Free Forever Black by Sandi Lynn

discussing my personal life. It’s called personal for a
reason Ellery.”
    He
didn’t realize it, but at that moment he made a decision for me. The waitress
brought our pizza and put it in the middle of the table along with salad and
bread sticks. I picked up a slice of pizza with the spatula and put it on his
plate. He sighed and grabbed his fork and knife.
    “What?
Are you kidding me? Put that down right now Connor Black.”
    He
looked startled, “What? What the hell is wrong?”
    I
leaned over the table and grabbed the knife and fork out of his hand, “You are
not eating pizza with a knife and fork.”
    “Then
how the hell am I supposed to eat it?”
    He
was so damn sexy at that moment. I picked up my pizza and took a bite. With a
mouthful, I said, “Like this, pick it up and bite into it.”
    “That’s
disgusting and don’t talk with your mouth full.”
    “If
you won’t do it then I will.” I picked up the pizza from his plate and held it
up to his mouth.
    “Bite”
I demanded.
    He
raised his eyebrows at me, “Do you have any idea how sexy that sounds?” he
winked.
    I
couldn’t help but let out a light laugh as I hit him on his arm. He rolled his eyes,
which was sexy as hell, opened his mouth and took a bite of the pizza. I smiled
as I put the pizza back on his plate.
    “My
turn,” he smiled.
    “Your
turn what?”
    He
took the pizza from my plate and held it up.
    “Bite”
he demanded.
    I
took a bite, and a wide grin graced his perfect face. I think that may have
been the first time since I’ve known him that I’ve seen him smile like that. It
was the most beautiful and warm smile I’ve ever seen, and it made my heart
flutter.
    We
ate more pizza, talked and ate some salad. The waitress kept walking by our
table and giving Connor flirtatious smiles.
    “Don’t
you ever get sick and tired of all the ogling you get from women?”
    He
laughed, “Don’t you get sick of all the ogling you get from men?”
    I
twisted my face in confusion, “I don’t get that.”
    “Yes
you do Ellery, I see it every time I’m with you; the only difference is men are
more discreet about it than women are.”
    I
never noticed men ogling me before; I’ll have to start paying more attention.
As we were laughing and enjoying our conversation my phone rang; it was my Aunt
Patti’s number. I looked at Connor, “I have to get this.” He nodded his head
and took out his phone.
    “Hello,”
I answered. The voice on the other end was my cousin Debbie.
    “Ellery,
it’s Debbie, I wanted to let you know that mom and dad were...” she started
sobbing, “In a car accident, and they both were killed.”
    Her
sobs grew harder as a tear fell down my cheek. Connor looked at me and reached
for my hand resting on the table. “Debbie, I’m so sorry; I will be there as
soon as I can.”
    “Thank
you Elle, I’ll call you with the details.”
    I
hung up and looked at Connor who was staring at me with a worried look in his
eye, “Ellery, what happened?”
    “My
aunt and uncle were killed in a car accident. I need to get out of here
Connor.”
    I
grabbed my purse and took out some money. Connor grabbed it from my hands and
shoved it back in my purse, “I got this.”
     I
couldn’t fall apart in front of him; I had to hold it together, at least till I
got home, when I was alone.
    He
threw some money on the table and followed me out of the restaurant. My head was
in a daze, and I was confused. I looked in both directions forgetting which way
I needed to go. He put his arm around me and pulled me into him leading me to
where Denny had parked the Limo. I stumbled a few times, but the strength of
his arms held me up. He opened the door and helped me in. I slid to the other
side as he got in and sat beside me. He didn’t say a word; he only wrapped his
arms around me and pulled me into his chest. Feeling the warmth and security of
him, I clenched his shirt in my hands and started crying. He rubbed his hand up
and down my back as