Free A Twist of Fate by Christa Simpson Page B

Nooooo!
    I flashed my eyes out the windshield, worried to see Cameron's
reaction.  His eyes were locked on Edwin as he got into the seat next to me.  I
rested my left hand on the arm rest and spread my fingers to display my ring,
as Edwin snapped on his seatbelt.
    "Abby?" Edwin asked.
    I brought my hand back to my chin, so he couldn't look at me
without seeing it and turned toward him.  “Yes?”
    Edwin winced at the sight, and it took him a minute to right
himself after having been electrocuted, but it gave me the peace of mind I was
so desperately clinging to.  "I guess it can wait," he said, then
glanced out his window as we sped away.
    The ride wasn't nearly as uncomfortable for me as I expected
it would be.  My ring seemed to barricade the gap between us, until Edwin
started to fidget.
    "Abs, you really need to rethink what your priorities
are in life," he blurted.
    I looked at him, with anger swelling in my eyes, wondering
where the hell that had come from.  I quickly realized that he wasn't looking
for a response.  I wanted to scream at him, but instead I took a deep breath
and cleared my head.  My priorities are in order.
    Edwin was staring out the window again, but that wasn’t going
to stop me from standing my ground.
    "I’m sorry my priorities aren't what you want, Eddie. 
But that isn't my problem, is it?"
    His eyes scanned over me then dropped to the floor. 
"Nope, I suppose that would make it my problem."
    Great.   Sitting with Aliah was bad enough.  Now, I
was sure to self-combust if I had to spend another hour next to Edwin.  I
clenched my fists and closed my eyes, hoping I could garner enough control to
last the entire ride.  Not a half hour later, I could feel Edwin's eyes reaching
me again.
    I didn't want to start another argument, but I couldn't take
it anymore.  "What?"
    "I can't look at you?"
    "No, Edwin.  You can't.  Not like that."  My heart
began to race.
    "You're too good for me now that you're dropping anchor
with Cam; is that it?"
    "It's not like they're getting married," Jessica said,
then slapped her hand over her big mouth.
    "I knew it."
    I shook my head.  He didn’t know.  "Don't even.  You
don't get it."
    "No, I think I do," he retorted, evidently
convinced of his own smug delusions.
    I nearly lost it.  "Maddie.  Pull over please.”  I
narrowed blame-filled eyes at Edwin.  “I need some air."
    "What are you doing?" Edwin asked.
    “You deaf?  I need some air."  I didn’t want him to see
me cry.
    Maddie brought the car to slow stop and I stormed out into
the snow, slamming the door shut on Edwin as he tried to follow me, nearly
taking off his leg.  I tromped down the desolate, snow-covered road and the silence
swallowed me whole.
    I stopped and zipped my jacket up to my chin to shake the chill
that instantly overcame me; then I stuffed my trembling hands into my coat
pockets to hide them from the frigid air.  I took a deep breath and it misted
before me on an exhale.
    The crisp air helped to clear my head, to the point where I
started to feel guilty for being so inconsiderate to Edwin.  He was entitled to
his opinion.  I tugged my hood over my head and buried my tear-stained cheeks
into the neck of my coat.
    Edwin fled the car and followed the trail of small, boot
prints, demolishing them with his own.  I heard the snow crunching behind me.  I
would recognize that casual, masculine approach anywhere.
    My cheeks were already frozen, and the north wind wasn’t
letting up.  For that reason alone, I hoped Edwin would be short with me.
    "I take it you got the nastiness off your chest.  You
didn't run away from me," Edwin harassed, stopping just behind my cold
shoulder.
    I peeked over at him, but kept my feet planted firmly in the
snow bank.  Damn.   Why did he have to look so attractive?   I stole
my eyes back and stared down at the sparkling snow, his body language charming
the boots off of me.  "I'm sorry for being so mean," I said, with a
whisper.