After footy, we congregate at Simon’s for lunch and gaming, which is when I notice a new voicemail, as well as a text from Rhys on my phone. Sneaking off to the toilet, I listen to the voicemail. Part of me hopes that it’s from Rhys, but part of me already knows it’s another one from my dad.
“Alexis, I had to go to great lengths to find out your new number. The least you can do is call me back. I have a few errands I need you to run for me. Call me back today!”
My dad’s voice does nothing but make me cringe. Why the fuck does he think I’ll do anything for him? And how did he find my number? It hadn’t even occurred to me yesterday when I received his first message. I should probably contact the police and tell them he’s been calling. Not that it will do any good. Unless he comes out of hiding, then they can’t get to him.
Not wanting to think about that arsehole any longer, I move on to the text from Rhys.
Rhys George
Bitch, you ready to party with me tonight?
I spoke with Andrea about going to the party with Rhys last night. She was reluctant to let me go, but she caved and told me to be home by midnight. Of course, then she said that if I change my mind and stay with Marcus and Ayden instead of going to the party, I could do whatever I wanted. She really should have chosen her words better because it leaves my possibilities wide open.
It’s foreign to me this whole having rules thing. My mum has been so away with the fairies over the last couple of years that she forgot a teenager needs them. I’ve always been pretty well behaved except as of late. Now the idea of rules just feels like more people trying to control me.
Lexi West
Of course. What are the plans?
Rhys George
Can you meet me at your place? There’s no old’s there, right? It will make pre-party drinking easier, although if you’re not comfortable going back there, we can totally find a park to hang out in for a bit. Sometimes that’s more fun. You know, taking the risk that we might get caught by the cops! :)
I know I shouldn’t go back there without one of the guys, but I really need this with Rhys tonight, and I’d rather not risk getting busted by the cops. I need a night to have fun and forget about the bullshit that my life has become, so if Rhys is with me, I should be fine.
Lexi West
Yeah, sure, we can go to my place. Definitely no olds there. What time?
Rhys George
I can be there around 6.
We can get ready together and have some shots before we head to the party.
I can stay the night at your place, right? I can’t go home if I’ve been drinking, you’ll understand why later. But if I can’t stay, Lexi, my dear Queen, don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I’ll have one drink and be your designated wing woman for the night, anyway. After all, Rhys George knows how to party no matter the situation!!!
Shit. I hadn’t thought of Rhys staying. Maybe I can convince her to come back to my new place. Either that or I somehow have to convince Andrea to let me stay out all night. I’ll think of something, I guess. I’d really like to spend the night with my new friend and get to know her better.
Lexi West
Sure, you can stay the night. ☺
Rhys George
Fuck yeah! We are gonna have the best time tonight! Make sure you ditch your wolf pack.
No jocks allowed!!! Tonight, I am your knight in shining armour! I will protect your life with my own, my fair Queen!
Lexi West
You’re an idiot! But it sounds perfect!!
Leaving my hiding place, the toilet, I now have to figure out how to ditch the guys, grab my things from Marcus’s, and get to my house before 6.
“Where have you been hiding?” Shaun alerts everyone to my presence when I walk back into the rumpus room. I shoot him an annoyed glare, but he just gives me one of his cheesy, white-toothed grins.
“Women’s business.” I snap, pretending I’m moody, even though I’m not.
“Say no more. I get it.” Shaun raises his hands like he’s trying to tame a wild animal, making the boy’s chuckle. Even Ayden.
“Well, I’ll see you guys later.” I move toward the back door, and they all go quiet.
“Where are you going, Lex?” Jared asks the question.
“Just going home. I’m tired. Didn’t get much sleep last night.” I slide the door open and get one foot out the door before Ayden’s voice makes me hesitate.
“I’ll walk you back.” His voice comes from behind me, and I have to take a deep breath to calm my racing heart before looking over my shoulder at him.
Part of me wants to stand firm and determined like Kyla does from the book I’m reading, but who am I kidding. I’m not Kyla, I’m Alexis Amity West, and I’m yet to find the strength Kyla wields.
“Uh-okay. Thanks.”
Ayden’s eyes soften around the edges at my response. I guess he’d been waiting for me to refuse.
Stepping outside, Ayden follows behind, calling out to the others that he will be back soon, and we walk side by side towards Marcus’s house.
“You’ve been quiet today.” Breaking the silence, Ayden’s deep tone instantly calms me while giving me stupid butterflies at the same time.
“I’m tired.” It’s a typical response, isn’t it? I’m tired. When really, we mean emotionally exhausted. Would it be so bad to be honest when someone asks this question?
“I know you’re tired, Lex. But something else is wrong; I can see the worry in your eyes. Has something happened?”
My shoulders drop, and I sigh. I don’t know why I thought I could keep anything from this guy. After all, he’s the only one that saw past the facade I was trying to trick everyone with when he first came to Fox Pines.
“My dad called.”
“What!” Ayden hisses, stopping me with his hand on my arm. “When? What did he say? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I take a step back from him and the anger flashing across his face, and my hackles instantly go up.
