Slice (The Elledge Family #1) Page 5

  “Almost overly excited,” I had grown used to his sarcasm. I actually craved it, most people found it annoying, like my mom. But I found it to be comforting and actually a lot like me. “Go get casual, so I can find the Picasso of couches for you. I have a good eye for fashion.” He lied. Lucas rarely anything other than the same three shirts. He tattered Pink Floyd Shirt, A Beatles shirt or just a plain black T-shirt.

  I changed into a purple sundress and some Converse shoes with purple laces to add the tiniest bit of me into the recipe. Then there was my hair. The thick curls had been down all day. I applied some mousse to make the curls more defined and slid on a headband. I tossed on my glasses and some lip gloss and walked out.

  “Sorry it took a tad bit longer than expected.” I looked at Lucas, who could not unhinge his eyes from mine. “Are you okay?”

  “You are just perfect.” He said. “I like this dress and I love these glasses.” He graced me with another small kiss and then waited patiently for me to get up. Lucas like to pace things, that was evident. There had not been too much intimacy since the first date and I didn’t want to rush things and give him the wrong impression. I felt like I couldn’t or more like shouldn’t kiss him again. I lacked self-control when it came to him. We had managed small kisses and hand holding in public occasionally.

  “There is a store about an hour out. We could head out there and work our way back to this area. My mother knows someone that works at this particular shop so there should be no hardship on prices.” Lucas led me out of the apartment, locking the door behind him and guiding me towards his Range Rover.

  “Where’s the Jeep?”

  “I drive this baby out of the town most of the time. I like the heated seats. The wind has started to pick up here lately. He opened the door for me and held my hand as he helped me into the SUV. He didn’t look like the type that would drive one, but he did and it was so much nicer than my sedan. It screamed luxury, the damned door handles were chrome.

  “I plan to spend about 500 on the living room, nothing more and nothing less.”

  “I understand you, dear,” Lucas closed the door and sprinted to the other side of the car and hopped in.

  I buckled my seat belt and scrolled through my phone to find more color schemes than what I had imagined to keep from staring at him. It was hard not to do.

  “So tell me something about you that no one else knows.” I blurt out. I have no idea why, but I wanted this drive to be lush with conversation.

  “Something no one knows…” He started the car driving out of the apartment complex and effortlessly he pulls out into traffic. “There is the fact that I keep a mental checklist. It has minor things in it. I follow the checklist for my life.”

  “Like goals?”

  “Like don’t date a girl who drinks like a sailor, or curses like my nan.” He chuckled. “Don’t trust the writing teacher with your novel and make sure you don’t live at home ever again. It is really a mental reminder and checklist.” He paused. “Be nice people, don’t stare when people or dumb or just dumb founding beautiful.” Lucas winked.

  “Wow, so you compartmentalize up there?” I brushed off his compliment, too timid to look at him and thank him.

  “Most of the time,” He continued to keep his eyes on the road. “What about you Cypress?”

  There were several facts about me that no one else knew about me, but there was one that I hid but it was hilarious. I twiddled my fingers, “When I was 17 years old I tried to off myself with some vitamin E pills.”

  He burst into laughter, a tear rolling laughter, “My dear Cypress, not vitamins.”

  I burst into laughter right behind him and nodded my head. “Yeah, I was dumb, but I lived and I never took vitamin E again.”

  “You more than likely consumed more than you needed anyhow, I am happy that you lived though. You too much of anything can be a bad thing?” He stopped laughing for a minute. “What was so hard at 17 that you no longer wanted to live?”

  “That ex that I told you about… he wasn’t the best boyfriend. There were times that I would hate myself for being with him. He cheated on me firstly and then he would force me to stay with him. Everyone loved that bastard he played football and in my town that was the way you became someone, there was no other way. Fuck that writing shit, marry a football player and your life could be better.” My home town was a piece of shit and that was fine. I just wanted out. “But anyhow…” I spared him the gory details and shifted in my seat.

  “I hate that he treated you that way. I see no reason to find another companion when you have everything it is to offer. It is his lost and fortunately my gain.”

  Lucas

  There are times I feel like I could implode from the inside of anxiety from not writing. It’s the same kind of itch that comes with the kill only it’s a less intense feeling. Dull almost, I don’t think there is a way to explain it besides saying that a pen and a clean sheet of paper held infinite possibilities. It was why my book was steady success. I craved the words on the paper like nourishment. And this sensation I got with Cypress was almost better than sex.

  I had continued to call Cypress every morning. Our conversations started light, but she made me think. She gave me hope that there could be a good future. Cypress was a character and she barely knew how unique she was. I was corny at jokes and I knew that they sucked but with her she laughed a whole hearted laugh every time. Even when she found them ridiculously dumb, she found the humor to make them funny. Then there was the way she carried herself. I was not one for a grand presentation and neither was she, she breathed pure simplicity in everything that she done. Her hair was always a curly mess. Even when she tried to tame it, it remained wild and free. It was my favorite thing about her. Then there were her eyes. Most women have brown eyes, statistically speaking, most human beings have brown eyes, but no one has Cypress’ eyes. Her eyes were the deepest brown surrounded by tints of green that made their appearance whenever the rays of sunlight hit her eyes at just the right angle.

