her forehead. “I really need to change before the rest of your family thinks I’m a slouch.”

“Don’t worry my mom will come around.”

“And your dad?”

“We’ll never know.” She chuckled. “Go get dressed.”

I left her room and her mother was behind me. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but for some reason I just wanted to close my door like I had no0t seen her. “Hi,” I smiled.

“So, young man.”

“Ma’am?”

“Perhaps we can talk downstairs while she is getting dressed.”

No. I nodded my head. “Sure.” The house was full of little figurines like my grandmother used to collect only black and smaller. Even the walls had shelves of them and paintings of them. I followed her downstairs and she and Nathan sat down.

“She really likes you.” Nathan smiled.

“I’m grateful for that.” I sat down on the brown plush couch and smirked. “She’s beautiful woman.”

“She’s broken though.” Terry added.

“I don’t see that.” I said. I could see it, but I don’t want them to know that I see that. Everyone had a piece of them that was broken.

“She is,” Terry crossed her legs. “I can see why she likes you. You’re handsome and that accent is very pulling. Where are you from, England?”

“Yes, ma’am, I was born and raised in Sedburg, Cumbria and Wicklow, Ireland.” The town of Cumbria was small but had produced me and shit ton of other writers. There had to be something in the water. I’m happy I had a sip.

“Wow, well how’d you get in America?” Nathan seemed like a nice guy. He hadn’t hemmed me up in a corner just yet.

“My adopted mum lives here in the states.”

“So, what do you do?”

“I own a restaurant and go to school.”

“What kind of restaurant?”

“A place called the Summit in Colorado Springs. We serve American Cuisine.”

“That’s an accomplishment, how old are you?”

“Twenty-four, my birthday is right around the corner.”

“Well, all that I ask is for you to treat her right. I don’t know what happened with her and her ex but she can’t take another heartache like the one that she had earlier this year.” Nathan held his hand out. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Lucas.”

“Same here, sir,” I smirked.

Cypress

Lana met us at the furniture store and of course she was all over Lucas. She was a sucker for a good accent and some tattoos. They clicked as well. He held my new niece Amory like he was hers and barely moved the entire time that they were in the store.

“He’s okay.” My mom muttered as she held up a plum colored drape. “Do you like this?”

“No, wrong color.” I paused. “He’s a great guy mom.”

“I can see you like him.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, so what’s the problem.”

“How well do you know him?”
      
“Well enough,” I murmured I turned on my heel to Lucas holding Amory in his arms.

“I know she is so beautiful Lana.” He smiled and looked up at me. “Your niece steals hearts like you.”

My face burned red from happiness. “Really.”

“Certainly.” He winked.

Lana smiled. “He’s a winner.” Lana chuckled and reached for Amory.

Lucas handed her over and walked up to me. “Have you found that perfect shade of floral yet, love?”

“I don’t know which one to pick.” I mulled in my head. “I think pastel like floral pillows would be perfect with a beautiful light green couch and some cream drapes. What color is your mom's living room Lucas?”

“Uhm my mum here has this weird orange and tan thing going and my mum at home had a whole I like stripes vibe.”
      

“I like stripes.” The chuckle escaped my mouth.

“Well, you would have loved my old home in England. She had stripes everywhere in the house. I mean there was the couch and the striped theme bathrooms. She even painted some pictures of just strips to go in the bedrooms. She was so peculiar. I talked about those stripes every day.”

“Your mom seems like she was an awesome woman. I want flowers... everywhere.” I touched the plush seats of the green couch and plopped down. My mom walked ahead of us and left us alone for the moment. “It's comfortable, but ugly.”

He sat down on the couch in one swift movement. His hands ran across the cushions of the couch as he swung my feet up into his lap. “This sofa is ugly... it's not you though. I see you with some Queen Ann Couch. A round back and a low sit. Something horrible to sit on while we watch Netflix.”

“Yes, that is what I want. Something dreadful to watch TV on but so beautiful to the eye...”

He chuckled. “I guess it would give us a reason to travel to the bedroom.” Lucas nibbled on my ear lightly.

I nudged him playfully and shook my head. “You are something else Mr. Elledge, be mindful of my six foot five dad.” My eyes glanced over the room for a new couch to test out and there he was... Philip. The one person I never wanted to see again was out. “You wanna cut out of here and get something to eat?”

“Yes, darling, I want to go wherever you want to go.”

“Perfect,” My hands shook and the clammy feeling over took them. I folded my arms. “Great.”

“Cypress!” Philip yelled. His voice brought back some wretched memories.

“Fuck,” I whispered.

Lucas looked up. “Everything alright love? Do you know him?”

“Um, no, my ex-boyfriend is headed this way. Can we leave, like now?” I watched as Lana’s eyes cut over to mine and she was ready to be in rescue mode.

“We can leave. But he’s getting rather close.” Lucas said as he noticed the strange interaction between me and Lana.

Within seconds Phillip appeared in front of us. He still looked perfect. He looked as if we never broke up, no eye aching nights and heartbreaking cries. Just normal. “Cypress, you look amazing. How is college going for you?”

I shifted uncomfortably and shrugged my shoulders. “Fine Philip, I’m actually enjoying it. What about you?”

“Good, you know. I bought a house close to your mom’s house.” He smiled. I knew that he and my mother still carried on like they were best friends and it irked me more than anything. She didn’t realize the torture he had put me through. She would never understand. “Marley and I are expecting. Did your mom tell you?”

My mom turned and her face was pale white. “Philip, imagine seeing you here.”

“She didn't.” If my mom had told me that I would have freaked out. I would have died. I cut my eyes over to my mother and she nodded her head sympathetically. At least she looked like she cared. Marley was the bitch that he had cheated on me with more than once.

