Opposites Attract (On-Hold) by Chloe Knox (reading books for 5 year olds .txt) đ
- Author: Chloe Knox
Book online «Opposites Attract (On-Hold) by Chloe Knox (reading books for 5 year olds .txt) đ». Author Chloe Knox
âSo, Zane, you have a family?â My father asked as he took a sip from his glass of bourbon, as if it were unbelievable that Zane actually had one.
âUm, yes. My mother, Jane, and my younger brother, Gage.â
I made sure to commit the names to memory.
âWhat bout your father? Whatâs he like?â My father asked, with a cocked eyebrow, looking like he was surprised that Zane hadnât mentioned his father. I frowned. I didnât know what the story was with Zane and his father, but his dad never showed up to school assemblies or games or anything. His father never even showed up to parent teacher conferences with him and his motherâŠit didnât take long for the school to realize that Zane and his father, was a sore subject. But nope! My father just had to put his nose into other peopleâs business and make them feel uncomfortable!
I looked over at Zane, a little curious why he never talked about his dad, yet knowing, just by the soft look in his eyes, heâd rather not talk about it. He shifted in his seat on the couch next to my fatherâs recliner, and cleared his throat, âWell, umâŠmy father, he left me and my mother shortly after I was born.â
I bit my lip to hold in a gasp when my heart sank.
The poor guy! His father had left him and his mother, all alone. And shortly after he was born? I mean, Iâm sure that took some of the hurt away. His father left before he even had a chance to grow attached to the guy, but stillâŠhe had to feel a bit guilty. He probably felt like it was his fault, his father leavingâŠhis mother probably felt the same way as well.
My father showed little sympathy, only nodded.
I scooted closer to Zane, and let my head rest on his warm shoulders. I could feel his slight tremor under my finger tips when I tried to show him I cared by rubbing his backâbut I wasnât even sure if he was shaking because he was nervousâand Iâm sure the shot gun leaning against the coffee table closest to my father didnât calm his nervesâor because he was upset at his own father for leaving him, or maybe just having to talk about the guy that left him in general.
My father flashed me a glare, signaling for me to back away from Zane, but I pretended I didnât notice and he eventually let it go, âWhat did you say your brotherâs name is? Gage? Thatâs odd!â
âDad? Thatâs rather rude!â I yelped before I could even think of keeping my mouth shut. Zane gave my thigh a quick pat and rub, to show me that he was thankful for my understanding. My father shot another glare, this time it was directed toward Zane. I ignored it, but Zane didnât. He quickly removed his hands from my leg and scooted a quick inch away from me. Zane cleared his throat for like the fifth time in the last ten minutes, and I rolled my eyes.
âWell, sir, my brotherâs real name is Gavin, but heâs big on cars.â
âSo thatâs where the name Gage comes from?â
âYeah, itâs just kinda stuck with him.â
âI see,â My father mumbled slowly as he gulped the rest of his bourbon. He looked Zane over from head to toe, making him fidget with extreme nervousness. Then his eyes flashed to me, and then to my thigh, where Zane had touched me. My father frowned, and licked the inside of his bottom lip with a loud sigh, âSo, AshleyâŠwhat ever happened to that Josh boy? I liked him!â
My anger flared up so abruptly, that I couldnât hide it. The attitude rolled off my tongue easily, âHe cheated on me, dad!â
Who did he think he was, to judge Zane? Who did he think he was to intimidate him, he barely knew him?
âAnd what? Zaneâs like your rebound?â
Zaneâs eyes went wide, as if the possibility of me using him just dawned on him, and my anger grew even more. He was trying to ruin things for me! Why?
âDad!â
âWhat? Iâm just trying to understand whatâs going on through your pretty little noggin.â
âMaybe if youâd just listen to me for once, youâd understand.â
âI have been listening. You broke up with Josh to dateâŠhim.â My father said âhimâ and gestured to Zane with an obvious frown of what looked likeâŠdisgust? No! It couldnât be!
âWhatâs so wrong with Zane?â I asked my body on edge and tingling with annoyance.
âI didnât say thereâs anything wrong with him,â my father said, his lips pulled into a flat line, looking innocent. That only made me even angrier.
âYou didnât have to say it!â I yelled, and Zane took in a quick breath, before standing, âOkay, um, I think I better go. I didnât mean to cause aââ
âOh no! Please! Sit down, have a beer! Iâm sure youâve had more than enough, judging by where youâre from.â My breath caught in the back of my throat, and tears threatened to sting my eyes.
âExcuse me, sir?â Zane asked, looking extremely hurt yet confused.
âWellâŠyou live in a trailer park, do you not?â My father said, scowling from his recliner up at Zane.
Zane opened his mouth to speak, anger hardening his usually relaxed and sweet brown eyes. He was going to flip, and I didnât blame him.
