Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Winter
Across from the haunted house is a barbeque truck. Jelly and I are sharing a plate of barbeque nachos and hot links. I can’t seem to get the darkhaired fallen angel out of my head. When he reached out to steady me, I nearly pushed up on my toes to plant my lips on his.
If I had it wouldn’t have been a big deal. I’m no longer taken. Billy set me free which means I can kiss whoever I want.
Jelly lifts her hand and summons one of the men working the cash bar. He is wearing white wings and a halo. Yet I doubt he is anything resembling angelic. Especially with that devilish grin. “What can I get you ladies?”
“Margaritas, don’t go easy on the tequila.” Jelly hands him cash.
When he returns, he hands her a napkin with a phone number, presumably his. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Lifting the plastic cup, I lick the salt then sip the ice-cold margarita. That bartender sure did not skimp on the tequila. I’m pretty sure it’s ninety-nine percent alcohol. Damn, that stuff is stout. I may need to order more food to absorb the contents of my cup.
Just as I stab a hot link and lift it to my lips, I hear a high-pitched giggle. I look over and immediately drop my fork. It’s no surprise to see him here but knowing I’d run into him and actually running into him are two different things.
Billy’s hand is squeezing Shelbi’s ass, and his tongue is so far down her throat I’m amazed she isn’t choking on it. Jelly’s gaze follows mine and she stands. “Are you kidding me?” Marching over to them, she grabs a handful of Billy’s hair.
Wide eyes fall on my best friend. “Jelly, what the hell?” Then his eyes lock with mine. “Win?”
Before either of us can process what’s going on, Jelly let’s go of his hair and punches him square in the nose. Shelbi screams, Billy groans, and Jelly shouts. She’s angry at him for the way he dumped me and immediately moved on.
This is all too much. I can’t stick around and watch. My heart is a jumbled mess right now. Seeing him hurts, seeing him with her is like a knife to the heart. I know my best friend is defending me, but even that is too much.
I need to get out of here before I break down.
Jumping up from the chair, I take off running in the opposite direction.
Which happens to be toward the haunted house.
I can hear Billy calling after me, and Jelly telling him off.
When I hear heavy footfalls behind me, I know exactly who it is.
It’s confirmed when Shelbi yells, “Billy, where are you going?”
I veer to the left. Billy is starting to catch up with me and that fact sends panic through me. Now is not the time to face that man. Like a beacon, my eyes zero in on a pair of large black wings.
Could it be the same guy that kept me from falling earlier?
Hoping he doesn’t think I’m completely nuts, I rush up to him and grab hold of his arm. The muscles in his arm flex. Then his gaze slowly lowers, recognition shining in those brown pools. I can hear Billy getting closer. Throwing caution to the wind, I prepare myself for what I’m about to do.
Mr. Fallen Angel lifts an eyebrow, probably wondering what the hell I’m up to. Praying he isn’t in a relationship, I say, “Please, just go with it.”
Furrowing his brows, he opens his mouth to speak. Before he can question me on my strange behavior, I stand on tiptoes, rip the cigarette from his mouth, and press my lips to his. The sound of his zippo snapping shut barely registers, I’m so caught up in the feel of his smooth lips.
Though my lips are on his, I’m not making a move to actually kiss him.
I mean, what if he’s not single. Well, if he is taken, I suppose I’ve already put him in a serious predicament.
Any woman seeing her man lip locked with another woman wouldn’t care if there was no actual kissing.
All she would see is her man kissing another woman.
Shit. Please be single.
Footsteps slow and a huff leaves Billy’s lips. I look over my fallen angel’s shoulder—well, as best as I can considering his height—and see my ex standing with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
Fallen Angel—I really wish I knew his name—slips his zippo in his pocket. I’m a little taken aback when he cups the back of my head and opens his mouth against mine. I gasp when his tongue glides along my lower lip.
With wide eyes, I look up at the man I’m currently lip locked with. I didn’t expect this. To answer my unspoken question, he says, “I’m going with it, baby.” One hand still cupping my head, his other grabs my ass and squeezes. “You gonna join in on the fun?” His words are spoken against my mouth.
Footsteps grow louder and I glace back over at Billy who is moving closer to us. Not knowing what else to do, I wrap my arms around this guy’s neck. Deciding it’s time to join in the fun, as he put it, I open my mouth.
Taking that as an invitation, he slips his tongue in. Spearmint and beer invade my senses. On anyone else I would be turned off, but on him I want more. A small moan slips from me, and I run my fingers through his hair.
I’m surprised by my behavior. This isn’t like me.
Releasing my head, he grips both of my thighs, lifting me off my feet. Reflexively, I wrap my legs around his waist. The sounds of the carnival fade in the background as we kiss. A kiss I can’t seem to get enough of.
“Winter?” Billy sounds hurt, though I don’t know why.
