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

“AhHHahha, I think I see your point now,” Jerry said, his voice at a slightly higher pitch, “it was nice doing business with you. I, uhhh, appreciate the clarity.” Penny, still holding him in a firm grip, looked over at me for approval before lowering him to the floor “I think I need to change my underwear,” Jerry muttered.

“Whoops,” said Penny with an insincere smile. “I didn’t mean to take it that far, I guess I was just a little triggered seeing you antagonize my friend here.” She let go of Jerry and brushed imaginary dust off his shoulders. “You take care now, buddy.”

Jerry beat a hasty retreat out the door, glancing nervously over his shoulder to make sure Penny didn’t follow him. Penny feinted towards him and let out a deep belly laugh when Jerry scurried away faster.

“Thanks for that, Zephy,” Penny said, giving me a side hug, “I needed that for stress relief.” Penny skipped down to the basement to get more alcohol, whistling while she went. I shook my head in amusement. There was something truly bizarre about watching a six-foot five man skip.

I was feeling really unsettled by Mr. X propositioning my boss. All my life I had been avoiding other elementalists. The fact that he knew that the owner of my smuggling business was an air elemental felt too close to home. It seemed like it was only one step away from them finding out that the actual owner of the business was me.

I had spent my life avoiding notice. My Mom was the best, but her cerebral palsy nulled her power.  While she didn’t know how to guide me in controlling the fine details of my element, she knew enough about the family politics to caution me to hide, and to always have an escape plan. But I had built a life for myself here.  I had a job, and friends, and I knew the neighborhood like the back of my hand. Even though I had always had a plan in place, I had never had to use it. Besides, Penny and Brian were the only ones who knew about my element. I convinced myself that for now I was safe. I would be cautious, but optimistic.

Chapter 6

It was Wednesday, my day off from the bar, and the day that I volunteered with Brian at the local soup kitchen. Brian had been my mom’s best friend growing up, and I viewed him as a surrogate father. I loved the time we spent together, and even though he was forever threatening to retire, I knew for a fact he would never really leave. Honestly, Brian was the only man that I felt like I could trust. Between my mother’s rape and my one disaster of a relationship in high school, I had learned my lesson about boys. I trusted Penny obviously, but in my head Penny wasn’t a real man. Not that I would tell her that.

I hurried to get to the soup kitchen, cursing the traffic for making me later than I already was. Brian was a stickler for punctuality. He wouldn’t yell at me for being late, but his disappointment was a far worse punishment,

“Sorry I’m late, Brian,” I called out smiling breathlessly as I opened the door, where I assumed Brian was already waiting. “You won’t believe the day I ha-" I stopped abruptly as I noticed that Brian wasn’t alone in the kitchen. I couldn’t remember the last time another person had joined us during Wednesday night bonding.

“Hey Zeph, don’t worry about being late, I’ve got something real special to tell you,” Brian said smiling at me excitedly. “Meet our newest recruit, and my eventual replacement!” Brian’s kind eyes twinkled with excitement. “I finally found someone to fill my spot so that I can take that retirement adventure that I kept talking about!”

I could tell from Brian face that he was ecstatic, and I tried to smile in response. I just couldn’t quite figure out how to hide the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat.

“Meet Aiden!” Brian continued obliviously. “He’s volunteering to come on Wednesdays, and he is willing to donate several crates of whatever is left over each week from his home-grown produce!” I studied Aiden cautiously. He was tall and built, his eyebrows diagonal slashes over piercing eyes so dark they looked black. He had a strong angular jaw and a mouth that was both generous and severe. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I might have met him. Maybe at the bar? Aiden looked me up and down with a penetrating stare.

“Hello Zephyr,” he said, putting out his hand.

I tentatively put my hand in his to shake. “Hello.”

His hand was warm and large, and nearly dwarfed mine as he held it in his grasp. There was a long silence as he kept hold of my hand. Could this get anymore awkward? I thought to myself, wondering how to politely remove my hand from his.

“Zephyr is currently single,” Brian blurted out suddenly.

Oh my God, kill me now, I thought, mortified.

“Is that so?” Aiden said, an amused grin forming on his face. I pulled my hand away from his abruptly, not liking the tingling feeling that his smile seemed to invoke.

“I don’t date.” I blurted out slightly red faced, and then seeing the skeptical look on Aiden’s face, I continued, “and if I did date, I still wouldn’t be available for you.” I turned back to Brian, hoping to divert the conversation. “I’m so happy for you,” I said, while quietly trying to remind myself that he didn’t owe me anything, including an advanced notice.

“Come on Aiden, Zephyr and I will show you how it’s done here,” Brian said, taking out a big pot and filling it with water.

“We find soup is the most cost-effective way to feed