CHAPTER ONE EMBER
CHAPTER ONE
EMBER
Fifteen years later
Finishing up my makeup, I add my highlighter to my cheekbones and mist my setting spray. Music blares in my bathroom as I get myself ready for today. I have about ten minutes before I need to make my way over to Atlas’s house.
Heading to the kitchen, my phone in my back pocket is still blaring my ‘get ready’ music playlist. I decide that one more cup of coffee can’t hurt. I reach my Keurig and press the second cup setting, adding a splash of my favorite creamer.
Did I get that present for Aria wrapped and set by the door? I will myself to remember if I had while I sip my warm cup of coffee.
Today is my niece's first birthday and the last big get-together before Asher, my sister's husband, is sent overseas for an assignment. He’s special forces in the Special Tactics Squadron and is being sent on deployment for six months. I’d moved near Atlas and Asher to help with the baby, since I needed a fresh start anyway, and she was going to need help with my favorite little lady.
Our parents will be coming out here and there to visit, but Dad’s health has become my Mom’s top priority.
The only drawback to where we live now is how close we are to our hometown.
The one I left years ago, without a single hesitation.
I hate being anywhere near the place I called home for so long.
It was home, a long time ago, but now it is just a tainted series of memories I wish I could forget.
Finishing up my coffee and slipping on my Converse, I head for the closet and grab my purse and Aria’s present.
Atlas only lives seven minutes away, so I made my buffalo chicken dip and the macaroni and cheese dish at her house last night.
I stop and take one last look in the mirror before I head out the door and slip into my Honda Civic.
As I pull into my sister's driveway, I can already see a few people have arrived. I park my car and head toward the door. As I get closer to the house, I hear music carrying from the backyard, a baby crying, and the oven timer going off. When I enter the house, I don’t see anyone.
I set my stuff on the counter and walk over to see what's in the oven. Seeing that it’s the buffalo chicken dip, a perfect brown layer of toasted cheese across the top, I pull it out.
As soon as I have the oven closed, the crying gets louder.
Just as I turn around to put the dish on the counter, Atlas comes in carrying Aria, who is sobbing.
I can see Atlas is on the verge of tears herself.
Aria spots me as soon as they enter the room and reaches for me. Atlas is quick to make her way over to me, and as soon as she’s close I pull them both into a hug. I hug her tight and rub small circles on her back.
“I know, babe. It's going to be okay though. I'm less than ten minutes away and I can come over and stay with you anytime you want.”
Atlas sniffles. “And watch Twilight?”
I throw my head back and laugh loudly, taking Aria from her. “Hell yeah! We can get our “Hoa Hoa Hoa” on.”
Atlas heads back to her room to clean herself up before more guests arrive.
Aria and I head out back to see who else is here.
We round the corner to the back deck, and I stop dead in my tracks.
Walking up the short driveway to the backyard is a group of four men.
They’re headed over to Asher, who’s manning the grill.
None of them have seen me, but my eyes are glued to Harley fucking Blackwood.
Just as I'm about to attempt to quietly back away and retreat inside before I’m seen, Aria lets out a loud bubbly scream. The group looks over, and Harley’s eyes land on me. His eyes go wide, and shock is written all over his face at the sight of me.
Asher strides over and grabs for Aria, scrunching his nose and cooing at her. The group of men stroll over slowly. One of them, whom I don't recognize, is speaking low enough I can’t make out what he’s saying. Harley answers with a quick side eye to him and a silent nod.
“Thanks, Ember. Have you seen Atlas, already?” Asher asks in a low voice.
It takes me a second to answer, trying to will myself to make words come out of my mouth.
“Y-y-yeah, she was upset, but I told her it would be okay and we could do sleepovers and Twilight anytime she needed, and it seemed to cheer her up a little.” He gives me a tight, warm smile. “She’s pulling herself together now.”
“This is Ember, Atlas’s older sister.” Asher gestures to me with his head. All eyes land on me, and I feel my cheeks warm. I give a light smile and a head nod. Please, let Atlas come and save me. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen soon enough to get me out of this current hell on earth situation.
