Twisted

by Christa Simpson

  I dragged my lazy ass out of bed and pulled my purse to the floor. I sat there cross-legged, rummaging frantically for my phone, so I could text my sister. It had been too long.

  ____________________

  11:14 AM

  Hey Aub, What's the bestest sista in the whole world up to? Could use a little R+R, preferably as far away from my house as possible!!! L

  ____________________

  11:16 AM

  Uh oh, that doesn't sound good. Just got home. Why don’t you come over? Aub

  ____________________

  As usual, in a matter of minutes she had messaged me back. Aubrey was always there for me when I needed her, and she had experience when it came to helping me get through a break-up with Edwin. Being that Aubrey was only a 10 minute walk up the road, I decided to take her up on her offer. Immediately.

  I slipped on some comfy lounging clothes and pulled on a light hoody. I plugged my headphones in my ears, pulled my hoodie over my messy hair and ignorantly walked out of my room, down the stairs and straight outside, without a glance in Edwin's direction or acknowledgment of his existence. I knew it would hurt him, but it would hurt me more to see him, and I was being selfish.

  It was exceptionally cool for the first week of July, now that a cold front had moved in, bringing with it random thunderstorms and treacherous winds. I didn't care. Despite the unseasonably cool weather, the air-conditioners continued to hum and haw from every house thanks to the high humidity. I turned up my music louder hoping to drown out the dreariness. It blasted my eardrums but it didn't work. I complained to myself how my already muddled hair was kinking and curling into a horrible mess and became even more frazzled. Now even the humidity was pissing me off.

  As if it could get any worse, the light mist turned to droplets spitting from the sky. I could just see it, there was someone sitting high in the dark clouds, dangling their feet, pointing and laughing at me. A few steps farther and the spit turned into large drops showering from the clouds. I let out an exasperated cry, staring up at the sky, flagging my hands at it like a madwoman. Was everything pitted against me?

  I started a light jog toward my sister's condo, my aggravation still escalating. To my surprise, it was actually quite refreshing – real – even a relief to let off a little steam. I went a little faster, my legs stretching their full length as I started to gain speed. That's when my phone vibrated. I slowed down to a speed walk and pulled my phone from my kangaroo pocket, rain splashing all over the screen as I checked the message from Aubrey.

  ____________________

  11:21 AM

  I called your house, but you’re not there. Edwin says you took off. Tell me U R NOT walking in this weather. You are, aren't you??!! L Be there in a min.

  ____________________

  Not more than three minutes later, Aubrey's car was speeding toward me, sloshing down the wet street. The rain had slowed back down to a dribble, but the top layer of my clothes were already drenched. I pulled my heavy shirt over my head, rung it out quickly, then dropped it on the floor mat, revealing my ribbed white tank top and tear stained cheeks. Of course, Aubrey noticed right away.

  "I came as soon as I could," she insisted. "Are you okay?"

  "No, I'm not okay." I broke into tears. Again. And I wished I could hide beneath my baggy sleeves and hood, though they were sopping wet on the floor.

  After smearing away the initial downfall with my hands, I tried to pull myself together. I could see it was upsetting Aubrey. I was the big sister after all, and I'm expected to keep it together. Not this time. She stepped on the gas pedal and drove us to her stylish, upscale condo, as quickly as her four-banger could carry us.

  Underground parking had its benefits, I thought to myself, sighing aloud as we headed toward the door. I held my soggy hoody away from me, like it had cooties, to keep from getting me even more wet. I still couldn’t bear the thought of the dreaded elevator ride. "Are the stairs okay?" I asked, hoping to avoid her nosy neighbours.

  "You got it," she replied, as she flipped her long, wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. Aubrey stretched her arm up and over my shoulder to comfort me, as we trudged up the stairs from the basement to the second floor.

  "Let's get you inside. There's no need for people to see you like this," Aubrey whispered, confirming my own concern. I looked like hell.

  She unlocked her door and let me in first. After dropping my shirt onto her marble floor, I shimmied out of my sweatpants, leaving them at her entryway while I scurried to her couch. I crashed onto it with a moan.

