Page 2 of Need for Speed

I nod. “Good, how about your homework?”

A laugh escapes from him but it’s not a happy laugh, it’s a harsh laugh. “All done. You know mom already asked me all this last night. Maybe you two should try talking sometime. Just an idea,” he says, before turning around, grabbing his backpack, and heading for the door.

I know this situation is hard on him and I hate that. Growing up we hardly ever saw our parents fight and to Jovi that’s what we are…his parents. He was almost four when our mother passed away so his memories of her are vague at best. Aftershe passed away our dad was just lost, drowning in the grief and unfortunately, that’s the only way Jovi knew him. Sadie is the only mom Jovi really knows. Our mom passed away just two months before my high school graduation. Sadie and I had been together almost six months, but the way she stepped up was shocking. She would come over before school to help with breakfast and make sure Ace got off to school okay. Then as soon as school was out, she’d come back to our house until Ace and Jovi were in bed for the night. I doubt it shocked anyone when I asked her to move in after graduation. We’d been in this house ever since. My dad was gone now, and my brothers have all started their own lives. It was just us and Jovi, but soon he’d be gone too, and I didn’t know what would become of Sadie and I then.

****

Sadie

The alarm on my phone started to go off. I don’t know why I even bother setting the damn thing. I’m awake hours before it goes off, hell I’m awake most of the night. I roll over and look at the empty side of the bed, his side of the bed, and I let the emptiness consume me. How did we get here?

Finally, I get out of bed and shower. Before I realize it the shower starts to turn cold, I hadn’t meant to stay in here so long. On autopilot I get ready for work, slipping on a pair of purple scrubs, French braiding my strawberry blonde hair, applying a little mascara, and spraying on some of my honeysuckle body spray. Grabbing my purse, I check to make sure my protein bar is tucked inside along with my cell phone and keys. Quietly, I make my way to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water. I stop with my hand on the front door, from the small hallway I can see Axell stretched out on the couch. His feet hanging over theedge and his head in what has to be an uncomfortable position. A pang of regret shoots through me. God, I miss him.

I allow myself to stand in the small hallway and drink him in. His square jaw is covered in a dark five o’clock shadow which only makes his chiseled cheekbones stand out more. He’s gotten a haircut recently because the sides are extremely close to his head and the top longer and slicked back. He’s shirtless and even though I’ve seen his defined chest multiple times. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t have some effect on me. His half sleeve tattoo is on full display. The black and gray waves that swirl from his collarbone down to his elbow with skulls added into the design.

Axell starts to mumble and I know him well enough to know that he is about to wake up. I quickly slip out the door and make my way to my car. My beautiful 1968 Pontiac GTO. It was black with a red racing stripe. My tires matched with red rims. The beautiful car was a wedding present a few months ago. It had always been my dream car, but I had refused to pay the money out for it. When Axell had first given me the keys I tried to get him to take it back, but he refused. With the way things are between us now I feel incredibly guilty that he pays the payment on it.

When I get into my carGuns n’ Rosescome blaring over the speakers. I groan and quickly scan for a different station. Not only is Axell named after the band but it also happens to be his favorite band. I can’t listen to them without wanting to cry. Finally, I find a station playing one of my favorite artists,James Bay,I turn up the station and back out of the driveway.

As I make my way to Spirit Rehab where I’m a nurse, I roll my windows down. The air is fresh with the smell of salt water coming from the ocean and early morning dew from the spring season fastly approaching. The sky painted with baby pinks, purples, and blue as the sun works to rise up. It’s beautiful.Sunrises were always my favorite time of the day. It was mine and Axell’s time.

As the traffic becomes thicker, I slow down to a snail’s pace and let my mind wander back to the first time I saw Axell.

I had just gotten back this afternoon and already Harlyn and her boyfriend, Jagger James, had convinced me to go to some bonfire beach party. I was reluctant because I didn’t know anyone else here except for these two. Technically, I didn’t even know Jagger until a few minutes ago but Harlyn convinced me. So, here I am standing in my tiny bathroom as I work on some makeup. I had decided to go casual in my denim cutoffs and simple v-neck t-shirt. I left my dark hair down. I had dyed it before leaving South Carolina this week. It had come out a lot darker than I had expected but oddly enough I liked it. The darkness of it actually made my fair skin look like it had a glow and my baby blue eyes popped more.