“So Ember is…” Harley starts to speak, gaze darting between Asher and me, eyebrows pulled together with confusion. His voice is deep and smooth, and so different from the voice I was so familiar with at fifteen. Immediately, his deep voice sends flutters to my core.
“My sister-in-law,” Asher utters with a slight lift to his brow. “I'm sorry, do you know each other?”
Just as I'm about to respond, Atlas comes out the back door.
“Ember, where did you set…” Thank fucking god.
Atlas stops when she sees the group of men, her eyes stopping on Harley and widening.
“Oh, fuck.” Her eyes connect with mine, noting the forced grin on my face that translates to “What the fuck is going on?” in sister language.
Asher stands there, holding Aria, looking utterly confused about what’s happening. “So you do know each other, then?”
This time I’m quick to answer, and I grab Atlas’s wrist to make a run for it inside. “A really long time ago,” I practically yell. “We used to hang out in the halls back in high school.” I give her the hard let’s get the hell out of here look. “Atlas, what did you need?”
Atlas just laughs and grabs Aria from Asher. “I just needed the potholders. Come on baby, let’s let daddy finish those burgers and get Auntie Em a drink.”
I look back over my shoulder before going inside and see Harley giving me a grin that I'll have to dissect later. That grin still makes a girl weak in her knees and sends flutters low in her belly. Speeding up into the kitchen, I wrench open the fridge and reach for the Trulys.
“Atlas, what in the actual fuck? How the hell do they know each other?” I pop the top of the can, waiting in disbelief for her to answer.
“I have no idea.” Atlas sets Aria into her high chair, dumping a few melty puffs onto her tray. “I have only ever seen the other three hanging around.”
I chug half of the can before setting it down.
I feel nauseous. Harley Blackwood was my first boyfriend at fifteen years old.
He used to be a little chubby around the face, long wavy hair, brown eyes and smooth words to charm.
Those brown eyes. They used to light up every time he saw me coming out of the classroom.
He would walk me to my locker hand in hand, so that I could get my books for my next class.
The issue, and main reason for our breakup, was because he was my brother's best friend.
Nothing bad ever really happened between us.
We were just young and broke up. He was my first boyfriend though, and losing him broke my young teenage heart.
Shortly after that I met him.
“Time has certainly done the man well.” Atlas grins while she takes the macaroni out of the oven. “No more chubby face full of acne.”
Chugging the last of my drink, and mumbling in agreement, I slam it down on the counter, palms flat to brace myself.
After collecting myself, I spin around to throw the can in the trash.
In that moment, I see that the group has ventured back in.
Harley leans against the fridge, much closer than I realized.
His grin has taken permanent residence on his face. Cocky bastard.
I do my best to ignore his presence as I reach in the fridge for another drink.
I mentally scold myself, knowing I haven’t eaten anything yet and that I need to tread lightly, or my night might end with me hanging out with the porcelain throne instead of enjoying the party.
Just before I crack the second one open, Aria begins fussing in her high chair.
A welcomed distraction, granting some distance from Harley, and I head across the kitchen to grab her and clean her up.
To my dismay, Harley follows, grabbing the baby wipes that are sitting on the counter, and popping it open to pass a few to me.
I take them and give him a small smile to be kind.
I wipe off Aria’s hands that have become a sticky mess from the puffs.
Once she’s clean, Harley slides the tray off the high chair and I unbuckle her and pick her up.
I attempt to ignore the ease we have working together in such an already simple task.
We only exchange glances and tight smiles.
My nerves are shot and my body is on fire.
“I can see a little of you in her,” Harley says softly, playing with her little curls. She has the same color hair, and our family genes are strong, but she looks just like Atlas.
I smile big while I squeeze her tightly against me. “No way, she's her mama's twin,” I say, trying to dismiss the feeling that is blooming inside me. I scrunch my nose and snuggle into her, tickling her neck. “She’s the prettiest girl in the whole world.”
“She is, and so is her Auntie Ember.” Hearing my name on his lips sends heat to my core. Bitch chill, he is just being kind and making conversation, don’t think too much into it.
“So, how have you been?” he says, tickling Aria’s toes, giving her a smile, and glancing up at me. Jesus, those brown eyes with the tiny gold flecks.