Free Flesh_A Romance Novel by Daya Daniels

Author:Daya Daniels [Daniels, Daya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sayad Books
Published: 2017-11-30T06:00:00+00:00

Callie

“CALLIE,” IVY SAYS, ACCENTUATING the I and the E in my name. Spinning around on the bench, I’m mid-laugh when I hear Ivy’s voice and the panting of dogs, since Digby and Mila are heeling next to her.

A box of crayons falls from the table. When they hit the floor they scatter everywhere, some of them slipping between the wooden slats on the deck. I rush to snatch a few up before they roll off the table.

“I’ve got them!” Brandon singsongs, moving from the bench and down to his knees to snatch them up.

I do my best to temper down my laughter. Standing, my giggles completely fade when I stare into Ivy’s face—tight mouth, knotted brows. Her arms are folded across her chest as she looks at me, her green-eyed gaze flickering between me and Austen, who stands completely frozen in the doorway for a beat.

All previous warmth drains from Austen’s beautiful face. “Ivy,” he says drily.

“Austen,” Ivy replies back, not blinking.

“Oh, hey, Ivy.”

Brandon is still collecting crayons.

I pad across the deck to meet Ivy at the edge of it by the stairs.

She leans in close when I make it near her. “What are you doing here?” she hisses.

I glance over my shoulder at Austen putting shrimps on the barbeque, then face Ivy again. “Um, nothing. I saw them on the beach earlier and Brandon asked me if I could come and fly—”

“Never mind.” Ivy lifts a hand cutting me off, keeping her narrowed eyes on Austen then back on me. “I’m sorry, Callie, it’s just I haven’t seen you in days and now I come here to check on Austen and Bran—”

“We’re fine,” Austen drawls.

“And I find you here.”

“Brandon is one of my students, Ivy.”

She bobs her head, her blond bun bouncing with the movement. “Yes, yes, I know. It’s not Brandon I’m worried about,” she says through clenched teeth.

“It’s fine, Ivy. You’re being silly.”

She gives me a blank look. “You look happy.”

What the fuck does that mean? Do I always not look happy?

“Yeah.” She reaches a hand out and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. “You look different. I don’t know, rosy or something. It’s weird.” Her eyes narrow.

I back away from her.

“Why don’t you eat with us, Ivy?” Austen calls out.

“We have lobster!” Brandon shouts.

Ivy leans to her right, eyeballing all the food Austen’s removing from the grill. “It really does smell delicious around here. It’s kind of what brought me over here,” she admits. “And I do want to spend some time getting to know Brandon a little better.”

She taps the toe of her canvas sneaker on the deck, debating. “I don’t like him,” she whispers harshly.

He doesn’t like you either...

“I guess I can join you both for dinner, but I want you to come to the house with me for a minute, just to look at a dress I’m thinking about wearing. I want your opinion. Then we can come right back. I promise.”

“Yeah, sure.” I rush across the deck and shove a few crayons back in the box.

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