by Simone Elise
I was gobsmacked. So, not only did I have to suffer through the last hour, but I was now told it was my fault to begin with. Now that I knew that I might actually be able to watch the movie. I grunted and stepped up to the counter and ordered a large Coke.
“Just for the record, you’re kind of cute when you are jealous,” he told me.
I narrowed my eyes. “Just for the record, I don’t like being teased.”
There it is, folks. We just did a full circle. I went from liking him, to hating him, to being jealous, to now liking him again. I swear being a woman is harder than it looks.
“So, what do you say, Addison? Care for a night walk home and maybe, just maybe, I might watch the rest of the movie with you?” He was referring to Glee.
“It’s a TV show.” I smiled, shaking my head and taking the drink. “And you know what, Beast?” I took a step toward him, our chests close, looking up at him. “I think you should finish your date.”
Just as I expected, he let out a groan. “Do we have to? The movie is terrible. Worse than your never-ending one.”
“Mine isn’t a movie, it is a TV show. How many times do I have to tell you?” I walked beside him back to the theater.
“Whatever. It sucks, and I’m sick of hearing people sing everything.”
“I like singing.”
“You’re terrible at it.”
“Thanks a lot.” I smacked him in the stomach. “Enjoy the rest of your date.” I winked, and we walked back to our rows in silence.
Taking my seat again, I felt a lot better. Maybe it was because I knew Ethan was hating every minute of the movie or maybe it was because I knew when the movie ended so would his experience with dating.
Chapter 18
I never really overthought what I did around Ethan, but now I was double guessing everything. and it was exhausting.
“I didn’t like her.” I wrapped the coat around me tighter. It was freezing outside and, of course, Ethan and I had decided to walk the few blocks back to our place rather than taking a taxi.
Ethan’s lips were graced with his normal smirk, but he didn’t look up; he kept his eyes on the pavement.
“Gosh, it’s cold.” I changed the subject, seeing as he wasn’t joining the ‘let’s bitch about your date’ conversation.
“Do you want my coat?”
I turned to look at him. “Did you really just ask me that?”
“Wipe the surprised look off your face, would you, Addison? I can be a gentleman.”
Comebacks and possible digs at his ‘gentleman’ reference rolled through my mind faster than a hurricane.
“Really?” I asked. “Because I thought the Devil’s son couldn’t be nice.”
“You’re trying to be funny but it isn’t working.”
“Oh, come on, Beast, lighten up!” I nudged him with my shoulder. “It is not often that the world is graced with your devilish beauty for our eyes to see.”
“Well, the world is never graced with your silence.”
“And isn’t that a good thing? Wouldn’t the world be a sadder place without my fluent charm?”
“Charm is what you call it?”
“Charm and loveable spirit.”
“Annoying pain in my ass could be added to that list.”
“Please, you love me.” I was looking at Ethan rather than looking where I was going, and this was a recipe for an accident. I slammed right into someone.
The stranger braced my shoulders, stopping me from hitting the pavement.
“Sorry,” I muttered, steadying myself.
I looked at the guy and when my eyes met his, my whole world stopped.
Cold ice filled my body and my stomach flipped around. I was trying to think of something to say, but my thoughts were frozen. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from his.
A frown crept across Alex’s forehead. “Um, no worries.” He looked nervous and confused.
Alex gave me an odd smile before taking a step away. Then, against my better judgment, I reached out and touched his arm. “You’re Alex, right? Alex McGaffin?”
His frown deepened: “Yeah. Um, do I know you?”
You did.
“Um no, I just um…” I was stumbling over my words. “I was… um… friends with Addison Myer. She always spoke highly of you.”
His frown faded, and I saw recognition flash across his face. “Oh, well, that explains it then.”
“Explains it?”
“Are you related to her or something? You have similar features.”
“No, we were just friends. But she always spoke kindly of you. Heck, there wasn’t a frame in her bedroom that didn’t have a picture of the two of you in it.”
A sad smile spread across his face. “Sounds like Addison.”
Of all the places and all the changes, I had run into him. My Alex.
“Look, I know this will sound mental.” Alex ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair. “But do you want to get something to eat with me?” He glanced at Ethan then back at me. “Or maybe another time?”
Ethan had always made it sound as if time on Earth passed so quickly that I would never see Alex or my family again, but here we were.
“Sure, um, I’ll give you my number.” I pulled my phone out and sent a message to the number he rattled off to me.
“Well, it was nice meeting you.” He smiled and saved my number. “Um, what is your name?”
“Ad—” I quickly corrected myself. “Adelaide.”
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Adelaide.”
I watched him walk away. I just couldn’t take my eyes off him. I had just had a conversation with Alex, and it felt like a conversation with a ghost.
I shifted my gaze to Ethan.
He hadn’t moved.
His expression hadn’t changed.
And he hadn’t made an effort to explain himself.
“What?” I snapped at him. “Are you not even going to come up with some pathetic lie to explain why the hell you lied to me?”
Anger, betrayal, and a pinch of spite was flaring through my body as I glared down the man I was sure I was in love with ten minutes ago.
I thought he trusted me. I thought he respected me.
