Ace (Book 1)

Chapter 15. Spank Her

            When Ace returned, I agreed to watch a show that he liked because I had never seen it. It was Sons of Anarchy.

I passed the joint to him and exhaled. "That guy looks familiar," I muttered.

"Which guy?" Ace asked.

"Jax," I said. "I've seen him somewhere."

"Sure. If you watch porn," Ace said and chuckled.

"What?" I gasped.

Ace bursted into laughter.

"You're lying." I rolled my eyes.

"I don't lie," he said and guffawed. "Honestly, that is what he used to do."

"Cold Mountain, Ace. He played in the movie Cold Mountain. Have you seen it?"

"Nope. Never heard of it." Ace put the joint out in the ashtray.

"Watch it some time," I said. "It's a good movie. What time is it?"

"Almost midnight," he said and yawned. "Are you ready to go to sleep?"

"One more episode."

"That's what they all say." Ace smirked.

I pressed play for the next episode and curled into Ace's side.

Ace ran his fingers through my hair.

My eyelids became incredibly heavy. I didn't manage to make it to the end of the episode. I dozed in and out until, finally, my eyes stayed closed.

***

"I'll go let your father know how your training went," Ace said. He turned and walked down the hall.

I shrugged and started for the kitchen. My throat felt like sandpaper. Practice had gone well. Ace said that I caught on quickly.

My mother stood near the window. From the look in her eyes, I could tell she wasn't staring at anything in particular. She was far away.

"Hey, Mom," I said. I grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge.

Mom turned to me and smiled. "Hey. How did practice go?"

"Ace said I'm getting better. Ace thinks it will only take me a couple of more weeks, but he wants me to continue to work out every day." I shrugged. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Mom raised her eyebrows.

"You looked a little lost in thought," I said.

Mom smiled. "You always were observant."

"Dad said that I get that from you."

Mom stuck her hands in the pocket of her jeans and chuckled. She moved toward me. "You two grew so close in such a short time. You always reminded me more of him."

"Is that why you didn't like me? I reminded you of him, and it hurt you?" I swallowed hard. I couldn't share her gaze.

"What?" Mom breathed. "Honey, is that what you think?"

I looked up at her. "You were always so emotionless."

"Well, when you get beat for years, it's hard to keep smiling. Don't you agree?"