"I told you not to get your hopes up," Sabine stammered happily.
"I'll get my hopes up if I want to. This is … Oh, my, god," Ella warbled. "You are so stinking tough, Sabine. It humbles me how you handle any of this."
"I've got someone awesome in my corner," Sabine smiled. Her expression suddenly shifted. "Um, Bella Bear."
"Yeah." Ella released her sister's shoulders.
"You need to crank it back." Sabine pointed around the hall.
Ella looked around and her eyes widened. The magazines nearby, were hovering off the table. The clipboard was rattling in the holder on the door, and the row of seats were dancing on the linoleum. It would only take a slight push for Ella to send everything whipping about in maelstrom.
"Darn it," Ella smirked.
She locked down on her emotions, and everything fell where it was. It truly sucked not being able to let out the full measure of her happiness in situations like this.
"Well, at least no one was here," Sabine said with a grin that made it all better.
No sooner had Sabine made the comment, then a trio of doctors in lab coats exited a set of double doors. Ella's mouth gaped at their near miss. She grabbed Sabine's wheelchair and scampered down the hall, like a thief escaping the scene of a crime.
"My control has been tested a lot lately."
"Really? Why?" Sabine asked as they turned the corner leading to the cafeteria.
"Our new neighbor is hot," Ella blushed.
"You don't say."
"Like forget your name hot. And he's a biker."
"You better tell me everything. You know I live vicariously through you," her sister demanded.
"He knocked on the door last night, worried I might have been hurt in the earthquake we had." Ella tried to keep a straight face as she spoke.
"Earthquake?" Sabine asked in confusion, then her eyes widened. "Ella! What were you doing?"
Ella turned a bright shade of red. She wasn't about to say out loud that she'd been masturbating in the shower. It was too embarrassing to dwell on.
"Ella, you dirty bird," Sabine crowed.
Ella hid her head. She didn't even have to say anything for her sister to put two and two together.
"Shhh," Ella insisted as they headed toward the coffee cups. "I don't know why I said anything."
"Please. If these fingers keep working so well, you better believe I'll be … "
"Sabine! Are you trying to make me have another conniption?" That was their code for Ella's little episodes.
"You're a prude."
"For the love of god, don't tell me again about losing the big V in a hospital bed," Ella begged.
"Then tell me about hot neighbor."
"I don't know. Wright didn't like him. He attacked the man's ankle." Ella didn't know what to make of that.
"Really? Wright likes everybody," Sabine smirked.
"I know. Hot biker said he was fine, and it only looked like a flesh wound. I'm just hoping he doesn't change his mind, and call animal control."
"You have mace, right? Just in case Wright ‘s instincts were good, and he's a serial killer or something."
"Sabine, you honestly think I need mace to put a man in his place?"
"Oh yeah," Sabine snorted. "I almost forgot that time Jason tried to kiss you, and ended up with a concussion on the other side of the room."
"Exactly. And thanks for the reminder, funny girl. I actually wanted to kiss Jason." Ella stuck her tongue out at her sister.
"You just need to get a big ole dildo and … " Sabine said a little louder than necessary
The people at the next table looked over with shocked expressions. Ella wanted to hide under the table.
"So help me, Sabine, if you finish that thought."
"What? They say I'm suffering from neural degeneration in the area of my brain that handles impulse control," Sabine stated seriously.
"Bull shit, you liar." Ella's hand flew to her mouth in mortification after letting the curse loose.
"I know, but that was so worth it. Ella Roulant said a bad word. Oh, the horror." Sabine's hand covered her mouth mocking Ella, before she doubled over with laughter, nearly spilling her coffee.
Ella couldn't help the goofy grin she wore all the way home on the train. That is until she reached her destination.
This commute just might kill me, Ella decided as she got off the train and started walking toward her apartment.
She got a good deal on her retro, peep-toe, heels. And they looked darn good with her vintage interview suit. But they were a nightmare to walk in.
Whoever invented heels should've been shot.
Ella sighed, giving into the impulse to use her curse. She did this trick she learned after years of wearing the torture devices to office jobs and internships. She levitated ever so slightly, not enough so she came off the ground, but just enough to ease her weight with each step. It was a life saver after a long day.
You better hustle.
Ella stayed so long, chatting with Sabine, that she would just make it back in time for her appointment with the owner of the apartment complex. Ella didn't mind one bit, that she had to rush. It had been a wonderful day, and she didn't get many of those with her sister. It was the meeting she dreaded. The closer she got to the apartment office, the more anxious she got. Things had gone so well today. She hoped her luck held.
Ella walked into the office to find it empty. She glanced at her phone to confirm she wasn't late. The minutes passed and she started pacing as her anxiety grew.
Relax, Ella coached herself so her curse didn't start acting up.
It was nearly half an hour past four when the bell on the door chimed halting her stride. Ella was miffed, until she turned and saw who entered the office. Her jaw nearly hit the floor.
Oh, just great!
Wolf
Wolf tugged at the collar of the dress shirt he'd put on. He didn't know what compelled him to put on the monkey suit.
Cause you want to impress your Hot-For-Teacher neighbor. Moron.
He should've known seeing the clubhouse, along with Vick and Tony, was going to have him straining to shift in his suit.
The couches and tables were pretty much destroyed, though sadly, the brain-dead duo had only helped the process along. The pack was murder on furniture on a good day, let alone when shit got hairy. It was the man-sized hole, from the main room into the bathroom, that had Wolf pissed. But even this level of carnage didn't trump the fact, the two Shifters acted like dumb asses in public.
We don't need the attention, he growled.
"Did you brainless fuckers settle up at the Rusty Bucket?" Wolf demanded as he toured the clubhouse.
"Of course we did." Vick sounded almost indignant, till Wolf raised a brow at him, and issued a subtle rumble.
Vick knew this would be his only warning. Just because they were his betas, it didn't give them a free pass to act like douche bags, and then be disrespectful when he called them on it.
"Good, so you'll make sure the owner doesn't lose a cent, cause you two were acting like rabid animals?"
The two males nodded.
"Now, regarding this." Wolf pointed to the hole in the wall. "Honestly, Tony, you had to bust a fucking wall with pipes in it. You couldn't have thrown Vick through that one over there?"
Tony shrugged, looking sheepish.
"Well, I hope you two enjoyed it, cause you're paying for the repairs, and anything else I think needs to happen here."
"Seriously Wolf? The place already needed work," Tony argued.
Wolf was in Tony's face in an instant, fangs bared.
"As my betas, I trusted you to hold down the fucking pack while I was away. You're lucky I don't strip you of your status, kick your ass, and send you out there with your tails tucked," Wolf snarled. "So, if I want you to fix this place, wreck it, and fix it again, you'll do it with a fucking smile on your happy little faces."
"Yes sir." Tony shrank back, duly chastised. The betas knew they screwed the pooch big time with little stunt in front of Outsiders.
"You can start by getting rid of the furniture and tearing out the rest of the busted drywall." Wolf didn't bother to see if they nodded, as he stormed out of the clubhouse.
Wolf walked to his Charger and yanked open the door. First, he had to deal with his two betas, who had the nerve to show him attitude. Now, he had to go meet his neighbor, and listen to whatever line she fed him for not having rent.
Awesome day. Just another awesome day. Why am I not in Cabo sucking down tequila shots?
Wolf wasn't a total prick; he knew people fell on hard times. But he also wasn't a push-over. The curvy little Ice Princess, with the yippy micro mutt, might be hot as hell, but that didn't mean shit. No doubt she knew how smokin' she was, and used it to get away with crap all the time. Wolf had met more than a few chicks, who thought they were entitled.