Against All Odds - Angel's Story: Against All Odds (Destiny Series Book 4) (6 page)

CHAPTER FIVE

Angel

A little over a week has passed since I had coffee with Riley. We ended up exchanging numbers that afternoon. He’s been calling and texting me every day since. I like him, but he’s a little full of himself. He’s still sitting with me in class and at lunch. Just like Chase used to. The thing is, he’s not Chase. He doesn’t make me feel the things Chase did.

It’s still early days, so I’m not giving up on him just yet. I’m taking things slowly though. I’ll never again give myself to a man so easily, like I did with Chase. Next time I want to be one hundred percent sure that’s what I want; that he’s worth it. I don’t need a repeat of last time.

I’m still avoiding Chase every chance I get. I’m proud of myself for resisting the urge to look his way when he’s around. It’s still hard, but with time I’m sure it’ll get easier.

As Riley and I make our way out of class, he drapes his arm around my shoulder. The more time we spend together, the more comfortable he seems to become with me. We haven’t even kissed properly yet. He pecks me hello and goodbye, that’s it. I’m not fussed though. I’m actually kind of glad. I’m not ready for anything too serious right now.

“Are you free Friday night?” he asks as we walk down the hall to our next class. “I was thinking maybe we could go on a real date. Out to dinner and maybe a movie. How does that sound?”

Before I get a chance to answer, Chase storms past us, knocking his shoulder into Riley’s in the process. Riley stumbles forward, taking me with him.

“Watch where you’re going next time Daniel’s,” he calls out to Chase’s retreating back.

“Go fuck yourself, Benson,” Chase responds while giving him the finger over his shoulder. Riley lets go of me and stalks towards Chase. Oh shit. He walks up behind him and pushes him in the back. Chase spins around.

“You did not just fucking do that,” he says through gritted teeth as he throws his bag down. It all happens so quickly. There’s no time to react. I stand there in shock as Chase barges towards Riley, tackling him to the ground, landing on top of him with a thud.

My knees turn to jelly as Chase raises his fist and brings it down to connect with Riley’s face. Is it wrong that I’m more concerned about Chase getting hurt, than I am about Riley?
Shit.
I’ve never actually watched a real fight before. I hope this is the first and the last time too. I don’t like it—at all.

Thankfully, a few guys rush over and pull Chase off Riley. “You’ll fucking keep,” Chase spits out as he bends down and retrieves his bag and walks away.

I look down at Riley, still laying on the floor. He wipes the blood from his lips as he stands. He looks angry and a little embarrassed. “Are you okay?” I ask as I walk towards him.

Riley doesn’t answer me. He just stares down the hall after Chase. I don’t like the look on his face. It’s scary.

Eventually he turns his attention back on me. “I’m gonna go and clean up. I’ll meet you in class.” That’s all he says before walking away. I’m dumbfounded.

••••

Chase

I can’t believe I lost my cool. I must admit it’s been building ever since that day I saw them together at the coffee shop. I’d been hoping it was just a one-time thing, but that’s obviously not the case. He’s been sniffing around her every chance he gets. I’ve always disliked that fucker, but now I detest him.

When he put his arm around her as they walked out of class, I nearly fucking lost it. I can’t stand to see his hands on her. When I heard him ask her out on a date, I couldn’t control what I was feeling. Panic, jealousy and pure fucking rage.

Bumping into him was a dick move, I know. My body just seemed to react on its own accord. I’m losing her. It’s all my doing because I’m the one who walked away in the first place, but fuck me if it isn’t hard to watch it happen.

Once I pick up my bag off the floor, I walk straight out of the building and head to my bike. I’m fucking out of here. If I stay I may do something I’ll regret. I need to get my emotions in check if I’m going to be around those two.

••••

Pops is working out back in the garage when I arrive home. As soon as he hears my bike pull up he comes out. “Hey Pops,” I say as he walks towards me.

“How come you’re home so early?” he asks with a frown as he wipes his greasy hands on a rag. I feel bad. I know my behaviour the past few weeks is worrying him.

I shrug. “I just didn’t want to be there today, that’s all.”

“Still pining over that pussy?” he asks with a chuckle as he shakes his head in disbelief. “Fuck, haven’t I taught you anything over the years boy?” Since my mum did the dirty on him, he’s lived the single life. I feel for him. He really got burnt by her, we both did.

I exhale. I wish I wasn’t in this position. I wish I’d never met her. No, that’s a lie. I just wish things were the way they used to be between us. Before I fucked it up. Before Riley fuckin’ Benson.

After getting off the bike, I follow him into the garage. I need to snap out of this funk I’m in. If she’s moving on I guess it’s time I did too.

I walk over to the hook on the back of the door and pick up my overalls. I can feel Pops’ eyes on me as I slide into them. This is a first for him. He’s never seen me hung up on a girl before. He’s not much of a talker when it comes to these things either. He probably doesn’t know what the fuck to say to me.

I walk towards the car he’s working on. He looks down into the motor and pretends he hasn’t just been eyeballing me. “Can you pass me the socket?” he asks. We’re silent for a few minutes as I stand there watching him work on the motor of his latest project.

“So, tell me the real reason you left school early today.”

“I just didn’t want to be there, that’s all,” I lie.

“You can’t kid a kidder, Chase. Your old man’s not stupid you know.” I sigh. I don’t really want to talk about this with him. He’s gonna think I’m a pussy. He looks up from the motor he’s working on and holds my stare. When he raises an eyebrow I know he’s not going to let me get away with silence.

