Page 12 of From the Ashes
“Yeah, you know, just in case.” I shrug.
“Um, well, I have to say I’ve never received pepper spray as a gift, but I’ll definitely feel safer having it in my purse. Thank you, Carter.” She smiles genuinely, my name coming out of her perfect lips like she said it a thousand times before. “You’re…very different from anyone I know,” she confesses, and I look straight ahead as we walk, confused by her words.
“Is that a good thing?”
“So far? Um, yes.” She lifts the corner of her lips slightly, making her look like an angel in her light blue dress. Arriving at the parking lot, I bite the inside of my cheek. I could have walkedwith her for hours, even without talking; just having her next to me makes it enough.
“Still on for the self-defense class?”
“If you're not afraid to teach a beginner.”
“Nah, everyone has to start somewhere.”
“Right,” she murmurs.
“I’ll pick you up at ten? Saturday?” I offer, my heart thumping in my ribcage.
"Um, I might be at my sister’s. How about Thursday night? I’ll get a sitter.” I mentally run through my schedule, and thankfully, Ares gave me my nights off next week since he said he’d be home earlier to stay with Mia. Those two have been glued at the hip since the night we caught Nero. I won’t complain, though, not if it means I get time with Lana.
“Thursday night then,” I say, looking down at her petite figure and wanting to touch her hand or her lips or anything. She’s like a magnet I can’t pull away from. Bouncing gently on her feet, she brushes her lips with her finger before grabbing her keys in her purse.
“Pick me up at seven.” The pink color is coming back to her cheeks. I nod, watching her walk away, the bounce in her step making her curves even more eatable.
“I’ll be there,” I say loud enough for her to hear me as she walks away.
“Thank you for breakfast,” she says with the sweetest smile, before turning her back and heading to the entrance of the parking building. I try to reciprocate but my lips remain frozen, so I nod with my hands in my pockets.
I watch her disappear behind the door then turn back to my bike. I start the engine and drive up the highway at high speed, wondering if this pinch-me moment will stop before I get a chance to get to know her better.
I hope not, I really do.
LANA
Ben
“I love you, you’ll always be mine babe.”
Of all the things I hate in this world, receiving a pathetic love text from my violent ex-husband is definitely at the top of the pile. What could possibly have gone through his mind for him to think it was okay to text me this? I shove my phone back into my purse after parking in front of Nancy’s front door. Her house is much bigger than mine, with a large black window and a contemporary shape like the ones in fancy magazines. I ring the bell and I’m greeted almost immediately by Alec, her husband.
“Hey, Sis!” He hugs me. “Looking good, did you have a great time?”
“Hey,” I smile, angling my head, “a great time? What do you mean?”
He winks at me. “Come on, with your mister mystery.”
“I told Nancy to keep it for herself, gosh!” I shake my head dramatically. “You guys are worse than high schoolers.” I chuckle because I honestly don’t mind. Alec has always been kind to me and Noah, and most importantly, he’s making my sister happy, and that’s all that matters. He steps back, his tall frame and yellow Hawaiian shirt revealing Noah and his cousins in the living room, playing a board game on the large rug with Nancy cooking behind the kitchen island.
“Hey, guys.” Excitement takes over as I spot my Noah, his little face so focused on the game that he doesn’t even notice me. I kiss his forehead, pat Chloé and Ava’s heads, then join my sister, cutting carrots for lunch.
“Damn, Lana, you look so pretty!” she shouts. “Spin for me.”
I roll my eyes at her bossiness, twirling as the helm of my blue dress dances over me beautifully like a dancer. I’m glad I’ve picked this one. Modest but feminine, exactly what I was going for.
“Thanks, Nance. How were the kids?”
“The usual.” She chants with a smile, her long brown hair falling on her shoulders. “They ran after the cat in the backyard for a good hour, then sat to play board games. Also, Ava and Chloé tried to put a princess dress on Noah, but he was not having it.” She raises her palm to her mouth to stop a burst of laughter. “I fixed the situation with cookies and they were good to go. Kids.” She chuckles, shaking her head, then keeps on cutting the vegetables off the wooden board. Sitting on one of the fancy leather kitchen stools, I drop my purse on the marble counter and sigh.
“So?” Nancy asks, staring at her cutting board.
