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One shoe connects with Shay’s shoulder as she walks into the staffroom. Shrieking, she bats the second projectile away. “I’m going to assume those weren’t meant for me,” she says, collecting the sneakers from the floor and dangling them from her gloved hands. “Garbage?”
“Yes.” I give her an apologetic grimace. “Thanks.”
She waves one hand below her nose as she drops them into the can. “Good call. Even my ninety-eight-year-old grandmother doesn’t have a spell powerful enough to exorcise that much evil.”
Hand place dramatically over my heart, I suck in an exaggerated breath. “Well, I never.”
“Never what, washed your sneakers?” Shay winks at me while tilting her head toward the trash can. “Believable.”
“Meanie,” I say, enjoying our easy camaraderie. “Thank you.”
“For what?” She drops onto the chair across from me and we both pull on our street shoes—mine, a pair of basic canvas flats that cost about an hour’s wages, and hers, knee-high leather boots that sound like foreplay when she zips them.
“For your friendship. For taking me under your wing here. Showing me the ropes around town. Making me feel comfortable, both at work and outside of it. You didn’t have to do any of that, but you jumped in and did. Seven months later, you’re still looking out for me when I have a flaky moment, like earlier today.”
Shay’s eyes shine. “If you don’t know by now that I love you like a sister, you never will. And because we’re on the sister level, I’m not afraid to call bullshit on yourflaky moment,” she says, making air quotes. “Girl, you done lost your lady shit over the big red demon today. It was written all over your pretty face how much you want to grab him by his big old horns and ride him until he fills you with his hellfire.”
“My mind did run away a bit today.”
“Today?”One of Shay’s perfect dark eyebrows rises as she snorts. “It’s been running wild since the first time you laid eyes on him. But today was definitely extra. As soon as he walked into the café, you looked like you were going to burst into flames.”
“Oh god.”
“Hon, I think you’re praying to the wrong deity on this one.”
Groaning, I fold forward, elbows on my knees, cover my face with my palms and peek at her through my fingers. “Do you think Raz knows?”
A robust laugh leaves Shay’s full plum lips. “Not sure what answer you’re hoping for here, but Raz was probably the only person in the place today whodidn’tknow what was going through your head.”
Pushing my mortification aside, I sit up so I can see her eyes again. As dark as they are, they convey a lot. Not that Shay ever has an issue with verbally revealing exactly what’s on her mind.
“It’s not great that everyone in the café this afternoon could tell I was…distractedby Raz. But why wouldn’theknow? He’s been dealing with human desires for eternity, literally. Why doesn’t he know mine?”
The volume out front increases noticeably, signaling the arrival of the staff from next door who always flood The Brew after their shift ends. The Brew has two faces—coffee shop by day and brew pub in the evening. Even though it’s pretty laid-back when the taps are flowing, I’m still glad to be slinging coffee-house beverages instead of alcohol.
Shay and I are usually gone by now, and the noise out front requires she rise from her spot and move to the chair beside me so we can hear each other speak. Angling her body to look directly into my eyes, she says, “I told you I don’t use my magic anymore, so when I answer your question, take it as years of insight, not asI know.”
I nod rather than speak. Shay’s magic is a touchy subject—literally and figuratively. As a seer, she can see the future of people she touches. She hasn’t told me what she saw that made her decide never to touch anyone ever again, but it must’ve been horrific for her to spend the rest of her life without personal contact. I like and appreciate her too much to even nudge her in a direction she doesn’t want to go.
“There are a lot of different kinds of demons out there, and I don’t claim to be an expert on any of them,” she begins. “Raz is a revenge demon, and based on everything I’ve been taught, that means his entire nature is fine-tuned to that purpose.” She sighs at the squinty expression I feel my face forming. “What I’m saying is, if you’re not wishing for revenge, you’re not going to ping on his radar. Not officially, anyway. Though, watching him with you, it’s safe to say youareon it.”
“You think so?” God, I sound like an infatuated teenager, not a twenty-nine-year-old woman with enough life experiences to make me feel over-the-hill most days.
Affectionate amusement shines in Shay’s eyes. “You’re really into him.”
“I’m attracted to him, certainly. But maybe that’s all it is? I’ve discovered the tall, red, and grumpy type turns me on a little?” I raise my hands in submission when she gives me the stink-eye. “Fine, a lot.”
“So, do something about it, girlfriend. Take charge of the situation.”
“I wouldn’t have a clue how to do that. I’m not bold and confident like you. I’m—” I snap my mouth shut. I am not all the things Doug made me believe.
Close your eyes. Deep breath in. Hold on to the truths. Exhale and release the lies.
My therapist’s technique calms my mind, but it would be nice if I didn’t have to use it every day. And if I had more truths than lies. Seven months into the healing process, and I’m still not sure who I really am.
“You okay?”
Opening my eyes, I find Shay’s hand hovering a couple of inches above mine. Even with gloves on, she avoids touching people if she can. I must look every bit the mess I am for her to get that close.
