Page 3 of Unholy

“So, Tristan. Your mom tells me you’ve been doing some work recently.”

“I have.”

“What are you working on?” he asks as if he’s really interested in me. He isn’t. He knows I’m a fuck up, just like everyone else does. He only pretends to care because of my mom.

“Sculptures, mostly. Some rich prick saw my work and wanted his own,” I answer as I grab the glass of water in front of me and bring it to my lips.

“What kind of sculptures?”

“The kind that would have your little nun here clutching her pearls,” I tell him. My mom chokes on her water and quickly sets it back on the table while I take my down, finishing the glass.

“So something interesting then.”

“Nude women. He likes the sculptures of nude women. In fact, he’s so well off he even sends me a nude model to work off,” I add. I can feel Ash tense under my grip and it makes me smile knowing she’s that uncomfortable.

“Really? Well, that is something else,” he says before our food arrives. Now that I have to eat, I pull my hand away from Ash and grab my knife and fork.

“Tristan is really good at what he does. That piece near the courthouse, the horse? That’s his work,” my mom chimes in,trying to make me sound like a better person than I am. I shake my head, not wanting her to say a word, but that gets Ted all interested again.

“Really? That is quite a piece of work. Do you make it all by hand?” he asks, and I nod.

“I like to work with my hands,” I reply, glancing at Ash out of the corner of my eye. She knows I’m looking at her she’s just too shy to admit it.

The rest of dinner goes by in a blur of them talking about religious shit that I have no interest in, so I zone out.

Chapter 2

Ash

“What do you mean he grabbed you?” Ben, my boyfriend, asks me. I didn’t want to tell him, but it felt wrong not to.

“He grabbed my leg under the table.”

“Did you tell your dad?” I shake my head as I play with the straw in my milkshake.

“No. It didn’t seem appropriate to bring it up at dinner. His mom was there. I think he was just trying to get to me.”

“I don’t like the idea of him being under the same roof as you. I think I should talk with your dad about this,” Ben says, but I shake my head.

“I don’t want to make things worse. I have a lot going on anyway with studying and everything. I doubt I’ll ever see him. Dad said he was setting up a room for him in the basement anyway,” I add.

“That’s probably where he belongs.” Ben mumbles.

“Don’t be like that. He’s just … different, is all.”

“He isn’t religious. I’m surprised your dad is even letting him in the house. He probably worships the devil in his free time.” I laugh a little, but I wouldn’t doubt that one bit. Not judging him on looks alone. Not that he’s an ugly man because he is far from it. He’s very good-looking with shaggy dark hair and a smile I’m sure could melt a girl’s insides.

“Oh, don’t worry. Dad will get to him, I’m sure. He always does.”

“Not if he’s as bad as you say he is.”

“I don’t know how bad he is, Ben. I just know what I observed,” I remind him.

Ben has been my boyfriend for the last three years. Dad approved of him because he goes to the same church as we do. He’s met his parents, and they are both very Godly people. Ben is smart and sweet and everything a girl could ask for.

“You want to go for a walk?” Ben asks as we sit on the front porch. I nod my head, and he offers his hand, helping me up.

“A real man wouldn’t offer his hand,” I hear that deep, dark voice behind us. I turn to see Tristan standing there.

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