The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 20 – The aroma of fresh spices and sauce wafted across the kitchen, proclaiming the deliciousness getting ready for the special Italian dinner. And the provoking sweet goods that baked inside the oven had me salivating.

The hunger of my tummy spiked more at that. The result of not eating the whole day. And how could I when all my mind was spiraled with one suddenly vanished man’s thoughts?

“I’m happy that you came here, Em. In all the preparations of the marriage, we couldn’t get enough time to spend,” said Tess, adding some basils in the spaghetti.

I nodded. “Yeah, but don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere for sometime. So we’ve a lot of time to fix that.”

Something flickered over her eyes, but then she smiled. “Right. Anyway, how was your day?”

“It was good.”

Not good. At all. After last night I hadn’t got any peace. What Caleb said, about their relationship, about her involvement with Ace kept my mind busy. And then he suddenly vanished from the country.

In the evening when I got Cassie’s call and got to know about Victoria’s being in the UK, it’d raised a lot of questions in my mind. Like he’d literally no one out there except her, so the suspicion that she could be one of the reasons for his frequent visit there wasn’t unrealistic. Even if I didn’t have any right to feel vexed about it, but I did. But then, somehow I knew that he wasn’t there for her. There was nothing between them like I thought at first they had. They were just friends.

That’s what you thought about Ace and Tess too.

That was the main reason for my being here. I wanted answers to my questions. And at this moment, only Tess could enlighten me. I’d lose my sanity if she didn’t.

Fidgeting in my seat, I cleared my throat. “Uh, I was thinking to ask you something… umm, I…”

She looked up from salads. Observing my hesitation, an understanding etched into her features. “You can ask me anything, Em. I’d try to answer them as long as it’s about me.”

I took a deep breath. There was no point to beat around the bush now.

“Did you cheat on Caleb with Ace seven years ago?”

A gasp slipped through her lips as her eyes widened in fraction. “What? What are you talking about, Em? I never did such a thing!”

“Look, I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t ask you these questions. It happened years ago and I should just keep it there. But I…”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s years ago or not! I’ve always loved Caleb. I know we were never sure of anything, and also dated other people after our first break up. But I’d never cheated on him. And especially not with Ace. He was my best friend for G*d’s sake!” She cut me off, disbelief filled in her eyes.

“So, there was nothing going on between you two?”

“Of course not! Why’d you think that?” A frown set between her brows. And then realization hit her as she went quiet, guilt flashing over her eyes.

“I saw you kissing, Tess. If there were nothing between you two, then what was that?” I queried, a sudden desperation rolled my insides. “Caleb told me you and him started dating just a month ago before your nineteenth birthday. Means you were with Caleb when you… what do I think of that?”

I’d no right to ask her these personal questions. It was all in the past. But I needed to know.

Both of them knew of my feelings. That other night on the terrace, she told me she’d never hurt me on purpose. Ace’s words and actions proved that he remembered every word he said to me and somehow meant it, that’s what I saw in his eyes every time he called me his. I wasn’t sure if he did harbor any real feelings for me back then, but he didn’t think I was a fool in love with him. He cared and respected me and my feelings.

That’s what I understood from his all crazy actions and other things. And even if they didn’t have anything between them, then why would they do that? Why’d I found them wrapped around in each other’s arms like that?

What was the reason he became so distant with me all of a sudden and didn’t even call or ask of me once after that night? Not even when I shifted to NY. Yes, after his father’s d***h, he did get distant with everyone, but he never did with me. Even for once in a while, he used to visit me. Until one day, it stopped. And then came that ominous night. The night my heart broke.

All these things have been nagging me after Ace suddenly out of nowhere began to appear in my life, declared his claim on me, after my talk with Tess that night, and finally after what Caleb told me last night.

“Tell me, Tess. Why did you kiss the boy you knew your sister had lost her heart to?” Tightness clogged up my throat, burning my eyes. “Even after loving someone else, even after Ace was just your best friend, even after you didn’t want to hurt your little sister as you claimed that night. Why?”

Closing her eyes, she rubbed her face. “I can’t tell you that Em.”

“Why?” My voice rose. Couldn’t she see how desperate I was to know the truth? The truth they were hiding.

“Just as I said, I will answer your questions as long as it’s about me. And it’s not about only me here, Em. Nor is it my secret to tell. Only Ace can give you these answers.” She blinked away the unshed tears in her own eyes. “But know that Em, there was never anything between me and Ace except just friendship. And I’d never, ever cheat on Caleb. It’s not always what it appears to be. Sometimes, you need to see beyond it.”

Her eyes pleaded me not to ask anymore questions as I sat there silently, taking in her words. What did she mean?

not what it appeared to be? Then what

my confusions still remained unsolved, her stating that there wasn’t anything

“I hope you understand why I can’t tell you

“It’s alright.

everything to clear up to you to take your next decisions

Did I really want to know everything to take my next steps in my life with him? Was I really considering Casie’s words to give us

she mean by it was the time for me to know everything? Why did it

me from

said, picking up

from the other side of

it? And why are you calling from my friend’s

is drunk and alone. She’s refusing to leave and we don’t know her address. So we got your number from her emergency dial list and called you. We’d be grateful if you come and get your friend, she’s

long has she been there?” I asked,

miss,”

until I

quick, miss. We’re about to close our bar

you!” I put the phone in my

that?” asked Tess, concern latched

I’ve got to

once you’re

***

that bar’s name before, and after tracing

she was

people of

big ‘Dakota’s Bar’ was written on a white board, red fairy

her up and

lot at the corner, I found it full. And the c****o beside it explained the reason. I’d

I went ahead and turned to another narrow road and found there a place to park. Keeping my car

footpath, brown locks of mine swayed with the breeze. Distant music coming out from the c****o’s closed doors

figure came into my view. With a large bottle in her hand, she sang something in her not so pleasant slurry voice; her dark curly head rested on the rounded table at the corner. It was a small bar, so finding her wasn’t a

I approached her, a man in white shirt and

the friend of hers

no idea she would be here at this moment,” I said, genuinely grateful. At places like this, she could fall into a wrong man’s hand. Thank G*d, this man, who must be a bartender

to close the bar, we asked her

What happened

taking care of her until I arrived,” saying, I hurried to her and called

at me, recognition flickered over her face as an uneven smile stretched across her lips. “Emmm!

brushed her unkempt hair out of her forehead, her cheeks were streaked with dried tears and smudged mascara. She looked like

her once she was sober. But I needed to

you aren’t having any more. Let’s go, we’re leaving.” I

to go! Need more drinks, an’ you’ll drink with me,” she slurred. “Hey, you!

place, eying his wrist. The whole bar was empty, he was just waiting for us to leave so that

to stand up, I wrapped one of her arms around my neck and snaked mine around

she complained, but walked

home. Now let’s go,” I said to her and then glanced at the man. He offered if I needed help but I denied. Paying her bill,

appeared and disappeared around the corners. In the whole

she started crying again, mumbling something incoherent under

It’s alright.

sudden shiver ran down my spine as I felt eyes on me. My gaze flickered around, but there was no one. Only two

I heard footsteps behind me, i’d to turn around. A fleeting figure

Rover standing at the other end of the street. But there was no one in there. It was the same car that was behind

I came here? No, it must’ve been another car. There