“Well, yeah, she's six months.” Philip pointed over to her. Marley, the petite blond bobbed perfect bitch, waved and rolled her eyes in the same motion. She placed her hand back on her round stomach. I didn’t respond.

“We were together six months ago Philip. Why in the fuck would I want to know that my suspicions were accurate?”

“I didn't mean to hurt you.” Phillip paused and held his hands up. “I came over here to apologize actually. I joined a church group. You were heavy on my mind last week. I wanted to call you.”

“Please don't.” I exhaled. My whole face reddened and the sting of tears traced my eyelids. “You think I can just be happy for you after all the continued shit you put me through!” I yelled.

“Hi,” Lucas touched my shoulders and squeezed them lovingly. It sent some sort of comfort through my body. “Congrats on your baby and your new home.”

“Thanks.” Philip's smile diminished. “Who are you exactly?”

“I'm Lucas Elledge, her boyfriend and we were just leaving. Appreciate it if you could shove the fuck off, so we can continue looking for couches too.” Lucas smiled and grabbed my hand. “Dear, are you hungry? I could eat.”

My dad smiled and gave Lucas a nod. “Goodbye Philip.”

“Yes.” I answered.

“Well, it was nice to meet you and Cypress it was good seeing you.” Philip waved. “Goodbye Mr. and Mrs. Tucker.”

“I can't say it was the same for her Phil... Once again, stay the fuck away.” Lucas spat. We moved through the couches and his arm wrapped around my waist and I felt safe and not so incomplete. “Where can we fetch this tea?”

“The London Shoppe!” Lana said. “It’s perfect there.”

“Is that fine Cypress?”

“Perfect.”

The London Shoppe was my mother’s favorite place to get tea. We had gone there four times this week for good reason. The Vanilla tea was a real treat. The herbs mixed in with the sugar made it worth the trip across town to get it. I sipped the tea with eyes closed. “Dear God, it's amazing.”

He nodded his head. “I like the plain old tea myself but I hear the Vanilla Dazzle is dazzling.” Lucas’ voice was calm although it was low. Lucas paused and pushed his cup in front of him. My parents and Lana had allowed us to have some alone time as they fought over which desert crepe that they wanted the most. “What did he do to you to make you feel like you should fear him?”

“I don't fear him.” I lied.

“I know fear when I see it Cy,” His fingers twiddled with the handle of the tea cup and he leaned forward and placed his hand on mine. “It might be the only emotion I can recognize without help.”

“I...” I paused. “Our relationship was not the best of relationships. He cheated on me.” I closed my eyes in frustration. “He raped me once. He was just an ass. And no I shouldn't be mad about them being together but I want something like their love...”

“Whoa, whoa.” Lucas held his hand up. “You want something like that maniacal bastard? You want someone like him?”

“I meant their relationship.”

“Darling, we are better than them on our worst day. He is a piece of shit and I'm happy you waited until we were away from him to tell me everything. I,” he baffled with his words and clenched his fist. “I've not known you long Cy.”

I felt a tingle in my stomach every time he said Cy. “I know.”

“But I know you deserve more than that. You should be ashamed that you even desired a piece of shit like him. You are better than that, you know? You are perfect to me. Everything about you. And the fact that he thought he could belittle you in any form… angers me deeply.”

“I know.” I paused. “I appreciate it and I won't think like that anymore.”

“God don’t apologize to me. You were raped. You should be angry, not envious of some dumb ass bastard and his whoring girlfriend. You are so much better than you think. Give yourself credit.”

“Thank you, I will.”

Lucas

I couldn’t fight the rage. Philip was a maniacal bastard and there was nothing that could settle the way I felt. He was prospect one.  They talked and talked and I laughed occasionally. But her parents were annoying. Especially her father, though he was the one parent that liked me, he made a point to show me his football trophies. I could care less about the bludgeoning sport Americans play for sport.  While the chaos surrounded, I could only think about one thing, the ex-boyfriend and how he almost fucked her up for me. I wanted to see his blood drip to the floor in a pool of blood as he begged for his life. They thirst for it had grown even more ever since Asher had decided to fondle my fucking girlfriend after I told him to stay away. I had composed a plan that consisted of the women drinking themselves into a pit and falling asleep. It was not a hard venture being that Cypress could be lit with one drink.  Then, once it was all done, I would sneak out the front door for some fresh air and some fresh blood.

The dinner was actually a treat. She served some sort of mango flavored fish and some steamed cauliflower. I devoured it and Cypress chugged down wine like it was water and she and her mother became tipsy. They giggled and made goo-goo eyes at me when I spoke. An accent was a funny thing. One difference in a word or the tone of the word after a word and I was a marvel to these women. I kissed her Goodnight and let her know I would like to take a brief walk around the neighborhood. She was so tickled and drunk she knew not of what I said.

I made my way to his house. He was there. I watched him clean his beautiful house and eat his pathetic meal. I could take him out rather easily. Just go in and snap his fucking neck. The things he had done to her had made me want to kill him. It was a valid reason. I calmed myself. I had to release this damn anger that I had felt since early. If I killed him… Who would know that it was me?”

I crouched and looked around. He lived by himself. He had no one there and I had my handy black gloves. I could leave without being traced… I exhaled. I loved her and this is what happened when I loved someone… I went above and beyond to make sure that she was left with no threats… no hint of danger. He was dangerous. I teetered with the thought of him dying in my head. It was done.

I waited for the lights to turn off and crept into his house unnoticed. I snatched the phone cords from the wall and walked into the bedroom. The smell of his shower came into the hall. I turned my head and looked. He still had the picture of them on his dresser.  She didn’t look happy like she did when she was with me. She looked despondent and miserable.  I tossed the picture to the ground and he walked out of the room.