“She’s seeing someone else.”

“Hmmm. I see. And I take it you’re not happy about it?” I just shrug. No I’m not fucking happy about it, but I’m not going to admit it. No way.

“It’s
Riley fucking Benson
,” I say through gritted teeth.

“That slimy fuckin’ copper’s boy?”

“Yeah, him.”

“And you’re happy with your girl going around with him?”

“She’s not my girl.”

“Coulda fooled me. You seem to have your fucking nuts all tied up for her.” I ignore his response. I’m certainly not going to admit that. Even though I know he’s right. He knows he’s fucking right too because he starts to chuckle. “Never thought I’d see the day,” is all he says as he stands and slaps my back. “My boy’s fuckin’ pussy-whipped.” He shakes his head as he leans over and continues to work on the motor.

“I’m not fucking pussy-whipped,” I snap. This just makes him laugh harder.

“Keep tellin’ ya self that, boy.”

••••

After getting an hour-long lecture from Pops, I eventually make it inside to my room. Thank fuck for that. I’m beating myself up enough without him adding fuel to the fire. He thinks I should try and get her back. I can’t do that though. As much as I hate to admit it, she’s better off without me.

I don’t come out of my room for the rest of the night. Not even for dinner. I’m too tied up inside to eat. It’s not like I’m missing out on anything anyway. Pops and I can’t cook to save our lives. If we don’t go to the clubhouse to eat, we live on frozen dinners. I hate that shit.

I’m surprised Pops hasn’t knocked on my door and made me come out to eat though. That’s one thing we always do together. I guess he knows I want to be alone. I need to cut my losses and snap out of this shit.

I toss and turn all night. Finally, sleep comes about 3:00 a.m. I need to be up at 5:00 a.m. for my run. I hate these fucking morning runs. Maybe I need to find another track to run at, one where Angel won’t be. That way I can go back to running in the afternoons.

After my run, I head back home to take a shower and have some breakfast. I really don’t want to go to Uni today. Not after what happened yesterday, but I don’t have a choice. Even though I’d like to, I can’t avoid those two forever.

I’m not going to let them stand in the way of my dreams. Thank Christ this is my last year. After I graduate I hopefully won’t have to see either of them again. Even though the thought of never seeing Angel makes me feel sick.

It’s just my luck as I round the corner to my first class I run straight into her.
Fucking great.
I can tell by the look she gives me that she’s pissed with me. At least she’s fucking looking at me, I guess. It kills me that she won’t even look at me anymore. I know it’s fucked up, because I do the same to her. I only look her way when I know she’s not paying attention.

We stand there for a short time just staring at each other. I don’t like to see the look of disappointment in her eyes. She’s got every right to be disappointed in me, but I still hate it. Eventually she breaks our stare and turns to walk away from me.

I reach out and grab her arm. “Angel, wait.” She doesn’t turn around to face me, but she doesn’t try to walk away either. I hear her sigh heavily. “I’m sorry about what happened yesterday, okay.” She continues with the silent treatment. I hate it. It’s going to kill me to say this, but I need to say it. “Look, if you’re happy with Riley, I’ll back off. Just be careful, okay. I don’t like or trust him.”

I don’t know why I even said anything, I don’t mean a word of it. Sure, I want to see her happy, but not at the hands of that fucker. She’s fucking mine, not his.

She doesn’t answer me. She stays rooted to the spot for a few seconds, before pulling her arm out of my grip and running down the hall. Leaving me standing there, feeling like…I don’t know what the fuck I feel like, but it’s not good. Probably how she felt when I walked out on her.

••••

Angel

As I run away I fight back the tears threatening to fall. Everything in me wanted to turn around and tell him I’m not happy. That he’s the only person I want to be with. In my heart I know Riley is my rebound; my chance to move on. Hopefully the one to help me get over Chase. That may be wrong on my part, but I am trying to make this work. Unfortunately, you can’t control who your heart wants.

I wish things were different between us, but they’re not. That ship has sailed. Chase doesn’t care for me like I care for him. So, there’s no point. I’ve already made a fool of myself where he’s concerned. I’m not about to do it again. Some things are better left unsaid.

I head straight for the ladies’ room. I need to pull myself together before I walk into class. The last thing I want is for Riley to see me upset. I don’t want any more trouble between those two.

••••

By the time Friday night rolls around, I’m over it; over Chase, over Riley. The last thing I feel like doing is going on a date. Dana won’t hear of it though. I call into the coffee shop to see her after Uni. She insists it’ll be good for me. She’s even coming over after work to help me get ready. I think it’s her way of making sure I don’t chicken out of going.

Before she arrives I lay out the clothes I’m going to wear tonight. Nothing too flash, it’s only dinner and the movies. Dana should be here shortly, so I text her before I jump in the shower, letting her know I’ll leave the back sliding glass doors unlocked for her.

I’m not surprised when I get out of the shower and walk back into my room, wrapped in towel, to find her sitting on my bed. She has a huge smile on her face, so I know she’s up to something.

When I look at the clothes I had laid out on my bed, I know why. She’s put away the top and jeans and replaced it with a dress. “I’m not wearing that,” I say. “It’s friggin’ winter. I’ll freeze my butt off.”

“Well that’s what Riley’s for, to warm you up.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I reply as I try to snatch up the dress. Dana grabs hold of it before I get a chance.

“You’re wearing this fucking dress and that’s final.” Even though she’s pissing me off, I can’t help but laugh at her.