“I am telling you, so stop freaking out! I was going to keep it to myself, Ayden, for the simple reason that I don’t want anyone freaking out any more than I am. It’s just a call… well, two calls, actually. I haven’t spoken to him. He left messages.”
Ayden regards me for a moment while he chews the corner of his mouth. I wish he wouldn’t do that. It draws my attention to those kissable lips that I work so hard to avoid.
“Did you save the messages?” His tone is calmer this time, so I nod and pull my phone out of my pocket.
Going into my message bank, I pass my phone to Ayden and watch his expression as he listens to my dad's voice, each second, his face becoming redder and redder. His nostrils flare, and his breathing quickens, and the hand holding my phone is squeezing it so tight that I think he’s going to crush it.
When he’s done, he slowly hands me back my phone while taking a couple of deep breaths. I can see what he’s doing. He’s angry but is trying to calm himself, so it doesn’t upset me. The thing is, seeing him so affected by it upsets me enough. This is why I keep things to myself. I hate dragging other people into my bullshit.
“What do you think he wants you to do?” Ayden asks, calmer than I expected.
I shrug, “No idea. He’s shit out of luck, though. I’m not calling him back.”
Ayden smiles, pleased with my response before it slowly falls from his face.
“You know, friends talk to each other, Lex. This is the sort of thing you should be telling me or one of the others.”
My brows shoot up, “You wouldn’t care if I told one of them and not you?”
“Of course, I’d care. I’d be pissed. But this isn’t about me. This is about you and your safety.”
Shit. I was totally going to try to pull the wool over his eyes about my plans for tonight. There are two problems with that. The first, which is obvious. It’s too dangerous for me to be running around the street without letting someone know my plans. The other is, I don’t
want to lie to Ayden.
Ayden starts walking again, so I fall in beside him, trying to figure out how to tell him about my night with Rhys without him hijacking my plans.
His deep chuckle draws my attention, and I find him looking down at me as he walks.
“What else is going through that mind of yours?”
“Nothing,” I say way too quickly, making him chuckle again.
“Lexi, Lexi, Lexi. Don’t you know that the pretty pink blush you get whenever I get too close, also pops out when you lie?”
Without thinking, my hands fly to my cheeks, finding them warm and confirming what Ayden just said. Shit. I had no idea that happens. Ayden tosses his head back in a belly laugh at the look on my face.
“Give it up Lex. Tell me what's eating you.”
I wish you were eating me!
Whoa! Down girl!
My face heats at the thought, and his dark brows reach his hairline.
“Fuck, Lexi. You have no idea how expressive you are, do you?”
“W-what?” Why am I stuttering?
Ayden stops walking again and leans in close enough that I feel his warm breath on my cheek and his addictive scent wraps around me. “Tell me what you were just thinking about.”
O. K. Time for deflection!
“If you must know, I wasn’t going to tell you the real reason that I wanted to go back to your place, but since you are so nosey, and because you have a point about the danger I’m in…” I hesitate when I see the surprise flit across his face.
“You have to tell me now.” His tone is playful, but I can see the concern in his blue eyes. I’m not the only one that is expressive. He is too!
“I’m going to a party with Rhys tonight. It’s not in Fox Pines, but it’s not far. I’m going back to grab my things and meet Rhys at my house to get ready together before we leave.”
“Like hell!” He hisses, his beautiful face contorting in anger.
“Excuse me?” I hiss back, my ever-present anger instantly eager to unleash.
“You’re not going to a party with that girl.”
“You mean Rhys? Why not?” I demand, shoving my hands on my hips.
“You hardly know her, Lexi. She can’t protect you.”
“Ayden, the whole thing with tonight is to get to know her better, plus my other friends will be there too. We will stay together. It will be fine.”
“It’s a bad idea, Lexi.”
“I need some me-time Ayden,” I look up into his eyes, my hands falling from my hips. I need him to understand. “I need to feel normal,” I whisper.
Intense blue eyes analyse my face, worry making them appear lighter. With frustration, he drags his hand through his dark hair and turns away from me, obviously needing a moment.
When he turns back, he’s frowning. I hate seeing the disappointment on his face. I wasn’t lying when I said I needed some me-time. I really do. I need some space from all the testosterone and the magnetic pull he has on my heart.
“Fine, but I’m walking you to your house, and I’m having a long fucking conversation with Rhys before I even agree to leave you alone with her.”
Tears burn my eyes, and I turn away in frustration this time. He doesn’t get it. He doesn’t see what his demands do to me. They make me want to run.
“Hey.” His warm hand slowly turns me by my arm to face him again, but I keep my eyes cast low. “Look at me, Lex.”
He flinches when I look up at him. He obviously wasn’t expecting to see the anger.
“I get that you want to protect me, Ayden, but let's make one thing really fucking clear. No one, including you, has the right to demand what I should do or with whom I should do it with. I need to take control of my own life.”
He steps towards me, moving to reach out to my face, but then stops himself dropping his hand back by his side.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to control you. I’m just worried. I want to protect you.” The sincerity in Ayden’s tone is unmistakable.
