Flying Free (MAC Security 2.50)

I don’t have a problem with telling anyone, I know the brothers probably won’t be happy about it but they’ll just have to deal because I won’t be going anywhere as long as Ava still wants me.

I’m here to stay. Figuratively.

That reminds me, I don’t have long before I have to go away again.

Fuck.

“Corey?” her sweet voice calls from the hallway.

“In here!” I call back. Turning, I pour us both a cup of coffee and wait for her to come in. My eyes saunter up her body, over her legs that are on display in her sleeping shorts and up to where my t-shirt rests precariously off one shoulder.

Seeing her wearing my clothes makes me feel like a caveman, there’s something to be said for your woman wearing your clothes. She looks sexy as hell, and I have to stop myself from grabbing her and doing everything that I want to do to her, that I’ve been imagining.

“Were you talking to someone?” she asks, moving forward and standing opposite me.

“Yeah, Kay wanted to know what time I’m coming down.”

She nods her head, not breaking eye contact as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Eli’s party today.” She smiles.

“Yep.” I shuffle my feet, all of a sudden feeling nervous. I’m never nervous and the fact that she makes me feel like this has my head spinning. “I err... I may have let slip that I’m bringing someone with me.”

“Yeah?” She smirks. “Do I know this person?” She moves forward, her feet inches from mine.

“You do.” I swallow and place my hands on her waist.

“Will everyone like her?” she asks, her eyes full of vulnerability.

I forget sometimes that she worries about what people think and I know that she wants to please everyone but she needs to start and realize that she can’t do that all the time.

There will always be someone who isn’t happy; that will have a problem.

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t.” I shrug.

“Are we telling everyone today then? I don’t want to ruin Eli’s party.”

I look off to the side and heave a breath. She’s right. Once they know, they won’t be happy, not all of them anyway, and the last thing I want is to cause any trouble at Eli’s party.

“It’s up to you,” I say, keeping my eyes guarded. “I’ll go with whatever you want.”

She chews on her lip, a sign that she’s thinking and nods her head solemnly. “Yeah, let’s not tell them today. We can do it tomorrow?”

I wrap my arms around her, leaning my face on the top of her head. “Sounds like a plan.”

Traveling with Jackson to Eli’s party is a complete nightmare. From the moment I get in his car, he’s firing questions at me. What have you been doing lately? Are you seeing anyone? Why haven’t you messaged me back?

The questions come thick and fast and coupled with that smirk, I can see that he knows something. I don’t bother answering any of his questions because, well, it’s not any of his business. Instead, I put my headphones on and cut him off as the music blasts in my ears.

I stare out of the window all the way there, just thinking about everything that has happened this week. In one sense, we’re moving fast but when you think about it, we’d played this game for long enough. I never knew how much Corey liked me, always thinking that it was all on me.

I had doubts, thinking it may just be a fling, something to occupy him while he was back but the more time I spend with him the more I realize that he isn’t like that. In fact, he’s far from it and I have no doubt in my mind that he won’t hurt me.

I pull my cell out of my pocket as it buzzes, expecting to see Corey’s name but it’s not, it’s unknown.

I haven’t answered the unknown calls, deciding that if I ignore them I can pretend that they’re not really happening. Yeah, I know, it’s stupid to think like that but it’s how I’m coping with it.

As we drive through the compound gates, I take it all in, my eyes wandering over to the woods. I can guarantee that the party will be up in the clearing. When I stayed here, they were always up there. The people who live on this compound are a man-made family and they look out for each other like you wouldn’t believe.

“Ava?” Jackson asks, shaking my leg to get my attention. I pull my headphones off and smile at him, pushing out of the car and walking straight to Ty and Kay’s house.