Pushing Limits (Fighting Love #1) - kali cross Page 0,6

situation, you can always see the hint of the debutant underneath.

Lisa asks, “Ms. Kennedy, can I get you a beverage?”

“I’ll take a glass of Chardonnay.” She orders crisply, with a bright smile. “Thank you, Lisa.” Her beauty hasn’t faded over the years. Unlike my mother, she hasn’t pumped her face full of poisons and fillers in an attempt to deter Father Time. Aunt Patty manages to retain her fresh-faced, California girl looks even though she is the older sibling. Looking at her tan, lightly freckled face, you would never guess that she is only two years older than my mother. She looks more like she’s five years younger.

Turning to me, she leans forward to grab my hand. “How are you, honey?” Her hand softy strokes my fingers. I pull my hand away and reach for my glass of juice. I refuse to go down that road…not again.

“I’m fine,” I say, giving her a passing glance, “I think I’m going to nap for a bit. I was up at the crack of dawn this morning.” Without waiting for a reply, my hands grip the arms of the leather seat as I stand up abruptly.

I have no desire to chat it up for the next two hours. No way. Not knowing whether everything I say will be reported back to my mother. No fucking way. Rising to move to the cabin bedroom, I walk to the back of the plane.

She sighs and murmurs, “Of course. Don’t let me keep you. Sleep well.”

Lying down on the bed, my mind is racing. Did she really expect me to talk to her? After what she did? My aunt sure has some moxie. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I was close to my aunt throughout high school. Last year, my mother told me they were “helping her out.” With my mother, there was no generosity…only business transactions. Tit for tat, that’s the way she viewed all situations. Ever the politician. If my aunt needed the money, she would give it to her, but only in exchange for something in return. Turns out, it was information she wanted in return. Mother wanted to know more about “this Angela person,” and my aunt gleefully spilled her guts.

My body flips in restless agitation trying to find a place in the bed to relax. Punching the pillow, I pull, tug, and wrestle with the covers before I finally settle my body. My head sinks into the cool, plush pillow, relaxing my tired neck and shoulders. Easing the tension of yesterday from my limbs, I finally drift off.

***

The roar of our descent, and Lisa’s knock at the door announce our arrival, wake me from my all-too-short nap.

Raising myself up from the cabin bed, the fog of the deep sleep weighs me down. My dreams over the last few hours are filled with dark chocolate eyes, a hand slipping away, my mother’s angry face, and waves of swirling darkness. The sounds of crashing glass, gunshots, sirens, and someone crying. But, it’s the crimson that always forces me awake. A chill hits my back as I remember the red. An unholy shade, pooled and thick. Afterwards, it’s always the same. Like splashing into an ice cold pool of water, the sadness and loss envelopes me.

“Lisa, can you get me some Advil and a glass of OJ?” I grunt through the door. My head feels like a vice has been administered to successfully break my skull wide open. Rubbing my eyes, I massage my temples to try to lessen the pain. Standing, I smooth my shirt out but it’s pointless. I am a wrinkled mess. Staring into the mirror, I grimace at my reflection. The bags are irrefutable. I hate it when she’s right. My eyes have huge dark circles under them.

Opening the door to the cabin, I take my seat. Lisa places a glass of juice and some Advil on my side table. Fastening my seatbelt, I nod to my aunt with a tight-lipped smile.

Aunt Patty gives me an awkward smile. She absently fidgets in her chair as she tries to get me to talk. “Your mother wants us to head over to the school after we land. She has a car meeting us outside the terminal. Are you hungry?” Her appraising eyes glide over me, probably rummaging for information, a hint of warmth…even a tiny bit of civility. Denied.

“No, thank you,” I say with a vexed look. “I’m fine. Let’s get on with this, ok?” My