Hourglass (Hourglass 1)

“Dune spilled a cooler of crawfish heads and mud all over her.” I could barely hear him over the sound of a baseball game on the television. “What was she supposed to do?”

“Go home?”

“She used my bathroom to take a shower. She was waiting for her clothes to dry.”

The poise slipped a little. “Were you going to tell me she was in your room—half-naked?”

I went ahead and elbowed Kaleb again for good measure.

“Ava.” Michael’s voice was sad. “You’re here because I’m trying to protect you.”

Ava sounded confused. “From what?”

“From who. Landers—”

“You’re going to bring this up again?” she said, on edge now. “I know what kind of man he is. I’ve known for a long time.”

“If that’s true, then you should know why I didn’t want you in that house. You kept having blackouts—”

“The blackouts? Is that really the only reason you asked me to move in here?” Michael didn’t respond. The sports announcers on the television discussed the first baseman’s batting average in depth before Ava spoke again. “Those aren’t happening anymore.”

“I’m not so sure about that, Ava.”

“I don’t want to talk about this.”

“And I don’t want to fight with you.”

“You know what? Go ahead and let the little groupie in your bedroom lavish you with ‘attention.’” I could hear the air quotes. “Who am I to stop her from feeding your hero complex? Should be easy to get started considering she’s naked from the waist down.”

I did not like what she was implying about me. At all.

And I totally had on my unders.

I got up quickly, clipping Kaleb in the chin with my head. I started for the common room, but he grabbed me around the waist, lifting me off the ground. If he hadn’t, I would have smacked directly into Ava as she rushed out of the room and stomped up the stairs. As soon as I heard her door slam, I started kicking, forcing Kaleb to put me down. I got the feeling he enjoyed my squirming a little too much.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Kaleb whispered furiously.

“In there,” I mouthed, pointing to the common room.

“You don’t want to do that.” I raised my eyebrows, and he continued in a low voice. “Come on, Em. He’s not your only option.”

I took a step back. “That’s not what this is about.”

He gave me a half smile and shook his head. “Just remember what I said.” Then he turned and followed Ava up the stairs.

I didn’t know when I’d become the top prize in the pissing contest between Michael and Kaleb, but I didn’t want to watch the race. I just wanted my pants.

I stepped into the room. “Hey.”

Michael faced me, making every effort not to look below my neck. “I’m sure your clothes are almost dry. I’ll bring them up when they’re done.”

I exhaled. “Can I have them now?”

“You in a hurry?” His stare almost burned a hole through me.

“I’ve been gone a lot lately. I don’t want to worry Dru and Thomas.” I fiddled with the hem of the T-shirt and wondered if he knew I was lying.

“Let me guess. You overheard my conversation with Ava.”