I sat first. Ivory stared at the empty space beside me as if it might have some kind of contagious disease.
Still holding her hand, I tugged, bringing her into my lap.
“Neo!” She gasped.
Locking my arms around her waist, I answered, “You can move over if you want to.”
She didn’t. She stayed firmly in my lap. “How much longer will we be riding this thing?”
“You in a hurry to get off?”
That earned me a shy glance and a glimpse at her blushing cheek.
Resting my chin on her shoulder, I couldn’t help but hold her a little tighter. “Long enough for you to tell me something about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?”
How to keep you. “Whatever you want to tell me.”
“I own my own fashion company. We specialize in high-end couture and accessories. It’s called Reflection.”
“Why’d you name it that?”
Her face turned a little toward mine, and I didn’t think she realized her finger was playing with the strings between the rips in my jeans over my knee.
Just that slightest touch, her skin against mine, drove me crazy and made me work double time to hear the words she was speaking.
“Because to me, fashion is a reflection of who you are or who you want to be. It’s the first thing people see about you, the first impression you give. And because I think everyone should love the reflection they see when they look into a mirror.”
“And what about you, princess? Do you love the reflection in your mirror?”
“Sometimes.”
The scoffing sound I made ruffled her hair, and she twisted around in my lap to look into my face, a scowl firmly on hers. “Why is that funny?” she demanded.
“Because you’re so gorgeous. There is no way you can’t know that.”
“Your reflection is more than just the way you look,” she admonished softly.
Ahh. I felt that.
Swallowing thickly, I couldn’t resist tugging the cap off her head so I could see every expression that flickered across her features.
She ducked her head, fear flashing in her eyes.
Tipping her chin up so our eyes could meet, I reassured her. “No one is looking. It’s just you and me right now.”
I could have sworn I felt her tremble.
“So tell me, sweetheart.” I began, keeping my voice for only her to hear. Tucking a midnight strand of hair behind her ear, I asked, “What is it about your reflection you don’t like?”
We went through another tunnel, lights flickering off and darkness hiding everything, including whatever expression she’d likely just made.
“There’s this…unknown inside me I can’t explain. Fear that lives deep within me, but it wears a cloak so I can’t ever see its face. It makes me question everything, even myself,” she confided.
I marveled at her honesty, again at the trust she offered as if baring her deepest secrets were no big deal because she knew I’d keep them safe.
My God, I wanted to be that for her. I wanted to be the man I saw reflected in her clear blue eyes. I wanted to shelter and protect. I wanted to hold all her secrets close and bear the burden of her worries so she wouldn’t have to.
“And sometimes…” She paused, eyes finally skirting away.
“Sometimes what?” I cajoled, wrapping a palm around her hip.
“Sometimes I feel lonely like there are pieces of me missing, pieces I might never find.”
I’m a thief. She is a princess.
Two different hearts. Two different worlds.
But here in this grimly lit subway, she sat in my lap, and here in this moment, our hearts shared a single beat.
“Something in me recognizes something in you,” I whispered, caressing the bandage I’d applied over her cheek just hours before.
She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. Long, silent moments passed as the subway sped along, but we were suspended in time, lost in a world of our own.
When she finally looked away, it was all I could do to haul in a shuddering breath. My lungs burned as though we’d been kissing for hours and I’d forgotten to breathe. I felt kissed. No, I felt devoured, and the fog in my mind tried to convince me our lips had met.
“What about you?”
I blinked, pushing through the fog still hovering over my thoughts like a forest in the early morning hours. “What?”
Bow-shaped lips tugged into a smile. “Now you tell me something about you.”
The harsh sound of metal scraping against metal was like nails on a chalkboard on crack, as the subway screeched to a stop. The voice over the speaker announced the stop and I stood, sitting Ivory on her feet. “This is us.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed, spinning around to watch the doors slide open. “We’re here?” she asked, as I pulled the hat low on her head.
“Hmm.” I agreed. “We’re here.”
And just in time too. Because I didn’t want to answer her question. I didn’t want to become the villain in her storybook.
32
Ivory
* * *
Tall wooden poles with metal arms curving out like hooks at the top illuminated the night with yellow light. Their brightness only cast so far, leaving patches of shadows in between, giving everything a seedy feel.
The blacktop underfoot was faded and uneven, puddles of water pooled in the dips, but the flatter areas just appeared damp. A huge building spread out in front of us, a place that looked like nothing more than a massive garage. All the wide doors were lifted, and everything inside was wide-open concrete with concrete pillars and more harsh, unflattering lighting.
Despite the ungodly hour and the fact the sun was long from coming up, the place bustled, coming alive while the rest of the city slept. Shouts from men and beeping from what I assumed was the small tractor-looking things driving around filled the air. Piles of wooden pallets, empty boxes, and other unidentifiable objects were all piled around.
The scent in the air was unpleasant. Well, really, it was foul. A cross between fish, sweat, and damp air. Over to the right, river water came right up to the pavement with barely any kind of separation from land. The water lapped noisily against the meek concrete wall holding it back, and a few precarious and frankly frightening-looking rickety docks stretched out into the water.