  "Let me get you something to wear, then you can tell me all about it," Aubrey said, leaving with my soggy clothes in hand. After tossing my clothes in her dryer, she returned with a dry pair of dark grey yoga pants. I slipped them on and plopped back on the couch, burying my face in my arms.

  She took a seat on her red lounge chair and kicked up her feet. Even she knew she was going to be a while. "So tell me… what is it now?" she asked.

  "You say it like I always have problems.”

  She giggled, her green eyes glowing. "That's because you do. No offense, but it's like you’re my own personal soap opera.”

  I was not amused, but I knew she was only being honest and that's what I loved about her most. "You know how great I told you it was going with Edwin and me?"

  "Yeah," she replied curious, but hesitant.

  "Well I had to go and throw a wrench into it and now my life's a mess," I squealed, breaking into sobs.

  "What did you do?"

  Sobbing, "I broke up with him and it's for real this time.”

  Not giving me the benefit of the doubt, Aubrey smirked and pulled her knees to her chest. "Mmm, hmm. I've heard that one before.”

  I took a deep breath and pulled myself back together. I always felt like I had to put up a good front for my little sister. Sure she was only a couple of years younger than me, but she was still my little sis. I was supposed to be the strong one. Even my therapist told me so.

  “But I don't get it. You're so happy when you're with him. So why’d you do it?"

  "Babies."

  "Babies?"

  "Yes. I want babies and he doesn't. It's as simple as that."

  "Well I'd say that's a pretty good reason to break up with someone. You gotta do what you gotta do. It's his loss."

  "Then why do I feel so wicked?" I asked. I was still upset, but the tears had finally taken leave.

  "It's better now than later. Trust me. You saved yourself a shout-off. It really is better this way Abby."

  "It just hurts so bad, and for him to be in the house... ugh! It's all I can think about."

  "It just happened, right? It'll get better. I promise. Once you get back to your daily routine, without him, you'll find your way. You always do."

  "Ugh! You're always so optimistic. That's why I had to see you. You’re right, of course. I needed this.”

  "Anything for my big sis." She smiled her cheery grin and it warmed my heart one degree.

  "I must be such a disappointment to you right now. I'm supposed to be the one helping you with your relationship problems, not the other way around."

  "You've helped me through my fair share of stuff. You've always been there for me, and I’ll always be here for you. 24/7. And I mean that. If you ever need to get away, you can come stay with me."

  "Deal.”

  "Good. So are you up for some exercise? It might make you feel a little better. It sure beats eating like a pig and packing on the pounds."

  "Let's do it." Jogging had made me feel a little more alive, so maybe this could help too. It was definitely worth a try.

  "Okay, I got this new hip hop game for the Wii. It's a lot of fun." She plugged in the game and cranked the sound up real high. Side by side, we wielded our hips and imitated the dancers hand motions like trained professionals. Jamming to the music, I forced myself to work it out hard, in an effort to sweat away some of my worries.

  "Want a bottle of water?" Aubrey ask
ed, as we finished a low intensity dance.

  "Please. I'm dying here. That was excellent. We definitely have to do this again, soon."

  "You know where to find me," she hinted, smiling.

  "Likewise. You know you can come over any time." I missed her little visits. They had become almost non-existent over the past few months.

  "I know, but your relationship with Edwin was so intimidating. You two were attached at the hip and so in tune with each other. Nobody wants to mess with that."

  "Ain't that the truth? It's gonna be different now. I just keep telling myself that it's a change for the better."

  "You'll be fine. You hungry? I'll make us some waffles."

  "Kay."

  After dousing my sadness with hard work, maple syrup and sisterly love, Aubrey drove me home and I was ready to face the facts. Edwin was in my life, no matter how hard it hurt, and so I’d have to deal with it. I jumped out of Aubrey's car, waved goodbye and headed right for the door.

  Once inside, I locked the door and flicked the light switch on. A twinge of adrenaline spiked my nerves when I recalled my most recent incident. I guess my personal security system was out of the question now.

