AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fine,” Ford relents, looking pissed off but not pushing his luck.
Cal gives Ford an intense look but must decide that he trusts him because then he turns to me and says, “Ford told me you need to get your head straight. I hope what he has planned will help you to do that. Be safe.”
I nod my head then shake out of Ford’s grasp and start jogging towards the gap in the fence.
“Asia, wait up,” Ford calls behind me.
When I don’t listen and duck through the gap, running full speed the second I’m in the woods, Ford curses under his breath. I’m fully aware that he could catch up with me and stop me if he chose to, but instead he lets me run like a wild creature intent on escaping. Thing is, I’m not running from Ford, I’m running from everything else.
My father. My brother. Our situation.
It takes me just fifteen minutes to hit the beach and I’m not even a little out of breath. Ford arrives shortly after and Frank a little after that. He keeps his distance. Adrenaline and a caustic anger inside my chest fuelling me. Ford pulls up beside me, panting a little.
“Feeling a little better?” he asks, staring out to sea when I glance at him.
“Not really,” I respond.
“Didn’t think so.”
He catches my gaze, the sea breeze buffeting us both. His dark blonde hair whips against his sharp cheekbones, lashing against his skin. When his gaze flicks to my mouth, I feel the electricity between us spark, but somehow it just makes me anxious.
“Are you going to fuck me, is that why we’re here?” I ask, not caring how crass that sounds or if Frank can hear.
I’m more than positive that’s why Ford wants me here and right now I’m not sure how I feel about that. It isn’t because I don’t want to sleep with him. I do. It’s just, I’m fucked up in the head tonight. I’m angry. Sex right now wouldn’t be a good idea.
“Like Eastern did this morning?” he asks.
“Yeah, we had sex… and?”
“And nothing,” he shrugs. “If that’s what you wanted, who the fuck am I to judge?”
“It was what Ineeded.”
Ford regards me. “Yeah, I get that.”
It’s true. Eastern had given me some peace in his arms and I love him for it. He allowed me to break and held me whilst I did. “But now…” I blurt out, then slam my mouth shut. How can I explain how I feel? Right now I’m fucking angry. It’s like a cancer. I can feel it eating away at me, chewing at my gut, gnawing at my bones, breaking me apart. Killing me slowly.
“Now you need to deal with the anger, yes?”
“Yes.”
Looking over his shoulder Ford spots Frank and says, “We’re going in the Tower, don’t fucking come in. We’ll be done in an hour.”
Then without waiting for a response, Ford grabs my hand and pulls me towards the Tower. It looms in the near distance, behind it an overly large moon hangs like a pendant in the midnight-blue sky, lighting our way. The ocean is wild, crashing against the shore with white crested foam as we half-jog, half-walk across the pebbles. Ford pushes open the metal door and we step into the darkness.
“Wait a second,” he orders, dropping my hand. I can hear him fumble in the darkness for a while before a stark bright light flicks on. It illuminates the space enough for us to move about without falling into the pit.
“Where has everything gone?” I ask. The space is empty, bar a couple chairs pushed against the staircase on the other side of the circular room and a cardboard box in the centre.
“Since we stopped coming, the place has been abandoned. The local kids probably nicked the decks and all but one of the lights. Don’t really give a shit, honestly.” Ford shrugs, unbothered.
“So what now?” I ask him. I’m fully aware of the challenge in my voice, the almost dangerous invitation. If he attempted to kiss me, I’m not sure whether he would get a punch instead of a kiss. Maybe he’d get both. Yeah, he’d probably get both.
“Asia, don’t look at me like that,” he warns.
“Like what, Ford?” I push.
“Like you want me to hurt as much as you’re hurting. Like you want to fuck the life out of me, and whilst I’m not averse to angry sex, I’m not about to fuck you when you’re in this state of mind.”