  I had fallen for those eyes and the inquisitive look they could give while I critiqued her and strengthened her writing. I craved her touch, and by touch once again, I mean simple touch. Her hand had a tendency to trace mine whenever she handed me papers and it seemed that the smaller the touch the more intimate I felt towards her. The simple moments with her had made her the one I craved.

  “There is this couch downtown that has my name on it. It’s a lavender color with pastel pink floral print. It’s 250 just for the love seat and there is this chair that is in a thrift shop. I want you to come with me to get them.”

  “I’m free tomorrow about 3pm? Would that be okay?”

  “Perfect, I have some notes to revise on my short story, then the writing lab has me working with some freshman students on their paper.” She glowed. I was happy she was enjoying the job. It paid well and she needed work.

  “They treat you right there?” I asked. She playfully bounced on her feet, tossing the food on the paper plates. She barely had anything here.

  “They are treating me great,” she sat down next to me on the floor of her apartment and handed me the sandwich she had so skillfully prepared for me. “Sorry, would you shop with me too tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, we could definitely go ahead and hit the grocery store. I love a good PB&J but I doubt that I can eat it three more days in a row.” I watched her laugh and then bite into the sandwich. “I would love to introduce you to some of my friends besides my brother Mark of course?”

  “I would love to meet them, and perhaps you could meet my mom. She keeps asking about you. I don’t know what to call you.” She blushes at the thought of a relationship with me.

  “Well, I think the proper term is a boyfriend or something like that?” I smiled at her and watched her face turn a shade of crimson and her smile spread to her eyes. “I mean, if both parties agree.”

  “I agree,” She smirked and chewed down into her sandwich like she hadn’t eaten all
day.

  “I'm ecstatic.” I finished off my sandwich and walked to the kitchen, it too was bare. I had to get her something, but every time I even offered to buy her a drink and she flipped out. She was the independent type and it was to be admired. I had more money than I could handle at this time though, so I had to get her things. “What about a table for this dining area Cy?”

  “Dining room?” Cypress wiped her face. “One room at a time, I have some big thoughts on the living room. I have to find something to accent the flowers.”

  “I can buy the table for you Cypress…”

  “No,” she said. “And don’t do it anyway. I would like to buy everything myself.”

  “Why?” I shrugged my shoulders.

  “Because of my ex, if you buy me that table and we break up… I won’t be able to function with it in the apartment. I would be reminded constantly that the table I eat my breakfast on was bought by you.”

  “Your ex is a bastard. I understand why you are scared, but I would never do anything to harm or hurt you physically nor emotionally Cypress. I want you and I want the best for us. So if you don’t want the table I understand.” I paused. “I say he is a bastard because he has royally fucked up your perception of things. I think of buying you a table and a completely different scenario runs through my head.” She turned to me, her eyes glossed over and frustration written on her face. “I see a table where we share our first real home cooked meal. A table that we grow attached to so much it pains us to throw the old bloody thing away. We look at the table as our first real step the leads to the falling in love.”

  Her mouth gaped open, “Only you can turn a table into poetry Lucas.” Cypress smiled and the world cheered. “Fine, get the table.” She put no argument into it. She wanted us as badly as I did and it made it easier to exhale.

  “We can pick the table and I can cook for you.”

  “I don’t want any mash or fish and chips.”

  “I make the best fish and chips… have you ever had them with peas? It’s like heaven on a fork.”

  “Dear Jesus, stop it!” She made her way to me and her hands traced my arms lightly and she placed her lips on mine barely applying pressure just lingering there and it was insatiable. I wanted nothing more than this moment to last forever. She pulled me closer to her and I leaned so she would not have to stand on her tiptoes. These were the moments that defined a couple, simple yet priceless. I could stay like this forever.

  Asher

  I couldn’t get the vision of him as he slashed into Summer out of my head. I knew he would do it. I knew I shouldn’t watch but I couldn’t stop. He was a damn messy killer. My stomach had been in shambles for hours afterwards. I refused to document anything. I would go to lunch for being a damn witness. I planned to spend my life away from prison. I spent my weekend cooped up in the house in hopes that I had not been followed or watched. After long speculation, I decided to finally leave the house and went to the library. I had some more assignments to get in before the end of the day and I knew that Whitney was off today. She had made me sure that there would be no line crossing. I decided to move on. There were several women that I could seduce. I had laid off of Lucas just for the week. The love-story was becoming nauseating. I documented his behaviors and that was it. Ever since I'd witnessed him murdering those two people in the cabin I was leery of even finishing the dissertation. I couldn't change my mind, but I definitely couldn't include the murder in it. I had it in my private notes that I sent to my father.

  He agreed to back off and observe as quietly as possible because he was a danger to everyone in his life. I felt bad for Cypress because she was infatuated beyond recognition and there was saving her, I hoped she could save him.

  I sat at my table alone going through my notes and there she was at my table. Cypress and I could understand his infatuation with her. She was exotic. “Sorry, Could I sit here for a quick minute?”