  Edwin was still lounging on the couch. It looked like he hadn’t moved a muscle since I had left hours earlier. I didn't speak to him as I headed for the kitchen to get some water, but when I walked by again, he didn't let me pass unnoticed. Sitting in his spot, Edwin’s eyes followed me, as I ran up the stairs as quickly as I could. My heart skittered in my chest, my breaths sharp and laced with anxiety.

  He hollered his threat, loud and smooth. "You can't avoid me forever you know.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  ~

  HERE I LAY, BACK in my bed, wondering how to take what Edwin had said. You can't avoid me forever you know. I did know that, and I was certainly avoiding him, but I couldn't imagine just casually hanging out as if nothing ever happened. Is he over it already? It didn’t matter. I needed time.

  I managed to stay out of Edwin's path for the rest of the day. That night, I cried before I fell asleep, but much less than the night before. When I awoke in the morning, loneliness loomed over me like a dark cloud. Despite that, unexpectedly, I felt ready to see Edwin face to face. Regardless, I had to go to work. Whether I liked it or not, I would have to get used to the idea and fast.

  Rubbing my eyes, I pulled open by bedroom door and trotted down the stairs for breakfast. No Edwin. I ran back upstairs, showered in our shared bathroom, and returned to my bedroom. No Edwin.

  I carefully unclipped a long black pencil skirt from a hanger, and slipped the fitted skirt over my hips. Before I topped it with a flirty blouse, I decided I should’ve probably brushed my teeth first. There’s nothing worse on a Monday morning, than tooth paste splatter on your white shirt. Quick and careless, I headed for my door, and when I stepped out into the hallway, I bumped right into Edwin.

  "Whoa," he said. He seemed equally as stunned by the imposition, but he didn’t budge and inch.

  Being inside his personal space was incredibly awkward. It wasn’t exactly the place I had expected to be this morning, but there I was, wearing nothing but a barely there bra.

  My eyes flashed away from his glimmering aqua glance and landed on his luscious smiling lips. Lower yet, my eyes focused in on his smooth chest peeking out of his crisp white, mostly unbuttoned shirt. Damn it. He looked like a tasty morning treat, his shirt fully tucked into those black slacks hung handsomely from his masculine hips.

  I swallowed the lusty lump from the back of my throat. "Sorry," I said softly. I didn't even know whether I was apologizing for getting in his face or eyeing his body like a piece of man candy.

  It didn’t seem to matter to him. He took my chin in his hand and looked right through me with his piercing gaze. "You can feel sorry for a lot of things, but this shouldn't ever be one of them."

  His lips covered mine, his drugging kiss long and slow, as I struggled with myself to make him stop. I should have. But I couldn't. I didn't.

  Edwin stopped first and smiled at my carelessness. I stood there a little stunned and a lot disappointed with my lack of judgment. With fists bunched at my side, I forced a stern look to make its appearance. It was hard to keep it together.

  "What do you think you’re doing Eddie?"

  "I couldn't help myself, and you didn't stop me. What do you expect? I'm only a man."

  How could I argue with that? I loosened my fists and took a deep breath, relaxing my tense muscles. "Well maybe you can give me some notice next time," I said sarcastically.

  "I didn't plan for this. It just happened,” he insisted.

  "I'm sure. You're lips just bumped into mine.”

  "Like you just happened to rush out of your door at the exact time I was passing," he challenged. His arrogance was starting to make me angry, but I was relieved to feel any emotion other than sadness and despair.

  Agitated, "Wait a minute: that really happened,” I argued. “Don't try and turn this on me."

  "Mmm, hmm," he replied, pressing my every button.

  "Well I hope you enjoyed yourself, because I’m not gonna let you take advantage of me like that again.” I backed away, more for me than for him. He smelled so good. Too good.

  He laughed and just stood there, shaking his head, staring at me. His fresh aftershave and fragrant cologne mixed with his arousal in an enticing aroma. It had a terrifying effect on me, heightening my senses and messing with my mind. After being so dangerously close to him, I was desperate for some privacy to regain my composure. But his eyes never left mine and I worried that he was magically deciphering my thoughts.

