Conceited (Crimson Elite 3)

It doesn’t ring.

I smash my cell to the ground then I drink myself to sleep. Because what else is there to do.It’s Tracey’s birthday, her wife is throwing her a surprise birthday party. I contemplated not going. It would be easier if I didn’t. But she’s my sister and I haven’t spoken to her in weeks, even though she has tried. I don’t bother shaving, fuck, I just manage to shower before I leave.

Pulling up, there are cars everywhere. Tracey stands on her front porch smiling and talking. She sees me and waves, her smile becoming brighter and bigger. Pulling myself from the car, Tracey makes her way to me and when she reaches me, her hands wrap around my shoulders as she pulls me to her.

“I didn’t think you would come.”

I shrug. Of course, I’d come. Just because my life is in shambles right now doesn’t mean I don’t love my sister.

“Echo and Storm are inside.”

Of course, they are. Storm and Tracey have become good friends and work together.

“I won’t stay long.” She nods like she expected me to say that.

“Mum and Dad are in there, too. Go say hello.” She pushes me to walk up the front and lets me go inside. I spot my parents first. My mother smiles and walks over to me wrapping her arms around me.

“What is this, my boy letting himself go?” she asks referring to my unshaven face.

I touch it and feel the stubble. “Yeah.”

My father walks over and passes me a beer. I take it knowing I shouldn’t because I am driving.

“Echo says you aren’t working right now, son?” my father asks me.

I turn, looking for Echo, and find him sitting with Storm, his hand wrapped around her waist as he watches me. “Nope.”

“Why?”

That’s not something I can tell him, not the truth anyway.

“I’m on a permanent vacation.” My father catches on, he’s a smart man.

“Well, don’t wait too long to sort your vacation out.” He pats my shoulder and walks away. My mother’s standing at the doorway with Tracey and her wife, as I look around and my eyes land back on Echo. Walking over to him, Storm smiles at me and kisses Echo’s cheek before she gets up and walks away.

“You left your building, that’s a start.”

“Shut up.” I drink the beer, it goes down in one shot.

Echo stares at me waiting. For what, I don’t even know. “You’ve really lost who you are, haven’t you?” I stare at him. Confused. “The Falcon I know wouldn’t be this way. Who the fuck are you? Where’s your smart-ass mouth, your shit-stirring schemes. Fuck! Where are the women?” he asks, waving his hands around like they will answer him. “She’s here,” he says, going silent.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I know who he’s talking about without even turning around.

“Should we go out the back? You don’t look very calm right now.”

I scoff at his words and try my fucking hardest not to look around to see where she is. I can hear her soft voice, and I know she’s close. Does she know I am here? Surely if she did, I don’t think she would want to be here. Echo stands, and Storm walks back over and stands next to him. His hand touches her hip and she melts into his touch.

“It’s good to see you, Falcon, you look…”

I smile at Storm’s words. “Shit.”

She bites her lips. “No, I wasn’t going to say that. Maybe… different.”

I nod at her words.

I smell her before I see her.

Ariel walks over and stands directly next to me, I don’t have to look up to tell it’s her. Everyone’s silent until I laugh, all eyes go to me and I shut up.

“Can we talk?”

I don’t want to look up to her eyes, to see what she wants. I’ve been dreaming about those eyes now for far too long and the last thing I need is a reminder. “No.”

“Falcon,” Echo warns.

I look up to him careful not to face her. I raise an eyebrow and he shakes his head. “He’s being an ass, let us clear out so you can talk.”

“No,” I say but he doesn’t listen, and within a few minutes everything goes quiet. All I can hear is her breathing right next to me. Her feet move and come to stand in front of me, she has on black heels and it takes all my strength to look up. When I do, I’m met with a dress that hugs her perfect body, her neckline which floods back memories of how I kiss her.

Then her face, her fucking beautiful face which is staring at me right now with a look of confusion written on it, mixed with some pain. Pain that I more than likely put there.

“You cut your hair,” I state.