Page 60 of Burn for Me

‘Why? Do I smell?’ I grinned as I said it.

He swatted my ass on the way past me before writing YES above the doorway.

‘You’ll pay for that,’ I laughed. Phoenix waggled his eyebrows at me before ducking out of the cabin door.

Being back in civilisation felt utterly alien. People chatted about their weekly shop. Children begged parents for some e-number filled goodies with pouty faces. An old couple inched down an aisle at a glacial pace, supporting one another by the arm.

Life bubbled around us, yet Phoenix looked the most uncomfortable I’d ever seen him. Bar grabbing some spare t-shirts, underpants and socks, he’d barely glanced at the shelves. Guilt ate at me as I picked up a pack of profiteroles, practically salivating. I placed it back on the shelf, not wanting to indulge when all Phoenix had was his stupid strawberry shakes.

Pushing the trolley forward, I moved to the dairy shelves. When I picked out a bottle of milk and placed it in the trolley, I saw the profiteroles placed on top of the eggs. I glanced back at Phoenix.

He touched the back of my arm, his fingers quickly drawing words against my skin.

Treat yourself.

A smile stole over my face.

‘Alright freak?’ A voice said to my left.

Phoenix’s eyes narrowed, fixing on the young teens who stood across from us. While he’d worn his mask to the shop, his scars were still visible above and below the phoenix emblazoned fabric.

His fingers dropped from my arm, tensing into a fist beside his thigh.

‘Oh my god, he’s so gross,’ a girl said, laughing and nudging her friend.

I turned to face Phoenix, sliding my hand into his and applying light pressure to his fingers.

‘Ignore them,’ I said, forcing his eyes to mine. ‘They’re just stupid kids. They don’t define you. Your scars don’t define you.’

He took a deep inhale through his nose, his eyes flicking back to the idiots.

‘Ew, are you, like, into him?’ One of the girls directed her words at me.

It wasn’t something Phoenix and I had discussed, not even when our limbs had been entangled with me screaming his name into the sheets.

‘He’s more man than any of you little fuckers will ever be or be with.’

The kids looked stunned at my cussing, and I desperately wanted to laugh at them. The arrogance of youth never failed to astound. But had I been any better when I first saw his scars? I may not have spoken out, but I’d been just as shocked.

The kids threw us a dirty look before moving on down the aisle.

I didn’t drop Phoenix’s hand. Not even when we awkwardly moved our groceries onto the conveyor belt, nor when he counted the cash to pay.

It was silly. And wonderful.

THIRTY

Phoenix

Relief swamped me the minute we were back aboard Old Bess with Laura singing softly in the kitchen as she put away the groceries.

I took to the deck, readying for sailing back out to sea a bit, maybe settling in one of the natural havens around the coast a bit. Away from people.

Realistically I knew decking a teenager was a bad idea, but the rage had wound me up all the same. Until Laura had slipped her fingers into mine.

In all my years, I’d never thought a pretty girl would willingly hold my hand. Sure they’d take my cash and bury their face in a pillow. With their eyes closed I felt like every other customer. My lovely little ember had reached out and healed a missing part of me. She’d held my hand in public. Not just for a moment to stay my anger, but for the remainder of the shopping trip. She’d weathered the staresand whispers with a sunny smile that melted away my ire. If she could take it, so could I.

A light rain smattered the deck, and I shoved my mask into my pocket to fully feel the sprinkles against my face.

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