How dare my father even think of saying something like that, and to his face? What kind of a person says something like that?
Zane grabbed his jacket, from off the back of the couch. We locked eyes, and I tried to put as much feeling as I could into them, so heâd see that I didnât want him to go, but he quickly turned away from me to look at my father.
Yell at him? I thought; show him youâre not afraid of him.
âGood day, sir.â Zane mumbled, before stomping out of the house, without looking back at me.
âWait! Zane, wait!â I yelled as I ran out the front door after him, not caring that it was freezing outside, and that I wasnât wearing shoes. I didnât care that my father would probably chew my ass up afterward, and my mother would probably just watch and nod every now and then as if she really caredâŠbut I didnât careâŠat least about getting in troubleâŠI do, however, care about Zane, and about how heâs treatedâŠ
I ran as fast as I could, without over treading an ankle or hurting the pads of my bare feet to hard, as I ran on the stone road, that led away from my driveway and towards town.
Zane didnât stop, or even look back. He just kept walking, with the hood of his sweatshirt, from under his leather jacket pulled up over his head. His baggy dark jeans, were snug against his hips, and shook the slightest bit as his long strides grew stronger, filled with anger. His boots kicked at the small stones, making them fly.
It only took a moment for him to reach his motorcycle.
He through his leg over the bodice and I began sprinting.
He couldnât leave me. Not now! Not when I knew he was hurt and angry! I needed him! Needed to tell him how horribly sorry I was.
âZane! Please!â I screamed, this time as loud as I could, not bothering to hide my tears.
Zane just continued to ignore me, and jump started the engine to his motorcycle.
Please, please, please stop! Donât go! Wait!
I yelled to myself as I pushed myself harder and harder. I was only a bit aways, but it would only take him seconds to lift the kick stand and drive off.
âStop! Zane!â I yelled as I ran in front of his motorcycles path just as he had started driving.
My heart leapt into my throat as I realized how incredibly dumb it was of me, to jump in front of a moving vehicle. I screamed, but I was still standing a few feet away, so it wasnât that hard for Zane to stop the motorcycle before his handle bars came crashing into my gut.
âARG!â Zane screamed as he hoped off his bike, not bothering to put down the kickstand. He pushed his bike, letting it fall onto the stone road, making me wince at the horrid and loud crashing sound.
âAre you crazy? I could have hit you! I could have killed you Ashley!â He yelled, baring his angry teeth.
I didnât care, that he was angry, though. I was just glad I had stopped him before he drove off.
I quickly ran the few feet that separated us, and jumped, wrapping my arms around Zaneâs neck and pulling him as close as humanly possible, âIâm sorry, Zane. Iâm so so sorry. Please donât be angry with me.â
Zaneâs tense body slowly relaxed under my grasp. He sighed and pressed his forehead into my neck, wrapping his big arms around me. His warm breath and the slight dampness of his sweaty face tickled my neck, âIâm not angry with you. Iâm justâŠAshley, your fatherâs right.â
I didnât want to, but I pulled away from Zane, to glare at him, âWhat? What are you talking about?â
âYou deserve way better than me, Ashley.â
âWhat are you sayingââ
âAshley, I have nothing to offer you. NOTHING! I wish I could give you everything, but I canât. I can barely provide for my own family, let alone myself or you.â
I laughed, âSo what? I deserve a guy like Josh? Rich, handsome, self-centered, and unfaithful?â
Zane looked away from me, as if trying to come up with an excuse. I sighed and pulled him back against me, but Zane made sure to keep his eyes averted from mine.
âZane, look at me. Look at me!â
He reluctantly did, revealing glassy eyes. Emotion filled brown eyes, which made me melt, âZane, I donât care about money, or jewelry. Yes, if you had it that would be great.â I mumbled making Zane smile with amusement, âBut thatâs nothing more than a bonus. Zane, youâre enough for meâŠso please,â I pressed my forehead, against his, âDonâtâdonât go just because my father is a complete ass.â
Zane smiled, and exhaled in relief, âI was more scared of the shot gun, than anything.â
I giggled, âYeah, I was wondering if you saw thatâŠâ
We fell into silence, and stared into each otherâs eyes.
Whenever I looked into Joshâs blue eyes, Iâd feel awkward. Like an idiot. Iâd find the stupidest reason to look away, but now? I didnât want to stop!
In Zaneâs presence with his eyes glued to mine, I felt happy, relaxed, relieved.
I closed my eyes and reveled in the feel of his hot, soft, and damp skin. I took in the faint smell of cinnamon and pumpkin. I listened to the shaky pattern of the breath that blew through his nostrils.
I leaned in, brushing my lips against his, âAshley! Get your ass in side, right now!â
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