Page 2 of Cedar Edge
“Stop fidgeting.” My stepbrother, Ace, growls as he loops his arm with mine.
I roll my eyes as my other arm tugs at the back of the dress. “Easy for you to say, you are wearing normal clothes.” I twist again trying to get to the zipper, even to just loosen it a little. Rodger had said he ‘accidently’ ordered the wrong size but I suspect otherwise. Not that my mom had believed me. She thought the man hung the moon and the stars.
“Cricket…” Ace says my nickname in warning. Ever since he caught me falling from the tree he’s been glued to me, same with Law and Logan. Kids from school took notice real quick, suddenly scrambling to be my friend. And it has only gotten worse now that I’m joining them in high school. Suddenly I had a stream of girls, and guys, wanting to be my study partner only to be very disappointed when I never allowed them into my house.
But, honestly, what did I expect? Logan was from the founding family of the town and really had the golden retriever bad-boy energy thing going. At least according to bathroom gossip. Everyone was in love with him and Ace. It always made me laugh because Ace and Logan had no interest in anyone butone another. Law was equally as popular, particularly now that they all were in high school. Suddenly everyone had their sights set on the local cowboy. And me? I was still the weird girl who preferred the greenhouse to the football game and had somehow managed to become a part of their trio.
At least I hope I still am…
The boys were older than I was and had left me alone the last year of middle school and despite trying our best to stay as close as we could our different schedule has made it hard to hang out with just the four of us. This year would be the first time I joined them in high school and I was stupidly nervous that I would suddenly be pushed aside.
No. They wouldn’t do that. Ace wouldn’t do that.
Finally dropping my arm I force myself to focus on anything other than the torture device I’m wearing. “You got to wear something normal!” I practically hiss back. Indeed Ace looks like Prince Charming. He is dressed in a dark suit, the material cut perfectly to his form and his hair artfully styled to still look messy but remain out of his face.
He raises his eyebrow at me with a smirk, the kind that bathroom gossip tells me all the girls like, but his retort is cut off by the music starting, signaling our walk down the aisle. All eyes turn towards us and I can feel myself wanting to shrink back.
“I got you Cricket.” Ace whispers in my ear.
I let out a long breath and sink into the words, letting him lead us out into the overcrowded church. Row upon row is filled with what appears to be the whole town of Cedar Edge. And yet despite the crowd I find Law and Logan immediately. They both smile, Logan going so far as to give me a thumbs up. I can’t help the giggle that escapes my lips as he does. I may not love my stepfather, or the attention I’m suddenly getting, but I love these three.
4 years later….
Glancing down at my phone screen I wince at the time displayed across. I was late, and I hated being late. The streets are empty of their usual hustle and bustle, despite the deepening twilight that has the lights along the sidewalks flickering to life. Everyone is most likely still at the graduation festivities taking place at the high school. The same festivities I managed to flee from without notice. After I walked across the stage, of course, no way in hell was I allowed to skip walking. Rodger made that abundantly clear. He’s big into appearance and since his ‘only daughter’ was graduating he wanted to make a grand show of it.
Since Ace has been in and out of Cedar Edge, exploring options of fire fighting schools, Rodger has become increasingly more difficult to deal with. The man is constantly in my business, regardless that I’m eighteen now. And my mom… a pit forms in my stomach thinking of her and how much she’s changed lately. Her moods are unpredictable and more often than not I find her sleeping the day away. Yet no one seems concerned except me.
Turning the corner I pass the library and see Ms. Ceilia locking up the doors. Her red hair piled atop her head and sweater perched on her shoulders. Lately she’s been odd too, withdrawn and not as social with me. I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt.
I’m so busy watching her that I don’t see the person standing in my way until I’m running smack dab into them. I fall backwards hard landing on the sidewalk with enough momentum I’m sure I’ll have a bruise.
“I’m so sorry,” I start to say through the pain in my tailbone. Yup. I’m definitely bruised.
“Theadora?” The man in front of me looks vaguely familiar but I can’t place him. His smile falters the longer I sit on the sidewalk, with no doubt a very confused look on my face.
“Royce.” He says as if the name should ring a bell to me.
I push to a stand slowly, warning bells going off in my mind as the smile turns to a frown. “I was in your math class… for the last 4 years.”
Guilt washes over me and I can feel the tinge of pink heat my cheeks. “Uh sorry. Right, Royce… I know who you are. Just took me a second after that fall.” I lie through my teeth praying he won’t notice.
He seems to breathe out a sigh of relief and the smile returns. “Oh good. You had me worried there for a second.” He takes a step closer and the warning bells ring louder in my mind. “I was looking for you at graduation and when I couldn’t find you… well I needed to find you Theadora.”
“It’s just Thea.” I say with an annoyed tone. Not even my mom calls me by my full name. Royce frowns, again, but this time his eyes seem to spark and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I take a step backwards, glancing down at my phone screen as I do. “It was great to see you Royce but uh I’m actually late for something.”
Royce shakes his head but whatever he wants to say is cut off swiftly by a warm arm coming over my shoulder. I don’t have to look to know it’s Ace. The way his body feels pressed against mine is one I’ll never forget.
The man in front of me glares, a look of disgust spreading over his face. “Ace, what are you doing back here?” He spats my stepbrother's name like it tastes bad on his tongue.
Ace pulls me tighter to him, the movement sending goosebumps down my spine. Ace has always been muscular butsince he started training his body has gone from boyish cute to…. Fuck I should not be having these thoughts about my step brother.
“I’ll always be where Thea is. Now fucking beat it.” Shock ripples through me at his tone and I glance up at his face. It betrays nothing but the tick in his jaw has me tucking myself into his body tighter. Royce clocks the movement in a weird way, a dark and dangerous look passing over his eyes. For a moment I worry he’ll do something but just as quickly it passes and he holds up his hands in surrender.
“I’ll be seeing you around Theodora."
Ace and I watch him head back down the now dark streets of Cedar Edge until he disappears into a car.
“Well that was weird…” I say pulling myself from my stepbrother. I try to ignore how much I miss his warmth when I do.
