Air: Elementalist Book 1 by Rebecca Wolf (christmas read aloud .TXT) 📗

“But what does it MEAN to know each other?” He asked philosophically, completely ignoring my tone. “Technically we know each other right now.”

“your right,” I quipped. “Knowing each other is like having a piece of each other’s soul. I guess you won’t get lucky till I see some of that artwork.”

“Touché,” he said.

He started looking around the bar and his eyes caught on the empty stage. “What kind of shows play here?” he asked curiously.

“All different types. The one that was supposed to be on tonight was a group of lunar worshippers. They  were going to do a dancing drum circle clothed only in the alabaster rays of the moon- yes, that was a direct quote from the group leader.”

Aiden gazed up and noted the skylight directly above the stage, “aha” he said, “so what happened?”

“Last minute they called in a panic because the moon was not the hue they were anticipating. They were worried a drum circle might confuse the natural cycle.”

“Mmmhmmm,” Aiden said nodding sagely “the moon is such a fickle friend…”

I got called over to take someone’s order, and after that we hit a busy streak. Time slipped away from me as I balanced serving customers with conversation with Aiden. He didn’t actively seek to dominate my time, yet I found myself eager to get back to him to resume our conversations. Penny gave me a pointed look when I snapped at a customer who was taking too long, and I shrugged sheepishly before pointing to Aiden. Aiden grinned unrepentantly, and Penny couldn’t help but smile back, giving me a thumbs up.

It delighted Penny to see me date anybody. She had been hounding me for years to put myself out there. She shooed me out of the bar early that night, insisting she was capable of locking up herself, then whispered that I better give her all the juicy details when she got back to our place. Aiden held out his hand to me, and after being promised there would be no more “funny business” I took it, and we walked the five blocks to my place.

We kept up lighthearted conversation for the first few blocks before it took a more personal turn.

“Tell me about your life growing up,” I said. Thinking about how idyllic it must have been to grow up on a farm.

“I’m an only child.” he started. “I grew up in the country, mostly with my mom. My dad died when I was five in a drowning accident. Overall, I’d say I had a pretty good childhood. My mother is a bit overprotective, but I guess that’s because she cares,” he said, smiling ruefully.

“A drowning accident?” I asked, clearing my throat before tentatively asking, “was there an aquatic elementalist involved?”

Aiden clenched his jaw before answering through gritted teeth, “yes, there was.”

I nodded and gave his hand a squeeze. It was weird to realize we might have more in common than I thought.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked, glancing at me from the corner of his eye, to gauge my reaction,

“Sure.”

“Why did you and your mom live in a group home?”

I sighed, “do you want the quick answer, or the long and complicated one?” I asked.

“whichever you feel comfortable sharing,” I appreciated that he didn’t push.

“The short answer is because my mom had special needs. The long one.” I hesitated but the late hour made me feel more open than usual so I continued, “the long answer is that my mom was born with cerebral palsy.  Her family was affluent, but they didn’t want her, and they didn’t want anyone knowing about her. I think in their eyes her condition was an embarrassment. Maybe they felt that it made them seem weak to have a baby born a cripple.” I shrugged, “anyhow, they put her in the group home in the projects with instructions never to contact them about her.”

“That seems really cold.”

I snorted “that’s an understatement.”

“Ok, so your mom was raised in the group home, and then what? Did your father live there too?”

“I change my mind,” I said abruptly “I’m not ready for this conversation.”

“I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

“No, don’t worry about it,” I said, taking a deep breath in, “you couldn’t have known.” The wind picked up and Aiden shivered, “are you cold?” he asked in concern. “Nah, I have a high tolerance for this kind of weather, don’t worry about me.”

We walked up the steps to my porch and he opened my screen door for me as I fumbled with my keys. I unlocked the door and turned to Aiden. “Thanks, I actually had a good time tonight,” I said.

“Oh really?” he said as he leaned in towards me, wiggling his eyebrows, “I can think of a few ways you can show me your appreciation.”  I stuck out my hand for him to shake and he clasped it in his large callused one.  He shook it politely, before turning it over and brushing his lips across the pulse point of my wrist. Heat traveled up my arm from the place that his lips touched.  “Goodnight Zephyr,” he said.

I’m pretty sure I got out a muttered g’night before hastily going inside and closing the door behind me. I leaned against the door and let out the breath that I had been holding. The place he had kissed me tingled. Just wow. I closed my eyes. This felt like I was playing with fire. I had only ever told a few people about my mom. I had no idea what about Aiden made me share intimate details like that, but it felt dangerous. I needed to be more careful.

Chapter 9

Three weeks passed. I continued trying to establish boundaries and Aiden continued toeing the lines I had drawn.  Every night he showed up at the bar as we were locking up and walked me home. Surprisingly,