I applied some mascara, blush, and lip gloss before deciding I was ready for this so-called party. As I stepped out of the bathroom Harlyn whistled at me and I blushed. “The guys are going to love you.”

I rolled my eyes because guys were the last thing I was supposed to be thinking about. I had to uproot my whole life in South Carolina in my senior year of high school because of a guy. My mom shipped me to live with my dad and brother Seth. Guys weren’t even on my radar. “Guys are the last thing I’m worried about.”

“Fair enough,” Harlyn replies as we make our way out to Jagger’s car. That was always the great thing about Harlyn, she never pushed or pressured you about anything. As we made our way to the beach I took in my surroundings. It was a different kind of beautiful from South Carolina, but it was beautiful in its own way. As we park, I’m shocked to seejust how many people are already gathered on the otherwise deserted beach. We settle in and it isn’t long before the one thing I promised myself to stay away from finds its way into my line of sight.

A tall surfer looking guy catches me staring at him and smiles while adding a wink in my direction. I can feel myself blush which leads me to mentally cursing myself because the last thing I should be concerned about is a damn guy. The guy finally makes his way over to me and introduces himself, Aaron. He’s cute but I don’t feel anything beyond that, but Harlyn is busy with Jagger and his friends so I decide it couldn’t hurt to talk to Aaron.

Soon after I find myself with a beer in hand and swaying to some song. Then Aaron picks me up and swings me over his shoulder and jogs to the ocean before dropping me in. The cold water sobers my buzz up instantly. Hell bent on revenge I stand up and kick my leg out sending the water flying out in his direction. Aaron and I start a splash war which quickly leads to wrestling. I give up when it becomes clear that I won’t be able to win.

As I leave the ocean, I spot Harlyn and decide to check in with her, but as I approach, I have a misstep as the most gorgeous human being I’ve ever seen catches my eye. He is standing next to Jagger and I can see some similarities. The same square jaw and chiseled cheekbones, dark hair, and tall. This guy has to be at least 6’4” compared to my 5’1” frame. I’m a sucker for a tall guy.

I manage to get my mind straight and make my way to the group, but I swear I can feel the mystery guy’s eyes on me. Once I join the group Harlyn introduces me to the new people. The mystery guy is Axell James, Jagger’s older brother. He’s even more gorgeous up close. He reminds of the Greek Gods you read about in the mythology books.

All night I hung around the group hoping to talk to Axell but shortly after I had joined the group a beautiful blonde walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. My heart fell, but of course someone as good looking as he is, has a girlfriend. That makes sense. My jet lag starts to kick in a little while later and I’m barely able to keep my eyes open. “Do you want a ride home?” I hear a deep voice ask. The voice dances over my body like music and makes every nerve stand on end. I look up and see Axell towering over me. “You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”

I laugh but it comes out airy and barely there. “A little jet lagged, that’s all.”

He smiles and even his smile is more perfect up close. “Well, I’m fixing to leave if you’d like a ride home. I promise I don’t bite, but if I do, I’ve had all my shots.”

I laugh, and it sounds normal this time. He’s handsome and funny, I’m a goner. “Well, I’m not against biting but I’m more worried about your girlfriend’s claws.” A look of confusion crosses his face. “Pretty blonde named Jemma.”

“Oh,” he says shaking his head. “She’s not my girlfriend so you’re good.”

Part me of me is screaming for me to go with him and the other is screaming this a horrible idea. Of course, that little devil in me wins and I stand up and follow him to a car. He opens the passenger side door and I as I pass by, I catch a whiff of his scent, oil and musk, who would have knew that those two scents would smell like heaven? It’s masculine and natural. When he gets in the car, he tells me I can pick the radio station, but Lynyrd Skynyrd come over the speakers and I instantly start to sing along.

The song ends while we are sitting at a red light and my stomach picks now to roar like a lion. Axell laughs then takes a right, the opposite direction of my house. Before I get to ask, hepulls into a fast food drive-in that looks like it just came out of the 50s. “What is this place?”

“It’s Burt’s, best food in town.” He pulls in and a car hop appears. Axell orders two cheeseburgers with bacon, two large fries, and two chocolate milkshakes.

“What if I didn’t like chocolate?”

He turns to me and eyes me. “You love chocolate.”

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