“I know.” I nod, “I get that. And I know I probably sound like an ungrateful bitch, but he…” I look away, trying to bite back my tears. When I feel like I have them and my voice under control, I look back to his ocean eyes. “Mike may not have succeeded in what he set out to do, but he took something from me that day. Probably before that day. I need to get it back. I don’t know any other way to explain it. I don’t need you to be a dad to me Ayden, I need you to be a friend.”
Dark brows pull together as Ayden takes in my words, and then he steps forward, pulling me to his chest. I have no control over my reaction. My arms wrap around his waist, and I hold him just as tight, not wanting to let go.
“I just need to know you are safe.” His deep voice rumbles through his chest to meet my ear.
“How bout I check in with you through the night? And if I want to leave, I’ll call you.”
Ayden sighs, “I guess that will have to do, but I’m still having a chat with Rhys. I worry she doesn’t understand the seriousness of the situation.”
“She’s seen the news Ayden.”
“The news didn’t even cover half of the danger you’re in.”
“Fine.” I concede. It’s as good as I’m going to get with him, and honestly, I’m okay with that.
When we arrive back at Ayden’s, I pack a small bag while Ayden waits downstairs, and then he escorts me to my house. He goes inside first to do a sweep of the house while I wait just outside the front door, listening for any noise that isn’t meant to be there.
“Lexi!” Valarie’s voice is a loud shout, and I turn and watch as the scrawny little twelve-year-old runs up the front path to greet me.
“Hey, Val.”
“It’s so good to see you.” She flings herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist in a tight hug. I laugh into her jet-black hair, hugging her back.
“It’s good to see you too, kid.” I ruffle her hair, and she steps back, grinning up at me.
“So, you have a new family now?” She asks excitedly.
“Ah, not really. It’s a friend’s mum who’s taken me in until my mum gets better, I guess.”
“That must be fun. Do you have to share a bedroom?” Val is almost frothing at the mouth with excitement.
If only it were that exciting. Really, it’s kind of awkward and uncomfortable. As much as I’m grateful, I just really want my own space back. I feel like I don’t belong there. I feel like I don’t belong anywhere.
“No, I don’t have to share a bedroom.” I look up at my house to my bedroom window. It looks the same as it always does. It doesn’t look like anything sinister ever goes on behind the window. “Have you noticed any weird activity at my place since I’ve been gone?”
Valarie shakes her head, “Nope. It’s been quiet. What are you doing here, anyway?”
That’s Valarie for you, always the snoop.
“I’m meeting a friend here. We’re getting ready to go to a party later.”
“Oh, cool. Will you be drinking alcohol?” Val asks, looking up at me with eager brown eyes.
“No. I’m not old enough.”
She rolls her eyes. “Like that’s stopped you before.”
I laugh, “nothing gets past you, does it?”
“Nope.” Val’s grin is wide and proud. “I’d better go back inside. Mum doesn’t know I snuck out to see you.”
“You should definitely go back in then.” I smile, and she smiles back. “See ya Val.”
She giggles, waving as she runs off, leaving me to wait anxiously for Ayden.
I listen hard again, not hearing any noise coming from inside my house. Is Ayden okay?
“Are you going to go in?”
I scream and spin at hearing the voice behind me, my fists raised, ready to fight.
Rhys’s dark eyes widen before she smirks.
“Damn, girl. I don’t want to fight you, but I will if I have to.”
“Fuck me, Rhys! Why the hell did you sneak up on me?” I drop my hands t
o my sides, waiting for my heart to slow its pace.
“I didn’t sneak. I called out to you like three times after that little Asian girl ran off. You're stuck in your head again, aren’t you?” Rhys pops her hand on her hip, showing me her sass. “You really need to get drunk.”
“Shit!” Running my hand down my face, I try to calm my racing heart. If it keeps racing like this so frequently, will I give myself a heart attack?
“You need to get drunk and get laid, girl,” Rhys adds.
She’s not totally wrong. I do need to get drunk!
“She doesn’t need to get either!” Ayden’s voice booms from behind me.
Whoops. Busted!
CHAPTER TWENTY
“I’m starting to second guess bringing you with me.” Rhys pouts, her black lips matching her nails tonight. She told me the shade is called Haunt Me and the polish and lipstick came as a set. I don’t know where this girl shops. There are no retail outlets in Fox Pines that would sell something so mint!
“Why is that?” Eyes are on me. I can feel them coming from every direction. This party is nothing like the usual parties I get dragged to. Normally the music resembles viral TikTok’s or whatever is playing on Australia’s top 40, but not this party. My heart instantly feels at home, hearing the soothing voice of Aaron Lewis from Staind. Fuck yes! This is my sort of party!
“Well, besides the fact that you look so fuckable that I’m fighting to restrain myself,” Rhys turns in a circle gesturing to everyone else around us, her short black skirt twirling out a little as she turns. “They all want to fuck you too.”
I laugh, “Stop being dramatic.”
Her head snaps in my direction, her dark eyes annoyed at my comment. But then she cringes, “Shit, head spin.”
Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) Page 21