  “Definitely,” I whispered. I continued to jot notes down on the notepad with just a case study as the main subject.

  “Can you believe it is pouring down outside? Next is the snow. Damn Colorado.”

  “I can. The news said it yesterday.” I sounded like an ass. But it was the truth. “Where were you coming from?”

  “The English Wing, it was dreadful. I wasn't even planning on coming back to the campus, but my boyfriend reminded me that the paper was due.

  They were an official a couple now. One for the books. “Yeah what's your major?”

  “English… I am planning to teach it at a junior college next year if this all goes right.”

  “A JC around here?”

  “Uhm actually I don't know just yet. If everything goes as planned, it will be somewhere near home.”

  “Nice, yeah I am moving to Australia with my dad after this year. I just have to tweak my dissertation.”

  “Wow, what are you studying?”

  “Uhm, just psychology. I’ve grown to love it. The study of why people act like people is amazing.”

  “Really.” She smiled and I felt the world stop. This woman was beautiful. “I know some people I would like to study and see what they were really thinking.”

  “There is body language of course.” I smirked. “Look it up.”

  “Perhaps I will.” She placed her books on the table and took out her pencil. “I am writing a new novel. My boyfriend said that I should I always learn something new. One day could you give me a crash lesson in some things.”

  “I might could.”

  “I hope that’s a yes.” She slid the card over the table and stood up. “I have to haul ass over the campus now. I hope its stopped raining for good, I doubt my hair could take another down pour like that.”

  “I think you and your hair will live. And I I'll call you we can set up a time and everything. I'll fill you in.” I folded her card in half and placed it in my pocket.

  “Good, text me. My boyfriend seems to not like me receiving calls from other guys. What's your name?”

  “Asher,” I smiled.

  “I like that, I'm Cypress.”

  Her name was perfect like her. “Well, pleasure to meet you.”

  She left and I continued to jot away on my notebook. I could understand his obsession. She looked like heaven and it was hard to resist her. And to be honest there was nothing spectacular about her that made her more than average. Cypress was charming. “Same here...Asher...”

  When she left I continued to be productive. It didn't take much. I had so much work I was drowning.

  Lucas’ book was published before his mother's death. Luna loved him and she made sure she lived long enough to see him be successful. It was all that she wanted. My father studied her like I am studying Lucas. Luna was not like her husband. She was very secretive and she went above and beyond to make sure her family was safe. Unlike Lucas she rarely traveled. She wanted to be near the love of her life and Lucas’ father, Declan Elledge. Declan was a strong father though he was absent for a time. His family lived in Ireland and Luna rarely made an appearance because of her disease and her son. My father believed Declan’s side was the dark part of Lucas’ family and I hadn’t had the chance to even start the research there.

  The table shook again and there was no way I was going to get anything done with these constant interruptions. I looked up and there was Lucas. Maybe he had spotted me that day. I had hidden but it might not have been enough. He could have heard my gasps as he cut into Summer and her klutz of a lover.

  Lucas cleared his throat and casually adjust his jacket. “How do you know Cypress?” He questioned. His eyes were piercing into me. He had wasted no time to get right down to business.

  “Uh, just met her. She said she was a writer. Who the fuck are you?” Good job Asher, be an ass.

  “Well uh, I'm the boyfriend. Lucas Elledge,” He held his hand and with a firm grip shook my hand. “Stay away from her.”

  “I don't want her, she started the conversation with me.” My palms ha
d started to sweat and my heart was about rip itself free and gallop out of the library. He bled intimidation. “She just seemed cool.”

  “Yeah whatever, What's your name?”

  “Asher,” I said. I should have lied. He was a collector of names.

  “Stop by the club, I own The Summit. Drinks on me all night whenever you come.” He handed me the pass. It read “VIP ACCESS, per Lucas E.”

  I nodded my head in appreciation and partial fear. “Thanks.”

  “There are a shit ton of beautiful women for you to pursue and it's on me. Lose her number, okay?”

  My hands shook as the vision of the river of blood flowing from her neck purged its way through my mind. I felt sick. “Okay, will do...Thanks Lucas.”

  He turned his head. “How the fuck do you know my name?”

  My eyes skimmed the invitation once more and thank God there was his name. I held up the pass. “I read it here.”

  “Oh,” He paused hesitantly and nodded his head. “Sorry mate, it’s been an ass backward day. Come out to the club. Love to see you there.” He looked through his cell phone and walked away casually. His other hand in his pocket and eyes hooked on the phone. He was like a fucking lion and I may have accidentally made his list. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed my father's number when I was sure he saw me.

  “You okay?” The worry in his voice was obvious. It was three in the morning there and it was unlike me to call him at odd hours of the night.

  “I don’t know really. I had a conversation with Lucas. He basically told me to stay away from the girl.” I chose to omit the fact that I had seen him murder two people. My father was the type to flip out and run to the authorities.

  “Stay away from her. If he is forming a relationship with her. You shouldn't get in the middle. It being the first real connection since Luna's passing.”

  “Okay, I fucking froze up.” There was a chill that ran down my spine and I couldn’t stop my hand as subtly shook on the table. It was fear. His eyes had no emotion. The smile never reached them.