Page 6 of We Are All Sinners

The first time I saw her, our eyes met, and an overwhelming rush of emotions and memories surged through me.

These memories, which until two weeks ago had been completely forgotten, came flooding back. I know so much about her, far beyond what’s in her file. I recall intimate details she once shared only with me—her scent, her laugh, that maddeningly cock teasing smirk, even the taste of her.

Everything about her came back within a couple of days, every time I catch glimpses of her, a new memory surfaces.

I feel my phone vibrate in my jeans pocket and slip back behind a huge magnolia tree positioned where I can still see her walking with her cat.

Liams name shines bright on my screen.

“What?”

“You need to make sure you get here before the little witch does! I’m in the house with her friend Emily who just kicked the shit out of that chick that works at your girls store. I called one of our old friends who is on the NOLA PD. Oh, and an ambulance.” Liam rushes out.

“What the fuck! What happened?” I ask a little louder than I meant to.

I come out from behind the tree to see she has already turned the corner onto St. Charles Avenue. I start running back to take the long way around to beat her home.

“Emily found out the chick from your witches’ shop was fucking her boyfriend, Kevin. She actually caught them in the act, knocked the guy out with his own ashtray, then kicked the shit out of him, and his side chick! I really like this chick man. Just tell the little witch already! These chicks are badass!” Liam blurts out trying to keep his voice low.

“We already knew that. Fuck, the guy deserved it, we have seen him with three other women since we moved in last week, one of them being Brook. I’m not ready. I want to do this gradually and make her fall for me before I have to make her see me.”

“Listen, you remember everything about her, and we still don’t have a clue who she is. If she touches you, maybe she sees something, maybe not, but we can help either way. I don’t know if I believe in all this witchy shit, but I know this girl is what my whole task is supposed to be about. I have been watching her since we got here just like you have been Genevieve. She is a sassy little thing. I really like her bro.” I stop dead in my tracks at his words. Liam has never looked twice at a woman, let alone stalked one.

“Liam, are you sure she didn’t whack you in the head with an ashtray? I’m almost home by the way.” I reply, still a little out of breath from running.

I hang up the phone and continue moving swiftly again, turning my last corner as Evie crosses the last street before our block. She is walking directly towards me while looking down at Jinx.

She hasn’t even noticed me yet and I’m ten steps in front of her. She has no sense of security and walks the streets at night without a care in the world.

She notices the ambulance pulling away from her house just as they turn the lights and siren on.

“What the fuck!” She blurts out with wide eyes as she picks up her pace, ignoring my existence, again.

“Hi, Genevieve, right?” I ask as she is about to pass me by, almost as if I don’t exist. Instead, she stops and looks at me, tilting her head slightly as she takes me in.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” she asks with furrowed brows.

She stares into my eyes like she can see every part of my soul while she bites the side of her bottom lip.

It takes me a moment to remember how to speak since all the fucking blood in my body goes straight to my dick.

“I’m um. Your new neighbor, or one of them. I’m Brixon.” I stutter out smiling as I reach my hand out to shake hers.

I watch her intently as I wait. She looks down at my hand and backs away a few steps, putting a little more distance between us. Good girl. Finally taking a precaution. She never liked touching people though.

“Oh, sorry, I’m a germaphobe. I’m Genevieve,” She puts her dainty hand with black nails up to her chest and I can see some of her ink peeking out from under the sleeve of her burnt orange sweater, “It’s nice to meet you Brixon. Do you know what is going on?” She points back behind me towards the police car.

“Yeah, well, your roommate kicked the shit out of her boyfriend and the chick they have on your porch. Your roommatescreamed the name Brook, then my buddy, Liam, rushed over to make sure everything was okay. He’s with your roommate now.” I blurt out, not knowing what else to say.

She looks worried for a second and then chuckles slightly as she sighs, “Well, I was hoping we could have made a better first impression. Welcome to the neighborhood! Now that you’ve seen how we parade our crazy on the front porch, how are you liking our little slice of heaven?” she asks sweetly as she looks back at our houses like they are some sort of magical kingdoms, waving her hand back towards them, still trying not to laugh.

Jesus, she looks a little older, but she hasn’t changed a bit. Polite to a fault and still looks at everything like it’s magical.

“I absolutely love the views.” I reply, not taking my eyes off of her once she looks back at me. I see her neck blush slightly as she smirks while pushing a loose curl behind her ear.

“Has that line actually ever worked for you?” She raises her brows, giving me a look like nice try, but not even close to good enough.

I laugh at the fact that she hasn’t lost her feistiness.

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