Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

“I’ve yet to decide what’s harder. I’ll keep you posted.” She tries to hide her smile behind her hair as she looks down at the puzzle, but I catch it.

For once, I don’t avoid her. I can’t decide whether it’s because I’m lonely or sad about my mum. Elena and I work quietly, with me helping her.

We enjoy the silence together. She doesn’t pressure me to talk, and I appreciate it. Instead of me getting lost in my negative thoughts, I focus on the task at hand.

Eventually, Elena calls it for the day because she wants to take a nap. I return to my seat and play my music through my headphones. After twenty minutes, I turn toward her, taking in her sleeping profile.

I’d never say it to her face, but she’s one of the prettiest women I’ve been around. Natural with the best kind of curves, full cheeks, and skin with a healthy glow. All while radiating positivity and a sassiness I’ve come to enjoy despite our spats.

As I drift out of consciousness, I realize I didn’t take a Xanax to calm down before the long flight. I can’t tell if it was the relaxing activity of the puzzle or being around Elena.

The last thought concerns me. Elena is the one thing I couldn’t anticipate this year. She threatens everything I thought I could accept about my life.

I don’t want to hope. I don’t want to be better. And most of all, I don’t want to be reminded how empty my life is now that I’ve been around someone who makes the bad days bearable.

16

Elena

Jax surpassed my expectations. I predicted for him to test my limits since Monaco is known for its crazy parties during the Grand Prix weekend. Besides the mandatory events Jax needs to attend for McCoy, he stays in his suite at night, minus the alcohol. I welcome how calm it’s been without him stirring up trouble. It gives me hope that he learned from his Barcelona slipup and plans on controlling himself better.

To pass the time, Elías hangs out with me in the suite.

“Let’s play a game.” Elías dangles a black box above my head.

I somehow muster up my most bored expression.

He shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “Tough crowd tonight. Seriously, I won’t survive another episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’m sorry, but you need to get your head checked if you’re Team Spike. Angel is irresistible and caring while Spike has no soul.”

“I’ll pretend you didn’t say that. Spike sacrifices everything for her in the end. Even his own life! Angel runs away once things get hard. Way to be a hero.”

Elías whispers psychopath under his breath. “Anyway…I invited a few people over to play because we need to make more friends.”

“Why do your ideas always make me suspicious?”

“Probably because I’m going to ask you to go knock on Jax’s door, seeing as his buddies are coming over.”

“No! Why do you want to interfere?”

“Because playing Cupid is fun. Your sexual tension is hot. Like hotter than Spike screwing Buffy despite being enemies hot.” He smiles.

“No.” I stick my tongue out at him.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

I shake my head and cross my arms, refusing to move from the couch.

“Hard way it is. You asked for it.” With little effort, Elías pulls me up and pushes me toward Jax’s bedroom. He knocks his fist against the door and passes me the box before running into my room.

“Lovely. He doesn’t even bother to help me out,” I huff under

my breath.

Jax’s bedroom door creaks open. His eyes scan me from head to toe, making my skin feel hot underneath my leggings and T-shirt. “What do you want?”

“So… Elías has this crazy idea.”

“All his ideas are crazy.”