Tides Of Fate

Chapter Fourteen

Four weeks rushed by fast, and it was time to start college. It was my new start as a grown woman. I was glad that Dave would finally have to treat me like an adult and Ash would be more comfortable now that he was no longer dating a high school kid. Maybe now he’d actually be more open to doing more than just kiss.

We hadn’t been together since he found out I was eighteen and he also hadn’t touched me in any suggestive way since we moved in together. He always said it was out of respect for my dad, which I understood. But I still felt like there was more to it. My dad had drummed in the fact that I was way too young for a serious relationship, which made Ash reserved around me. I may like to go around unnoticed but I hated it when Ash ignored me.

I hadn’t had a fainting episode in weeks, so Ash seemed less worried about me and more about other things. I rarely saw him and when we were together he was too preoccupied to pay attention to a word I said. I understood he had Sabrina and Baku to worry about but I also wanted a spot in his mind.

A scream pulled me out of my pity party. It was Ann. I felt the fear rush through me, my muscles tightened as panic gripped me. I was out of my room and standing outside at the front door in seconds.

“What is it?” I asked in a panic. Ann and Maria were jumping up and down screaming with excitement. I relaxed when I realized there was no danger. I smiled and waited for one of them to pause for air and spill.

“Lee, your dad, rocks!” Ann ran up the steps and pulled me down, tugging me to the side of the house.

I stopped when I saw the guys standing in front of three brand new cars. Maria was already in the silver Audi hugging the steering wheel. Ann was on the bonnet of the ivory-white BMW kissing and telling it how much she loved it. That left the jeep; it was a newer version of the one I already had. It was black and bigger.

Ash walked up to me with a smile on his face. He dangled the keys in my face and waited. I didn’t take them. I was still in a mood because this was the first time I’d seen him in four days, and I wasn’t going to please him by going nuts over the car like my sisters had.

“I like my car, I don’t need another one.”

“It’s a gift, Lee.”

“I thought we had an agreement about the gifts?”

“It’s not from me it’s from your father.” He moved closer. I caught my breath when his scent filled my nose. It gave me a high. I stood there, my heart in my throat, staring at the face I had craved for days. “You will need it since we gave the other one away.”

That gave me a jolt. “What! You gave away my baby!” I loved that car; it was my first one.

“We are all going eco-friendly. We need to keep the world clean and all the creatures of the earth alive and healthy. The cars are all hybrids.” My dad moved to stand next to us. He took the keys from Ash and put them in my hand.

I looked dully at him. “Your reason for keeping the earth green is because you’re worried your source of food will be extinct in the next century.” Everyone laughed except for me; I was still in my mood.

“It’s a big motivation.”

“You could have just changed the engine.” I was getting steamed.

He pulled me towards the car. “Merilee, don’t be stubborn just check it out.”

I stood there, crossed my arms over my chest, and stared at it. It was a beautiful beast but I wasn’t going to give in easily.

“I drive a stick, Dad, I don’t like automatics.”

He opened the door and practically pushed me inside. “It’s a manual. Just get in.”

I got in and sat inside. The interior was silver-black, the seats were leather and it had more gadgets and buttons than my first jeep. There was a screen on the dashboard. I turned it on—GPS.

“So is the GPS to make sure I don’t get lost or to track me? I’m sure Ash has it connected to his iPad,” I said sarcastically.

“Yes I do.”

My head shot up to stare at him, I was only joking. “What? I thought you knew me inside out?”

“It’s just a backup.”

“Of course it is. I’m better guarded than the president himself.” This was one of the times his over protectiveness annoyed me.

“You’re welcome.” He gave me my smile but it didn’t have the normal effect it usually did.

“It wasn’t a compliment,” I grumbled under my breath, but I knew he heard me when his grin widened. It annoyed me even more.

“Girls, how about a race?” Ann shouted excitedly.

“No!” the guys shouted at the same time, but my dad didn’t say anything.

I smiled, knowing how irritated Ash will be if I did the exact opposite of what he wanted. “We go round the house once, then on the path onto the main road, onto the back path round the woods, and back here.”

“Lee, I said no!” Ash’s arms dropped from his chest, and his jaw tightened.

I started the car and reversed it directly onto the path. The engine purred quietly. I had to admit I loved my new car. Ann and Maria followed. Ash walked up to my door and grabbed the handle. I locked the door before he opened it.

“A locked door isn’t going to stop me!”

“Ash, you should have learned by now saying no only makes her more determined to do what she wants. Drive safe girls,” Dave called out as he walked to the steps and sat down.

Ash looked at him in disbelief. “What if they crash?”

“The cars are armored they’ll be safe. I’ll do the count down.”

Ash let go of the car and took a step back. He pulled his shirt off, kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his pants. I stared at him surprised. What on earth was he doing?

 Billy and Joe moved next to him, they were also half-n***d. I turned and faced forward, trying to concentrate on the race and not the three beautiful chests at my right side.

“Go!” Dave’s loud voice filled the air.