Wind blew off the water, making me shiver as I stared toward the city beyond and the huge bridge that stretched over it. Even though the city was in slumber and the sky was dark, it wasn’t truly black. There were still too many lights to give the sky the rich onyx that could be found in Neo’s eyes. Overhead was murkier, a deep gray instead of black.
“What is this place?” I asked, pulling my gaze from the murky, rough waves.
“A fish market.”
Startled, I focused on Neo by tipping my head back to stare at him fully from under the brim of my hat. Sometimes his eyes intimidated me, the secrets they held, the mysteries that begged to be solved.
I kept seeking them out anyway, unable to deny the urge to find something, anything, in their depths.
“A fish market,” I echoed, trying to decide what in the world that meant. “Like a place where people come to shop for fish?”
He nodded.
One of those machine-type things collided with a pile of pallets, sending them crashing over and creating a mighty ruckus.
Startled, I jolted toward Neo, my fingers closing around the hem of his jacket.
“But why would anyone shop for fish at two in the morning?” I wondered, wrinkling my nose. And here of all places? No, thank you.
The corner of Neo’s mouth lifted, and all my focus went to his lips. His lower lip was plumper than the top. He always looked to be pouting, but he rarely ever was. I thought about the way we stared at each other in the subway. I remembered how it felt to sit snuggly in his lap.
My own lips tingled as though they remembered the taste of him, yet how could they? His taste
was just as mysterious as the secrets his eyes held.
“This is the time when we get our deliveries. Some come by boat.” He gestured to the water. “Some by truck. We unpack them, get the fish ready and on ice, and then the vendors come to make their choices.”
“Like restaurants?”
He nodded, pride shimmering in his eyes, and I couldn’t help the pleasure I felt at his approval.
I mean really, I wasn’t dumb. I owned my own company. Actually, I owned my father’s massive company, W, as well. I wanted to snap that at him, but how could I when he was so pleased?
“Yes, a lot of the really good local restaurants get their supply here, and a few people who just live around here come down and get some because it’s fresh.”
My lips pursed. “So the fish are all dead?”
“Most of them.”
My stomach turned queasy. “What about the ones that aren’t?” I whispered loudly.
He laughed. It was a genuine chuckle that calmed the sickness quelling my stomach. Leaning down beside my ear, he whispered, “Do you really want to know?”
My head shook so adamantly I fell backward over my own feet. A squeal of alarm caught in my throat but never released because he caught me before I fell.
“How can a person be clumsy and graceful at the same time?” he murmured, breath fanning over my face.
I wanted him to kiss me. Like really kiss me.
Smacking his shoulder, I moved out of his grasp. “I am far from clumsy.” I sniffed. “It’s these cheap shoes.”
“Neo!” someone yelled from one of the doorways. “We ain’t paying ya to stand around.”
“This place can’t be that profitable,” I muttered as he started away.
Turning back, he lifted a brow. “Actually, it is, and the pay is good because not many people are willing to do this kind of work.”
My face scrunched up. “Selling fish? Is it hard?”
He laughed again, his white teeth flashing in the dimly lit night. They weren’t perfectly straight and set just right from years of braces or dental work. They weren’t whitened professionally until the brightness sparkled. Instead, they were slightly crooked and a little uneven, the color more natural. I actually found it a little charming.
“Come find out.” His smile appeared again, an ornery glint in his stare and the dimples in his cheeks making his roguishness all the more appealing.
His fingers stretched between us, wiggling a bit, asking for me to take them.
Slipping my hand into his, I noted a boat gliding across the water toward the building. Apprehension filled me. “Neo?”
“Yes, princess?”
“We don’t have to go in the water, do we?”
He stopped and turned, rubbing a thumb over my knuckles. “You don’t like the water?”
“I can’t swim.”
This seemed to surprise him and make him grin like the Cheshire cat. “Whaaat? Something the princess cannot do?”
“I’m just really not a big fan of water.”
A knowing look came over him. “Like rainstorms.”
I nodded, an uncomfortable, murky feeling squirming around inside me. That feeling was there a lot lately, and I thought it was because, you know, someone tried to kill me twice. But why was it slithering around now, turning my stomach nauseous when the huntsman was nowhere in sight?
“Hey.” His booted feet bumped against mine, and his voice gentled. “It’s okay. You don’t need to go near the water, okay?”
Nodding, I did my best to shake off the ominous feeling and smile brightly.
High-pitched whistling filled the air when we stepped into the building, and what felt like a million eyes turned to us.
Suddenly, I became conscious of our hands that clung together. I felt completely small and out of place.
“Who is this?” someone cracked.
“Looks like Neo has himself a girlfriend.” Someone else chuckled.
I opened my mouth to deny it, but Neo squeezed my hand, silently telling me not to deny.
“Yep, she’s mine, so go easy, okay, guys? She’s never been to a place like this before, so don’t make fun of her too much.”
A few whistles and catcalls made me stiffen. How uncivilized. Didn’t their mothers teach them any manners?