When his voice breaks through my bliss, I stiffen. Shame fills my heart and my tongue stills. Slowly, I break the kiss and rest my head on my fallen angel’s shoulder for just a second before untangling my legs from his waist.
Setting me back on my feet, his brown pools gaze into my hazel ones. I know he can see the turmoil I’m in. I’m not good at hiding my emotions. Tracing my lips with his thumb, he leans in and whispers, “I’ve got you.”
There’s no stopping the tremble that snakes through my body. For reasons I can’t explain, I trust this nameless man to protect me from the one who shattered my heart this morning. I nod and he wraps his arms around me. Why do I feel safe in the arms of a stranger?
He turns his head to engage with my ex. “Can I help you?”
Billy’s nasally voice brings a smile to my lips. A smile, because I know that the only reason he sounds like that is because Jelly punched him good. “Yeah, you can leave so I can talk to my girl.”
My girl? Did Jelly punch him so hard he forgot what he did this morning?
Wetness trails down my cheeks. Am I crying?
I can’t let Billy see that he’s affecting me this badly.
To my relief, my safe haven, AKA the fallen angel, tightens his hold on me and shifts us so my back is to my ex.
Completely shielding me from his prying eyes.
“Doesn’t look like she’s your girl to me, seeing as she’s in my arms and the taste of her still lingers in my mouth. ”
The sound of Billy breathing heavy carries above the carnival noises. “Listen here, I don’t know who you think you are—"
I feel his chuckle against my cheek. “I’m gonna stop you right there.
” It’s funny how this man that I literally just met has defended me more than my ex.
Kind of makes me wonder why the hell I was with Billy to begin with.
“Looks like you have a girl over there that wants your attention, why don’t you leave us alone. ”
“Winter?” Billy’s tone is hurt.
Yeah, cry me a river. You hurt me first.
Inhaling deeply, I mentally count to ten before stepping out of the comfort of my defender’s embrace.
When I turn around, the first thing I see is Shelbi standing in the distance watching us with her arms crossed.
I can’t be here, not with Billy. Looping my arm around my new friend’s, I finally look my ex in the eyes. “What do you want, Billy?”
Waving a hand toward the man whose arm I’m clinging to, Billy asks, “What are you doing, Winter? This isn’t like you.”
“Not like me?” Anger and hurt war inside my heart. I want to lash out, but I can feel the tears wanting to break free. If only I had the strength for this. “Look, Billy, what I do and who I choose to do it with is no longer your concern. If you recall, you broke up with me by text this morning.”
“I know, but—” That pathetic look on his face grates my nerves something fierce.
Speaking over him, I decide to put an end to this conversation so I can get the hell out of here.
“You texted me this morning that we should see other people. You broke up with me on my frickin’ birthday.
” Snuggling into my savior’s side, I place a hand on his jaw, gazing up at him, but speaking to Billy.
“You didn’t want me, so I found someone who does. ”
“Oh yeah,” Billy sniggers. “You found a new man in less than twelve hours?” Then he huffs. “That’s rich.”
The audacity. “Considering you posted a picture of you and your girl just seconds after you sent that cowardly breakup text, I’d say that statement defines you quite well.”
When Billy reaches for me, I flinch. But what surprises me is the fact that the man whose embrace I’ve been in snags Billy by the wrist, squeezing.
My ex’s brown eyes widen in fear. I should probably be frightened as well, but I’m not.
If anything, it makes me feel that much safer.
“I think it’s time you get the hell away from Winter. Ya hear me?”
Billy whimpers but nods. No other words are spoken. My ex hightails it to his new girlfriend and the two of them walk away. Finally, I can breathe. Twisting my hands in front of me, I thank the man for helping me get rid of my ex. “Thank you for that.”
“No problem.” Those brown pools soften as he gazes down at me. “Listen, I gotta get back to my post, but let me treat you to some birthday pancakes later.”
Because this man is captivating, I find myself agreeing to birthday pancakes. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Great.” He holds out his hand. “Let me see your phone.” I lift a brow in question. “So, I can call you. My shift ends in thirty minutes.”
“Oh, okay.” Slipping my cell phone from the tiny pocket on this short skirt, I hand it over. He inputs his information, texts himself, then hands it back. Glancing down, I chuckle at the name he put as his contact. “Fang?”
“Yeah.” He pinches my chin.
“Seriously, you put Fang as your contact name.”
He laughs. “That’s my name.”
“Your mother named you Fang?” What an odd name to give your baby.
“My legal name is Ezra Armstrong, but everyone calls me Fang.” He leans forward and kisses me on the forehead. “I’ll call you in half an hour.”
“Okay.” I’m swooning so hard right now.
“Hey, if that dipshit,” he nods in the direction Billy left, “tries to start something, call me.”
“I will.”