Abby"You sure you don't want any wine?" I giggle at Lyla's question to Ghost. He turns for the hundredth time since trying to work on this old home's dishwasher and stares at her."How the hell does Shane put up with you?" A round of chuckles sets all of us off when Lyla's grabs her chest and pushes up her boobs."You sure you don't want any wine? I don't know about you ladies, but I feel mighty unattractive around Ghost right now. I mean, c'mon honey, you've got four beautiful, half wasted women, surrounding you, your shirtless trying to fix something, it all adds up to some pretty baby makin'."Ghost blows out a breath and shakes his head, then goes back to work.Candice, Lyla, Shawna and I are all sitting around waiting on the guys get to get back from their church meeting. Chance left this morning but not without a kiss that I can still feel on my lips. I don't know what to make of what happened last night. Part of me worries he may regret it and tell me we can never go that
Chance24 hours earlier"Want to explain why the fuck we're all meeting at your place Austin?" Bone shouts when we all pile up in Austin's living room. He doesn't have the largest house, and even though we have moved all the furniture back, it's still a tight squeeze in here."Everyone here?" Austin asks ignoring Bone's question with irritation. Glad I'm not the only one."Everyone's here except Ghost and the prospect watchin' over Lyla's mom." Max says to his brother. Making my skin feel like it's on fire. When Austin had told me that Ghost was going to be the one that stayed with Abby I wanted to punch something. Austin stared at me for a few moments until I got head back. I knew he had done it on purpose. Partly to test me and see if I would honor his rule, and partially to test my affection for Abby. I don't know what we are right now, but something about having her lay alongside me all night, the way she took control, I need more of that and soon."Alright let's get start
AbbyHe's back.The man I thought was changing and becoming someone I can confide in and trust, is now reunited with the man he's always been towards me. Cold."You're off today right?" He asks in the same cold tone he has been using with me for the past several days now."Yes." I answer not wanting to give him much."Good. Ghost will be watching over, I'll be at the clubhouse." He states then walks off and heads out slamming the door behind him. I wait the few moments until I hear his bike start up and pull out.It's been eight days since I've moved in here with Chance. He was sweet at first, attentive and caring, but a few days ago, he came home a different person. Isolated, non-talkative. He's curt with me, one word answers and never stays long. Dad has been obsolete as well. He calls every day, checks on me, but says no more than a few words to me, then says he has to go. I feel alone, lonelier than I did when the stranger held me in his clutches down in that dark damp baseme
Chance Ten years agoPacing back and forth I play what the police captain said to me earlier today over and over again in my head. "We're sorry Mr. Malone, but we still don't have a suspect."It has been months since the shooting, and they aren't even close to identifying anyone. I have tried telling them over and over again who it is, but the same words they repeat haunt me.Alibi.Those fuckers that had the audacity to end lives that dreadful day, have a fucking alibi.Anger boils in my belly knowing those assholes are out there, free to do whatever they choose, while parents of those kids have to suffer nearly every day.I squeeze my phone in my palm tighter and bring it up to my forehead trembling as I do so. I have tried calling Sean over 40 times since I have been home and still no answer. Only one with the power to bring all of this to a conclusion, a simple phone call separates the truth from all the lies that were given to those who lost their children that day. I fe
AbbyThe cool sheet hangs around my body as I watch Chance thrash back and forth. His arms have banged against the nightstand and headboard enough that I know he will have some bruises. I have tried calling out his name but he's not answering. It's like he's in some kind of trance, trapped in his own nightmare.It's been several minutes of the same thing. I thought he would tire himself out, or wake himself up, but nothing. I tried waking him myself, tried shaking his body, but I was thrown off, causing my back to hit the floor hard.Panic sets in when I see him thrash so hard he nearly leaps off the bed.This is getting dangerous.I decide then and there that one more time of trying to wake him is better than impatiently waiting. Running over to the side of the bed, I call out Chance's name once more, getting no answer in return other than the same name he continues to cry out for.Who is Ava?I shake my head, jealousy can come later, right now Chance needs me. Leaning over the
Chance I watch as Abby disappears into Max's room. My heart burns to go to her, hold her in my arms and beg and plead for her forgiveness but I don't deserve that. I deserve to wallow in self-pity feeling like my world is standing still, but in actuality everything around me is moving at the speed of light. When Austin came out and told us what happened and that Abby and Ghost were on their way here, my heart stopped. Knowing I wasn't there for her when she needed me the most, knowing I was here getting shitfaced all while she was fending off an attack that almost ended her life, kills me. If it weren't for Ghost and Swatch, she would have been dead, and it would have been all my fault. I am no better than her father, the same man that not too long ago, I fought for putting her in this same situation."Church in five." Austin shouts walking over to our newest guest. Leaving this morning after saying horrible things to Abby, I realized I had nowhere to go. No place I called home, n
Abby"I killed my own daughter."The words flow through my mind as I watch as once again Austin paces the floor before me. Pulling my legs up under me and getting into a more comfortable position, I close my eyes as Shawna pulls my hair tighter."I take it Austin hasn't gotten a hold of them yet?" I shake my head pushing the impending tears back. I've been worried since Chance left; my body language has been stiff and non-pliant from the moment he told me he was going on this run with the rest of the brothers."Not yet. I think he's getting worried." I whisper, not wanting Austin to over hear me.I watch as Bone walks into the room for the tenth time. He spots me in the same spot I've been in since Shawna pulled me out of Max's room a couple of hours ago then walks away.I'm not sure why Bone looks suddenly so sheepish with me, but I know I need to speak with him."He's not the only one." I feel her tap my shoulder, letting me know she is done with my hair. A mirror comes in fro
Chance Ten years agoI can still see the blood. Still see their bodies lying around. Still see the look in my wife's eyes as she tells me what happened to eleven of my students. Still recall the faces of every parent as they pass me at the funerals. I can still see it all, and I deserve every single ounce of it.I sit cross legged on the cold cement floor, trash and debris flow around me as a small gust of wind circles them around a few seconds and reluctantly lets go. Movement behind me causes me to stand up and walk towards the very person that could have saved them all."Mr. Malone?""Tell me what you know Sean.""What's going on?" He asks looking around then turns into a panic. "Why did you bring me here?"I look around with him and take in the condemned place that destroyed everything. The students desks and chairs still lie scattered and pushed over. There is trash and paperwork from my class all over the place, and the small broken air conditioner portable still sits in