I scoffed, turning away from him and taking long ass strides. The longer he was quiet, the more time he had to make something up.
If he dared say that hackneyed line, ‘I did it to protect you,’ then I would punch him, straight into that perfect face of his.
“Addison.”
I paused and pursed my lips, but kept my back to him. Please, Ethan, have a good excuse, so I can understand why you would keep something so massive from me?
“I didn’t tell you the truth because it would be easier on you. Telling you that they were alive wouldn’t help you. It’s not like you can have a friendship with them.”
I knew he had said more than ‘it would be easier on you’ but in my head, that was the only part of the conversation I could focus on. So, I did the rational thing. I turned around and popped a punch straight into his perfect nose.
I would never forget his look of shock and pain. I spun on my heel and stormed off, heading home. If Ethan knew what was good for him, he wouldn’t follow.
Chapter 19
Time wasn’t my friend. In fact, I would like to classify time as my mortal enemy. Always tick, tick, ticking away. I was glaring at the clock when I caught my unexpected guest moving out of the corner of my eye.
“I told you, don’t move,” I snapped at him.
Four long hours, and Ethan still hadn’t shown up to put me out of my misery.
“Oh, come on, Addison, where is your sense of fun?” Archibald smirked across the table at me.
I came home angry, ready to throw everything of Ethan’s out. But as soon as I slammed the front door behind me, I was greeted by a complete stranger, sitting in our small living room drinking my alcohol. He said his name was Archibald Wilson.
He was currently eating his way through my salted
peanuts. Peanuts I hadn’t offered him.
“Oh, come on, love, you really need to lighten up.” He leaned back in the chair while pouring himself another glass of wine, which he had also helped himself to.
I must remember to take those ‘you’re welcome to take my stuff’ signs down tomorrow.
“Can’t you just leave?” I snapped, tapping my finger on the table.
“Now why would I do that? I haven’t seen Ethan in a very long time, so no, dear, I’m not leaving.” He gave me a teasing smile. “He won’t be much longer.”
“And how would you know that?” I was more than certain that I was the last one to see Ethan. I’d also told him not to come back.
Yet here we sat at the kitchen table, waiting for Mr. Beast.
Archibald went from a smile to a full-blown grin. “Because I just heard the front door.” He rose.
“Archie?” Ethan’s eyes widened.
I just sat still, watching Archibald engulf Ethan Beast into a hug.
“My friend, been too many centuries!” He laughed, letting Ethan go. Archibald’s accent was old English and while it nearly killed me to admit it, I liked it.
“How…” Ethan shook his head and glanced at me. “How did you find us?”
“A rumor here and a whisper there. Didn’t take me long to figure out that Ethan Beast had graced the world.” Archie reached for his glass. “Although I do have one question, what’s with the prune?”
“I’m sitting right here.” I threw him a direct look. “Really. Archibald, show some manners.”
“I told you to call me Archie.”
“I told you to leave on more than one occasion. Yet here you are, still in my house. Still eating my peanuts. Still drinking my wine.”
Archie barked out a laugh and slapped Ethan on the back. “She’s a little spitfire, isn’t she?”
“Can you two take this reunion elsewhere? Like maybe back to Hell.” I crossed my arms.
My patience was thin, perhaps nonexistent.
“Not from Hell, love.” Archie sat his overly good-looking body back in the chair.
Great, it’s making itself at home, again.
“Addison.” Ethan’s lips formed a tight smile. “Can we talk for a moment?”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Using the word please won’t help you.”
Archie slammed his glass down on the table, causing us both to look at him. “Are you two courting?”
Before I could give him a spoon of humiliation for using the word courting, Ethan spoke up.
“I lied to her.” Ethan shared the core of our fight with Mr. Help Myself.
“What do you expect, Addison? He’s the son of Satan, not Mr. Honest.” Archie shook his head at me. “Come on, dear, I’m sure it is something you can forget about and join us in a beer.”
“Must I remind you, you’re drinking wine? My wine, might I add.” I pointed a finger at him. “And stop calling me dear.”
“Fine.” His eyes met mine, and I could see his amusement. “Peanut.”
“That’s it.” I threw my hands in the air. “I hate him; get him out.” I pointed at Archie while looking at Ethan. “Now!”
“You’re meant to respect your elders, Peanut,” Archie taunted.
“Please, you look like a young twenty-five-year-old,” I snapped.
“I’m over 150 years old.” Archie seemed proud of this, as if he was stating he was Lady Gaga or something.
“So what? You’re a vampire?” I raised an eyebrow at him with a mocking look on my face.
“Don’t be childish, Peanut.”
“Call me Peanut one more time and I’ll show you childish,” I threatened.
“Stop it, you two,” Ethan piped up: “Come on, Archie, we should leave Addison alone.”
“Yeah, off you go, vampire. I’m sure you and Beast can find someone for you to eat.”
“I’m not a vampire.” Archie got to his feet. “Being immortal doesn’t mean you are a supernatural beast.”
“Fine, you’re an immortal pain in my ass then.” I snickered at him.
