His lips stayed against my skin long enough to make Tanner clear his throat from the awkwardness.
We pulled apart. And I saw a whole new world in Silas’s gazes. He was as astonished as I was. Were his butterflies still there? Flying erratically and raging against our disconnect?
Kiss me again.
My body and my brain and my heart screamed the words, for once in total agreement.
Kiss me again.
Silas.
My lips were tingling. I had to fight the urge to touch them as Anna moved away from me and disappeared into the guest room. Turning, I found Laurie and Tanner staring. Laurie’s mouth was dropped open in surprise.
“That was... intense.” Tanner moved to Laurie and sat down beside her, placing his hand on her knee.
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. My tongue was still tied, whilst my lips still burned.
“You are really in deep, aren’t you?” Tanner pressed.
Now, I did find my voice. “You already knew that.”
“No. I knew you thought you were feeling something real, but shit, man. That was proof. It almost... was too much to watch. And it was just a kiss on her forehead man. I thought we were going to see fireworks over your damn head.”
“But, also...” Laurie spoke quietly, but also signed; she’d used her voice a lot today, and the strain of it was showing, “it was almost painful. God, you two are—”
“Really fucking broken,” I finished for her.
“Yeah.” Laurie said, the word barely audible as her voice wore out completely.
Kiss like nothing I ever felt before
Kiss like kryptonite racing to my core
Kiss like present, future, past
All wrapped up, and it can’t last
Girl, you got a way that’s dark and pure at once
Like sunshine and a moonlight curse
You hold the colors of the world inside your eyes
Prismatic, a kaleidoscope of dangerous ties
It hides the pain you hold like armor
Yet kiss like candy in my mouth
Kiss like deepest water shouts
Erases any and all my doubts
I want to drown
Lips and lies, promises to words now heard
Girl, you got a way that’s dark and pure at once
And I’ll blanket you
Quilt
Each square a story
TANNER AND LAURIE HAD gone back to his place an hour after Anna had retreated to bed. I knew they’d be ready to help the moment they were needed. A small part of me had wanted to go with them, to retreat to that room I’d once rented when I’d moved here for a fresh start to get clean. It was somehow a simpler time in my life. There was nothing except the sweat, the shakes, and the aching desire to backslide into a drug-induced false relief.
There was no going back.
Not for me. Not for Anna. Not for anyone. The here and now was our truth.
While Anna and her roommate were still sleeping the next morning, I printed out her stepfather’s photo. Several copies—for me, Tanner, Laurie, and anyone else. After a little deliberation, I folded one of the photos and stuffed it into my pocket. I also took the letter Anna’s stepfather had mailed. I then drove out to Bernie’s Beans, not turning on the music, not wanting to focus on anything except the task at hand. I could trust Bernie with this; he’d keep an eye on Anna without even knowing the full story. He was just that kind of upright man. It’s weird how much I trusted him; we really only talked over coffee. We’d never hung out. He just had that vibe. The protective Uncle to anyone who knew him.
The beep alarm at the back of the building sounded when I pushed through the glass door into Bernie’s. He didn’t need the alert today though; he was at the front counter taking cash from a man in a black baseball cap. I’m not sure why, but my gut twanged at the sight of the man stood there. Something about the curve of his build and the salt and pepper hair sprouting from the hat. Dumb though. I was just on high alert, looking everywhere for Anna’s predatory stepfather.
“Morning, Silas,” Bernie boomed, turning away from the man, who then proceeded to move to wait by the pick-up counter, slightly elevated and sporting heat sleeves and sugar packets.
“Morning, Bern. When you can, I need a second of your time.”
The Islander turned around, his large caterpillar eyebrows knitting together with curiosity. “Sure, Silas. Just let me get this guy his drip.”
I settled myself at a table near the front door, checking my phone every five seconds to see if Anna had woken up and needed anything. Someone did text, but it was Tanner asking me to pick up breakfast.
T: We’re heading over to your place.
Anna and her roommate were still asleep when I left. I locked everything up.
T: I’ll use the spare key. Can you pick up food?
I’m at Bernie’s. Bagels?
T: Naw, go down to Morning Glory.
Sunny Side Sandwiches?
T: You’ve got my number.
Only because you always order the same damn thing from there.
“Okay, Silas. You’ve got one minute.” Looking up, I found Bernie smiling down at me. “Sixty seconds, bud. Talk fast.” He sat down and got comfortable, making his words an obvious joke. I must have looked strained though, because Bernie’s attitude shifted drastically. “Okay, Silas. You’ve got my attention.”
“This isn’t easy to say,” I started, reaching into my pocket. The slips of paper felt hot between my fingers, explosive. I was choosing to share Anna’s secret again. I didn’t want her to hate me because of the methods I was using to try and... to try and save her. “Do you remember the girl in here... God, weeks ago now. Dark blonde hair, hazel eyes. Really—”
“The one you couldn’t take your eyes off of. Best damn meet-cute I’ve witnessed in forever.” Bernie nodded appreciatively, a slight smile curling his mouth. “What about her?”
“She’s in trouble, Bern.” I launched into the story, trying to spare him some of the worse details Anna had shared last night, but ultimately not leaving much out. He needed to understand what this man had done, what he’d taken from Anna, and what he’d left her with. Before unfolding and showing him the photo, I unfolded the taped envelope and gave it to him. “Read that.”
Bernie, looking more serious than I’d ever seen him, slid the note out and read it. His gaze was hollow when his eyes returned to my face. “There’s a lot of bad in this world, Silas. What he did to her...”
“There aren’t any words,” I completed his thought.
“You got a picture of the bastard?” Bernie asked, a rare curse word escaping him.
I handed him the second fold of paper. He took a deep breath and opened it. “Son of a—”
Bernie stood up fast, knocking his chair over. He whirled around, searching his shop for something. “He’s gone.” He looked at me, wild and fierce. “He’s gone, Silas.”
I stood, heart racing. “Who’s gone, Bern?”
“This was the bastard just in here getting coffee, Silas. Black hat and beer belly.” He shook the paper at me. “This is the fucking man who was just in here.”
Cause and effect
Fragile emotions and futures wreck
On shores of men who try to steal
Every ounce of happiness that’s real
“I’ll kill him.”
BERNIE TRIED TO STOP me as I raced out of the coffee shop exit. He couldn’t be far. Anna’s stepfather couldn’t be far.
And I was going to end this now.
To be continued...
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ELLIE MEADOWS IS THE chosen pseudonym of an established-author wanting to jump feet-first into the contemporary romance scene. Her real (and faux) persona can be described as quirky, nerdy, and not afraid to love without reservation. She believes even when love is complicated and hard, it’s also very si
mple—be honest, open, and don’t lose yourself to the relationship, because the people who really love you will want the authentic you. They won’t want you watered down. They won’t want you to hide behind walls or lie because it’s easier to swallow.
So Ellie believes you should say the tough stuff before it festers, whisper ‘I love you’ in the dark as often as possible, dance in the kitchen while the food on the stove burns, and fight when fighting’s necessary. But always—always—make up fast and furiously.
Lastly, on the subject of love, Ellie wants to say that consent is important at all stages in a relationship. Enthusiastic, happy-hearted, mutual consent. Even if you’ve been married for over a decade—ask, understand, and don’t take advantage. Far too often, we find ourselves using our sex to obtain things, or avoiding sex to make points. We say we’re tired and don’t want to have sex, when really what we want is to forge a deeper connection emotionally, before we continue to love physically.
**Continued in ‘The Beat Completes Us’ | The Heartbeat Series Book Three**
-Coming Soon-
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The Beat Around Us (The Heartbeat Series, #2) Page 10