Fated Mate

Ash took a moment and let her feel comfortable before he ambushed her. Joe had told him Lee’s real age. He was annoyed that she lied to him but more annoyed at himself for sleeping with a girl who was practically an infant to him. But it was difficult staying mad at her when he saw her hazel eyes light up in victory because he paid no attention to Jane.

They were both too young for him and he knew better than to get involved with either of them, even though the ship had already sailed with Lee. Jane was beautiful, but it was difficult not to ogle Lee. Not only because her hazel eyes reminded him of Rosa but also she had this familiar sadness that attracted him and a mysterious presence that demanded attention even when it was so clear that she didn’t want it.

“So how was school today?”

“It was okay. Classes dragged on…” Lee stopped and looked at him, the edge of his lips were curved up in a smile. She smiled back. “I walked right into that one.”

“You aren’t a very good liar. I also don’t believe your school would hire a history teacher who was flunking.”

Lee was horrified. “How did you know that?”

“Your test paper fell out of the book.”Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

She shoved her head into the headrest. This was just wonderful. He must think I am dumb and a liar. I wasn’t clever enough to even pass in lying!

Picking up on her thoughts, he spoke quickly. “I can help you with your history if you want me to.”

No way! I’m not going to let him see how stupid I am. “Ann already offered.” Lee turned and looked out the window.

“Still on the subject of hopeless lacking in the art of lying, should I have wished you a happy eighteenth and not a happy twentieth?”

Ash saw the bruises Joe had told him about on her hand. He was glad she was healing but he was proved wrong when he saw the poor make-up job on her chin when she pushed her hair behind her ear. It looked like a purple brown patch that completely stood out against her dark complexion.

She was really hoping he’d forgotten about that. She took a deep breath before she looked up at him. “Sorry about that.”

“I told you I didn’t like small spaces. Why did you lie about your age?”

“If you’re worried about jail, the police would have been a day too late, I’m old enough to do as I please.”

She unconsciously pushed her sleeves up then quickly pulled them down and fisted them in her hands. It was too late. Ash had already seen the distinct purple patches on her arms. If he were to put his hands over them they would be a perfect match to his fingers.

“No you’re not-at least not with me you can’t.” He was so angry, he sounded like he was scolding her.

He was sure there were more of those bruises all over her body and he was even surer they weren’t caused by a tumble down some steps. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel cursing himself for how bad he must have hurt her.

“Ash, it happened. You can’t take that night back.” Lee wasn’t going to feel ashamed of what they did. She loved every second of it, dreamed of it day and night. It was wonderful and she wasn’t going to let him dampen it.

“I don’t want to take it back. I’ll treasure that night,” his voice was softer for a moment before it went back to being harsh, “it’s just never going to happen again.”

“Is that why you picked me up, to give the devious teenager a warning?” She felt angry and distressed. It felt like he was punishing her.

“It’s not a warning. You are too young for me. We can’t see each other again, maybe as friends now that the guys are dating your sisters but nothing more.”

“You said there had to be an adult in every relationship!” Lee was desperate. The thought of not having him shook her harder now than it did before when he wasn’t near her. She didn’t understand why but it did.

He kept his voice even and harsh. “That only applies when the two are consenting adults. I’m an adult and you are still a child in every essence of the term.”

“I am not a child!” She yelled at him. She could feel the tears sting her eyes.

There was something about her teary eyes that was familiar to him. It wasn’t because they looked like Rosa’s but someone he had met before. His chest tightened with a familiar pain.

“Right now you are acting like one.” He glanced at her, and then looked back at the road. “Another thing, we aren’t in a relationship,” he said the words firmly. He wasn’t only trying to convince her, but himself also.

It was a struggle saying those words out loud but he needed to keep away from her if she was to stay alive. She was too young to have complications in her life. She had barely lived and it would be wrong of him to take that away from her. He held on tightly to the steering wheel to keep from pulling her into his arms and comforting her, kissing her and telling her he was being a fool for rejecting her but he couldn’t do that. He cared for her too much to ruin her life.

****

Lee felt hurt, she couldn’t explain why but his words stung. She stayed quiet all the way to the deli. Without a word, she got out of the car and sauntered inside not bothering to give him a final glance. She stopped when she met Maria and Ann at the counter.

“Hi, Lee, how was the ride from school?” Ann was smiling. Lee automatically knew she was behind this.

“It was your bright idea then?” She looked at Ann, acid in her mouth. “I don’t want either of you playing matchmaker. Please don’t do me any favors.” She marched passed them and into the kitchen.

The ride home and the night were spent in complete silence. Lee went straight to bed without saying a word to either of them. She woke up feeling guilty. She knew she was wrong to blame Ann for what happened. She was only trying to help. Ash didn’t want her. It wasn’t Ann’s fault it was hers for not being enough for him. She wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing that he was richer than she was. No one drove a car like that if they weren’t rich. Money made Steve stay. With Ash she didn’t know his weakness.

She woke up early and made them an apology breakfast. Food was the best way to say sorry, at least when it came to Ann and Maria.

“Ann, Lee has been guilty cooking again.”

She turned to find Maria standing by the table. Lee placed the plates on the table and stood next to the table full of food smiling innocently. Ann walked in with a wide grin on her face.

“Morning, I just wanted to say I’m sorry for yesterday-”

Ann waved her quiet and sat down at the table. Maria was already serving herself a plate. “Forget about it. I shouldn’t have interfered anyway. Do you mind if I asked what happened?”

Lee swallowed the bitter lump in her throat. She was still trying to get used to the fact that Ash didn’t want anything to do with her. She wasn’t dumb enough to believe her age was the reason behind it. That never stopped Steve. She was sure there was something more. After seeing Jane, he might have decided going for the princess and not the tomboy was way better. For the first time in six months since she joined Edgeview High, Lee got left on the sidelines for her.

“Twenty year olds aren’t supposed to be in high school.” She pressed her lips in a tight smile, trying to sound casual. She walked to the living room and picked up her bag and reached for the door.

Ann laughed. “You lied about your age! Why didn’t you tell us, I would have sent him to the diner and not your school?”

Lee shrugged her shoulders. “It wouldn’t have worked out anyway.”

“Wait, we’ll drop you off.” Maria stood up and tapped Ann on the shoulder to hurry up.

“No, I’ll walk. Guess we have to start saving for two cars now, huh?”

“My baby isn’t dead yet!” Ann called out from the table.

“Denial is the first step of grieving, don’t worry you’ll get to acceptance soon.” Lee opened the door and walked out waving to them before she shut the door behind her.