Acts of Grace

<strong>ASHLEY</strong></p><br></p>His car isn't here.</p>His<em> f*cking </em>car. Isn't. Here.</p>I scan the text message one more time. Maybe just maybe I read it wrong. That's possible right? This could all be...</p><em>Nope. </em>Sure as f*ck the text reads loud and clear.</p><br></p><strong>SORRY BABE. I'm not feeling too good. I'm going to call it early and crash. Hope it's just a 24hr bug. -xoxo</strong></p><br></p>My chest tightens as I look at his open garage devoid of his silver BMW. The only thing I see is his little brother's Harley.</p>My hands shake and my throat goes dry as I grab my bag and the chicken noodle soup I'd picked up on the way here.</p>Maybe there's a logical explanation for everything. Maybe his brother took his car out. <em>The very car he lets no one drive...</em></p>Placing one foot in front of the other I slowly make my way to the front door as my head plays a volley of excuses on loop.</p>Unable to put off the inevitable I lift my hand and knock praying against all odds that my gut instinct is wrong.</p><em>One Mississippi two Mississippi three-</em></p><br></p><strong>TITUS</strong></p><br></p>Every monster has its weakness and Ashley Hawthorne is mine.</p>The little temptress reeled me in hooking her delicious claws into me and made me forget.</p>She's my best friend's sister-Always forbidden never to be touched.</p>I <em>should</em> be seeking atonement.</p>I <em>should</em> be finding redemption.</p>But all I can think of is that she's my one saving grace and now that I've had her I'm not letting go.</p>