  Nerves getting the best of me, I did what any reasonable woman would have done in the circumstances: I bolted for the washroom.

  "I was just going to brush my teeth," I announced, trying to prove my innocence. I ducked into the washroom, feeling safe once I was out of the fathomless aqua force field he was wielding.

  "Oh really?" he replied, following after me. "Funny. Because that's exactly what I was coming to do."

  My grass coloured eyes grew wide with anxiety and as soon as I noticed, I glared at myself in the mirror. Time… space… I need...

  Edwin appeared nonchalantly in the reflection behind me. I tore my eyes from his firm chest and confident stare, and fixed them on my toothbrush, as I shakily applied the paste. I put the tube down and pressed both of my hands against the cold marble countertop to support my weight, stop the shaking and avoid his mystical eyes.

  Continuing with his casual lack of concern, Edwin reached around me and under my outstretched arms to retrieve the toothpaste and his brush. I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent, totally disarming my anger and arousing my budding curiosity.

  I took a deep breath. "What are you doing?" I asked, as I ran my brush under the water.

  "Brushing my teeth. Obviously."

  "Hah!" I replied, with a mouthful of paste.

  Edwin began to fight me for the sink bowl, playfully hip checking and trying to shove me out of the way. I defended better than a seasoned veteran, boxing him out with my hips and rear-end.

  "I better warn you," Edwin mumbled, with paste foaming around his lips. He nudged me aside and emptied his mouth full into the sink. "I may try and kiss you again when you're done brushing."

  I sputtered into the sink, reacting to his terrifying words. "Don't even think about it!" I squealed, extremely uncomfortable with the notion.

  "You asked for notice and service is effective," he taunted, dipping his mouth to the tap. He slurped up some water and swished it around in his mouth as I took a mouthful of water myself.

  I rinsed out my mouth and dried it on the towel as Edwin spewed out the last of his mouthwash. I wanted to be mad. I tried to be mad. But how could you be mad at that handsome face?

  "Don't say I didn't warn you," he said, winking.

  There was no denying that spending time like this with Edwin made me feel a lot better about everything
. Playful was doable, and I was pleasantly surprised that he was being so good about it so soon. Taking my good old time, I flossed every tooth and gargled with mouthwash. Edwin watched me intently.

  I acknowledged his presence, but tried to act emotionless. It was extremely difficult. An overpowering inquisitiveness hung thick in the air between us as I dried the wetness from my mouth. I found myself in desperate need of oxygen, the room entirely starved of it as Edwin stepped up beside me.

  "We're gonna be okay," he said, his low, sexy growl cutting through the hazy air.

  I reached past him to put the bottle of mouthwash back where it belonged, and he didn't move out of my way. My sensitive sniffer caught a whiff of him again, as I nudged him aside to open the vanity door. Mmm. That scent. Divine.

  Edwin stood, unmoved, blocking my path to the door, making me brush past him to make my exit. As I walked away, he slowly followed, but stopped when he reached the hall. I pretended not to notice.

  "You are pretty messed up," he said, stopping me in my tracks.

  "Excuse me?" I spun around to face him, cold and conceited.

  "Did you forget already?" He hoped for a stunned response and so I acted clueless, as my eyes locked onto his heated gaze.

  "I have no idea what you’re talking about," I lied. If he only knew that I wanted him to try me on for size something fierce. But I knew what was good for me. I should stick to my original plan: evade, retreat and regroup. If I stayed away from Edwin I could move on a lot faster. So why wouldn't my feet move?

  "Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about," he growled. His arousal swarmed the air around me, like a group of angry bees, and burned, fiery hot, through my lungs.

  He took two long deliberate steps toward me, as I took one hesitant step backward. "I told you I would try again," he said, his voice smooth and sexy as he progressively got closer.

  I should have turned and ran screaming for the stairs, but I could hardly make a peep. "I thought I had some time," I breathed, as his face drew near mine.