“She’s awful tiny,” a large man said, coming over, practically sizing me up.
I stood a little straighter, lifting my chin. “Maybe you’re just large,” I retorted, matter-of-fact.
He threw back his head and laughed. All the other men around us joined in. His beard looked as if it hadn’t been groomed for years, and his cheeks were ruddy from likely working outside.
“Spunky,” he said, laughter still glittering in his eyes.
“Times a’wasting,” snapped another large, equally ungroomed man. He was wearing overalls and some sort of puffy vest over top. “I ain’t got time for this.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt you at your place of business, sir,” I said, contrite. “What can I do to help?”
Neo made a small sound, and I slid him a glance.
Just why did he appear so amused?
The grouchy man was taken aback with surprise. “Well now, honey, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“Not at all. Time is money.”
He looked as though he’d swallowed one of the fish he sold and shuffled off.
Beside me, the other man chuckled. “First time I’ve seen old Harold speechless.” Holding out his calloused, slightly dirty hand, he said, “Nice to meet ya. I’m Kraken.”
“Like the sea creature?” I wondered, shaking his hand.
Everyone laughed, the loud booming of it ringing up to the rafters.
“Just like that,” he said, winking.
I nodded. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Kraken, sir.”
A large semi with bright lights pulled into the lot, slowly making its way over.
“All right, everyone, let’s get to work!” Kraken roared, making me step back into Neo.
“His real name is Craig,” he whispered in my ear.
I giggled.
Loud, pumping music blasted overhead through speakers I hadn’t even noticed. It was jarring for this hour of the day, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine working while it was blaring. How did they even think?
“Put this on,” Neo said, draping some kind of bright-yellow slicker around me.
“This is hideous,” I announced, recoiling. “And it smells like fish!”
“Did ya think it would smell like roses?” One of the nearby men cackled, laughing like he’d made some epic joke.
“Come on.” Neo urged, already buttoning it up around me. “You’ll be thankful for this in a few minutes.”
I put it on, noting the way it literally hung to my feet.
More laughter rang out. “Look at that little duck!”
“Neo’s dating a shrimp!”
Scowling, I turned to Neo.
“Don’t listen to them, princess,” he said, amusement written all over his face.
Kneeling, he grabbed the hem and lifted it, tying it into a knot so the jacket ended just above my knees. Then he rolled the sleeves so my hands were free.
“Remember,” he said sagely, “you asked to come.”
Before I could ask why that sounded so threatening, Mr. Kraken was yelling again. “Line it up!”
All the men, including Neo, lined up starting at the back of the now-open semi, leading all the way to a giant table filled with pans of ice. Everyone was wearing a slicker like me, but all of theirs fit.
Scurrying after Neo, I watched as they began passing something down the line, sort of like a game of hot potato. Fascinated, I watched until suddenly, it was being tossed at me.
Thump!
I tried to catch it, but it was big and slippery and surprisingly heavy. I rocked back with the weight of it, scrambling to keep it from falling as it slipped and slid around against the slicker.
When I finally had a manageabl
e hold, I looked down.
Wide, dead eyes stared back.
“Ahhh!” I screamed. “Ahhh!” The large, scaly, and slimy fish fell out of my arms, plopping onto the ground with a wet smack.
Thunderous laughter erupted around me.
“Neo!” I squealed, stumbling back as I stared at the wet fish juices covering the front of my slicker. “Oh my goodness! Oh, ew!” I shrieked.
Pointing plaintively at the fish lying there, I demanded, “It’s staring at me!”
“It’s dead. It can’t see.”
“Then why are its eyes open?” I retorted.
“Because we ain’t cut its head off yet!” one of the nearby fishmen hollered.
Gasping, I looked at Neo for confirmation.
Chuckling, he leaned down, lifting the dead fish that definitely was staring at me in accusation and tossed it on down the line where it eventually landed in one of the ice bins.
Before I knew it, another equally large fish was flying down the line. This time when it came at me, Neo intercepted, giving me a wink.
Oh, this place was gross. Still, his wink thrilled me a little.
Roaring music continued to vibrate the air. The men all sang along, slinging fish like it was nothing at all, falling into a rhythm that showed they had indeed done this many times before.
After watching for a while, I stepped back into the line, readying my stance.
“Oh-ho!” Kraken called. “Princess is back in the game!”
“Toss me a fish, Mr. Kraken, sir.”
My body still rocked with the weight of it hitting my chest, but Neo was there, putting a hand supportively against the small of my back, and this time, I was ready for its slippery scales.
I also avoided eye contact.
After catching it, I turned and flopped it into Neo’s waiting arms.
Cheering as loud as the previous laughter erupted, and everyone started to clap. My cheeks felt hot, but I joined in, clapping for myself.
Turning toward Neo, I said, “I didn’t drop it this time.”
“You did good, princess,” he allowed, pride shining in his eyes.
“Here comes another one!” someone yelled, and I turned back so I could catch it too.
Ivory White : A House of Misfits Standalone Page 17