Page 64 of Hollyhocks

An eerie energy has me on high alert.

I pat the side of the truck with my fingers. “Alright, then. Be safe.” I roll up my window. I’m not sure what is up with them, but they aren’t from around here.

Doesn’t mean they are bad people but there is a heaviness in the air surrounding me about them. I can’t stop glancing in the rearview. The two men are standing in the middle of the road, watching me until I can no longer see them.

They don’t sit right with me, and I can’t put my finger on why.

Pulling into Demi’s Diner for a to-go coffee, I keep the two newcomers in mind. If I come across Jake, maybe I’ll let him know.

Heading into Demi’s, the first person I see is Creed. He is sitting in the same booth he always sits at. Caden is coming outof the kitchen with a tray filled with plates of breakfast. Mickey isn’t here because she is very pregnant, but her brother Milo is and he is the one that greets me.

“Hey, man. Long time no see,” a bright smile stretches across his face.

“Hey,” My gaze darts over his shoulder to peek at Creed.

He’s so fucking weird. In a good way.

And in a bad way, let’s not fool ourselves.

Bringing my attention back to Milo, I yawn, covering my mouth with my hand. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been sleeping well. Can I get a large coffee to go?” I ask him, peering over his shoulder to spy on Creed.

He isn’t there.

“You still smell fucking terrible.”

I jump, slapping a hand to my chest. “Jesus, Creed. You scared the fuck out of me. Don’t you know not to sneak up on people?”

“Yes,” he states. “But I don’t care.”

“Of course, you don’t,” I grumble. I’msonot in the mood for him. I lift my arm to take a sniff. “I smell fine. Fucking sandalwood, asshole.”

“You do not smell like sandalwood.” He sniffs me but this time he makes a show, getting everyone’s attention.

With loud deep head turning inhales, Creed smells me from head to toe. A few people turn around in their booths, lifting their brows at us.

“Don’t mind him. He is being treated for his issues. It just takes time.” I give the patrons a quick smile and a wave, hoping it will get these spectators to look away.

“Don’t listen to him,” Creed growls, lifting his nose from my stomach to speak. “He reeks. I’m doing everyone a fucking favor.”

I slap him on the back of the head. “I do not reek. You’re being very rude and intrusive.”

He bites me.

He fucking bites me!

“Mother fucker!” I shove him in the chest, staring at the teeth punctures in my jeans. “You bit me.”

“You wouldn’t stop insulting me. I’m doingyoua favor.” He lies down on the ground going as far as sniffing my damn shoes. “You stink. I don’t know what you stepped in, but as Mickey and Demi would say to one another, “Girlfriend, I hate to tell you this, but you smell.” He snaps his fingers, adding a bit of sass. “Or something like that.”

I roll my lips together to keep from laughing. “You do know they aren’t serious when they call each other that? It’s a joke, Creed.”

“Joke or not, the message works.”

“Here is your coffee.” The person who brings me my coffee isn’t Milo. It’s Caden.

Perfect.

“My God, Creed. Leave the man alone,” Caden states. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

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