Page 37 of Dead End

“I know,” I said. “Did you think it would be anything less?”

He smirked, a little bit of that cocky asshole simmering there. “I’m up for round two if you are.”

My heart flipped, and then a moment later, guilt crashed down on my head like a wave. “Norman…I have to tell you something.”

He snorted. “That never means anything good.”

“I'm serious.” I smacked his shoulder lightly. “But I have a feeling you’re not going to like what I have to say.” God, I didn’t want to talk about this, but I owed it to him to be truthful. I was sick of keeping things to myself. That was the old October. I didn’t know her anymore. “Something happened—”

“If you’re going to tell me about how my brother fingered you in The Wicked Quill, you can save your breath. I already know, and I don’t give a shit. I’m not blind; I know you have a thing for all of us.”

My mouth must have been hanging wide open because Norman’s finger on my chin had my jaw snapping shut. “What—,”

“You can stop shitting your pants over it. I knew the moment you guys came out of the back of that store. Freddy can’t keep a secret for shit anyway, and I always share everything with my brother. But you see…” He came closer, his lips a breath away from mine. “It only made me more desperate to taste you again, to see if my memory lives up to the real thing.”

Our lips were brushing, and every one of his smooth words made my stomach do somersaults. “And?” I whispered.

“I’ll make love... night and day to... Fuck... all the time.” His voice was a fleeting, broken, and jumbled thought in my mind.

I felt him smile against my mouth. “I think you know the answer to that. I think my cum dripping from that pussy tells you everything you need to know, baby girl.”

Itook a long shower, standing under the scalding hot spray for what felt like hours, just replaying my encounter with Norman over and over again. I was still in a state of disbelief. Did all that really just happen?

I was still giddy over it, but there was still a small part of me that felt sick and nervous. What if he’d been messing with me?

No.

Norman wouldn't do that, not like that. He wasn’t that kind of asshole. He knew what sex meant to me and how I felt about him, and he’d never use me like that. But the only other explanation would be that he meant it. Not to mention the fact that he’d spoken to Freddy, and Freddy told him about what happened at The Wicked Quill. I didn’t know whether or not I should be offended that Freddy opened his big mouth or relieved that Norman wasn’t being possessive or jealous.

After drying off, I went back to my room. It was still so strange every time—the room was pretty much the same as I left it in the mortal world. I suppose I had the aunties to thank for that. My clothes were all here, and I was suddenly glad I’d taken to dressing in all black. Maddie was borrowing my clothes too, and they helped us blend in a little better. I dressed in a pair of black leggings, lace-up boots, and an oversized T-shirt that said Moon Child on the front. I smiled. Who knew this wardrobe would end up being so damn appropriate?

I left my hair to air dry and simply threw my cloak over my arm, leaving the room and heading downstairs. I was halfway down the hallway when I heard a knock. It was the same knocking I’d heard when we first got here—the knocking Auntie Fe had completely brushed off. It sounded like someone was rapping on a wooden door, but the sound was almost hollow and far away. It was such a quiet sound that I couldn’t pinpoint which direction it was coming from.

I filed the issue away for later. Maybe I'll ask Maddie to do some snooping with me at some point. The smell of something sweet and spicy filled the house, and I let the scent guide me down the stairs. I knew from how delicious it was that it had to be Auntie Fe. Pip’s cooking would’ve had me escaping out my bedroom window just to avoid it.

The others were probably out of their classes by now, and my nerves were shot at the mere thought of seeing the guys. Not to mention the walk of shame I was about to do in front of my eagle-eyed best friend. She’d know in a second that something had happened. I tried to seem as casual as possible as I made my way into the kitchen. The smell of that sweet spice was thick, and there was a high-pitched shriek coming from the stove. Steam filled the kitchen, and I watched as Auntie Fe rushed over to grab the kettle.

Everyone was sitting around the table, reminding me of the day we got here, except this time we weren’t wide-eyed and covered in sweat and dirt. Maddie sat closest to the kitchen, talking with Pip. She was chopping something on the cutting board, and my auntie was gathering the small slices into a tiny bowl. I smiled, remembering all the times Maddie would come over in the past and help with dinner after my parents died. She probably spent more time at my house than she did at her own home. It seemed like some things never really changed.

She turned to me as I moved towards the kitchen. Our eyes met, and her brows furrowed, scanning my face. I looked away, my cheeks already tomato-red by now. Oh, Lord, she was never going to let me hear the end of this. By tonight, she’d have me spilling the beans with no way out of her interrogation.

Jessica was perched on the back of Norman’s chair, and though she didn’t have a human face, I could already tell my little familiar was smirking, even inwardly. I narrowed my eyes at her and steadily avoided Norman’s piercing gaze. I could feel all the guys watching me bustle around the kitchen.

I grabbed some herbs from the cupboard, took the kettle from Fe, and poured myself some tea. The spicy, sweet scent warmed me from head to toe. I added a little bit of honey for some more sweetness. Glancing up, I met Freddy’s stare. He, along with the others, seemed like he was actively trying to make me look at him.

“Michael dear, that needs more sage,” Auntie Pip rushed to Michael’s side. “Sprinkle lightly. If you glob it all on, it won't have the same effect. Patience is a virtue, child.” Michael pinched a pile of sage, bringing it over a cauldron placed on the table in front of him, and sprinkled it in while Pip watched.

I smirked, and Michael glanced up at me just in time to see it. When he sneered back, Pip snapped her fingers in front of his face three times, demanding he pay attention to whatever spell she was teaching him. My aunties meant business, especially when it came to cooking. Or, I suppose this was spellwork. I needed to get used to this reality quickly. I wondered how many times the aunties had made potions right under my nose, and I had no clue.

“What’s got you looking so chipper, luv?” asked a low, British-accented voice. Dread pooled in my stomach as we all collectively turned to Jason.

He was perched on a wooden bar stool near Michael, resting his elbow on a high table, and smirking at me. His eyes were bright yellow and slitted down the middle, and the person looking out at me definitely wasn’t Jason.

Damon had come out to play. He grinned, those yellow eyes running the length of my body. “Looking a bit flushed.” Those sensuous lips curled upward. “It’s a good look on you.”

“Bring Jason back!” I demanded, downing my tea in one gulp. It burned my throat, but I didn’t care. I suddenly felt the need to get out of the room.

“He’s right here with me, actually.” His eyes flickered from yellow to gray and back again. “Aren’t you, Jason?”

---