“That’s it, I’m not leaving.” Archie crossed his arms with a stubborn look in his eyes. “Not until I get an apology from Peanut.”
“I’ll give you a peanut!” I glared at him.
“No need, I’ve already finished yours.”
“I really don’t like you.”
“Feeling isn’t mutual, Peanut.” He had the guts to laugh at me.
“Addison, look, I’m sorry.” Ethan’s way of handling the situation was to change the subject. “About Alex, I’m sorry. I just thought it would be easier on you not to know.”
“Tell someone who wants to hear your excuses.” I was stubborn at the best of times and today I was feeling hurt, which only amplified my stubbornness. “I don’t get you.” I forced myself to keep the conversation going. “I really don’t understand you at all, Ethan. One moment you are all kind and caring and the next you’re all selfish.”
“Sounds a bit like you, doesn’t it, Peanut?” Archie replied, intruding in our conversation. Hell, he wasn’t welcome in the house either but here he was.
“Nobody asked for the old man’s opinion, Archibald.”
“It’s Archie.”
“Is it Archie on your birth certificate, or did they even have those back then?”
“You’re mean.”
“You’re old.”
“I like her, Ethan,” Archibald declared, as if he had just found a rare gem.
I scoffed but didn’t say anything. There was really no point in saying anything to him anyway. I’m sure his hearing was barely functioning.
“I think we should keep her,” Archie added. which had me choking on my wine.
“Keep… me?” I spluttered, patting my chest. “I’m not a lost puppy!”
“No, but you’re human and humans die.” Archie rolled his eyes.
“I’ve already died.”
Ethan and Archie shared an expression. “It’s a long story,” Ethan grumbled under his breath.
“One you will be sure to share, friend.” Archie nodded and looked back at me. “Well, off to bed, Peanut. The immortals need to talk.”
I didn’t like being dismissed like a child, but I was also tired and the thought of sharing the same air as old man Archibald made me cringe.
“Fine. I don’t want to catch old anyway.” I got up.
Archie was chuckling when I left but they didn’t say anything, which made me a little disheartened. I’d thought Ethan would make one last try at explaining his reasoning.
But it was Ethan Beast we were talking about.
Chapter 20
“I didn’t lie!”
“So, you just failed to mention it then?” I snapped at Ethan, as he blankly denied doing anything wrong.
“No, I just didn’t see the importance of it.” He looked at me with a challenging grin. “Come on. Addison, you are making something out of nothing.”
I pressed a finger firmly on his chest. “You made me think years and years had passed and that I would never see anyone I knew again. You made me think everyone I loved was dead!”
“Well, they are dead to you, because I hate to remind you, Addison, but you are dead!” He looked frustrated and angry, and I just didn’t care. A normal person might, but as Ethan continually reminded me, I was not normal.
“I love it.” Archie clapped his hands together. Both mine and Ethan’s heads snapped in his direction. “It’s like breakfast and a show.” He grinned.
“Who the hell told you that you could eat my cornflakes?” I narrowed my eyes at him. This man, or should I say ‘old living beast thing,’ was going to eat all my food and I was going to go hungry.
“He’s a guest, Addison, don’t be rude,” Ethan chimed in and went to join Archie at the table.
“Not my guest,” I muttered.
“You really aren’t friendly, are you?” Archie pointed a spoon at me.
; “Didn’t anyone tell you it is rude to point spoons at people?” I asked.
“Ethan, I have to ask, why did you give this naturally nasty person a second chance at life?” Archie completely ignored me and turned to his oldest and closest friend.
“Maybe he likes me,” I challenged him.
“No one was talking to you, Addison,” Archie replied.
“Well, no one invited you here!” I cried.
“Really, again with that?” he laughed.
“Can you kick him out already or at least take this meet-up down to the senior citizens’ club?” I asked Ethan.
“Don’t we have class?” Ethan made a point to get up and act as if we were actually going there.
“Oh, hell to the no!” I was not going to school. This second life thing was boring me to an early death. “I’m done with that.”
“No, you aren’t!” Ethan’s black eyes tried but failed to intimidate me.
“You can’t make me go. You can’t make me do anything.”
I knew that for a fact. He couldn’t even get me to wash the dishes, so what chance did he have of making me go to school?
“I’m sick of this whole second life thing. I want to go back to haunting people,” I told him.
“You never haunted anyone.” Ethan laughed.
“Not true. I scared that old guy, you know, the one missing the teeth.” I clicked my fingers, trying to recall a name.
Ethan rolled his eyes. “You didn’t scare him; a heart attack scared him.”
“And who helped bring on that heart attack?” Yeah, Ethan, counter that.
“His body did.”
“I did.”
“You weren’t even in the room when it happened.”
“I had my finger on his temple.”
“No, you were too busy watching the night staff make out in the closet.”
“Oh, yeah…” Why did I forget that part? “Still not important. The fact of the matter is I’m bored and want to go back to walking through people’s houses.”
“You could always try being a criminal. They invite themselves into people’s houses all the time,” Archie suggested.
“Or maybe I could start randomly poking people in the back with toothpicks, seeing as we are offering stupid suggestions,” I responded.