Page 15 of Frayed Owner

She cleaned up her dishes and then stopped by me. “Let me know what you want to learn. If you want to learn the finishing stuff Jean and I did, I’ll teach you. If you want to learn how to shop in luxury stores—any of it. I don’t think youneedit, but just so you have the options and someone safe to learn from.”

“Thanks,” I accepted after a moment. I opened my mouth but then closed it. “I tend to just buy the full outfit in my size when I see something I like on Instagram. Then I might mix and match from my closet, but I wouldn’t know how to put something fancy together or the line between cocktail dresses or wedding ones.”

“Good. We can start there when you want a break from your mounds of serious. Make a list. Also, while I want to explore this new idea of Clare Millen, I heard Jasmine talking about the addition you guys are going to put on. Leave that to me. Tell me what you want and your goals. I’ll design the whole thing with the contractors.”

“I heard Tracey say she was going to ask her to design the new store for brushes and blankets,” Winter muttered, giving me a look that he didn’t want to overstep, but thought I should know.

“I’ve never done commercial, but I’m more than willing to help,” Clare accepted.

Awesome. I thanked her because Tracey, Jasmine, and I were too overloaded to handle the renovations to the house and the addition. She asked me what the budget was but then snickered when I just blinked at her.

I wasn’t even offended. I was going to be useless for any of that.

Winter and I cleaned up after ourselves when we were done eating, leaving leftovers for Tracey and Jasmine which was nice. We took a walk around the property and I saw a few of Taylor’s guys surveying or mapping it out. I wasn’t sure the official term, but it was the plan for security but also for magic and hitting the next level.

But also, that was so we didn’t drain it all with the influx of people who would now be harvesting there.

Winter surprised me by saying we should sleep in his room instead of mine. He had a roommate though, and while he tried to dodge explaining, I finally pushed him.

“I know I’ll behave in my room,” he mumbled and hugged me to him. “I don’t want to risk an accident in my sleep—I know my roommate’s there and—I sound like a perv. I’m not a dog. I just—you’re not up for it, and I don’t want to pressure you.” He cleared his throat. “Plus, you’re spoiled with your own room. You should get the college experience.”

Yeah, that was just an excuse, but I appreciated his consideration, giving him a quick kiss and agreeing.

But it made me think about the situation and what happened with Kelton. What was the right time to resume normal activities after killing someone? Not even making out or having sex? Like… Everything? Was there a certain… Mourning period? No, because I caused the death, right? But it was an accident.

ButI was still affected by it. Of course I was. I’d taken a life.

I was haunted by it. Not so much his face because I hadn’t gotten a good look at him. That moment. Seeing them run around the corner with their guns out. Seeing them crash into the wall.

Seeing him being loaded into the body bag. That’s what my nightmares were really full of. That was what flashed in my mind all of the time.

All. Of. The. Time.

I woke with Winter wrapped all around me, holding me comfortingly. I didn’t need three guesses why, especially when his roommate gave me a few worried glances. I mumbled an apology, but he waved it off and said he understood.

Yeah, it was better to sleep in my room for a while. I thanked Winter for helping me and apologized before hurrying off to my day. It felt shitty to do that, but I did really have to go, and I didn’t—I couldn’t constantly always focus on all my drama.

I didn’t particularly want to focus on other people’s drama either, but just other stuff. Learning would be nice. I was in college to learn.

Which was why I texted Professor Wyatt after I was done at the treats factory asking if I could pick his brain. Yes, it was about work and products, but learning magic was school and would unlock more for my classes.

Except he brought me to the gym again. He was lifting with his friends. Shirtless with his hat on and it was… Unsettling?

No, distracting.

Yes, hard to focus.

And his coldness was—I couldn’t get a lock on him. Fine, we were around people, but he was kinder to me when we were at school. But it was his friends, so maybe I understood it.

“Thank you for the other day,” I mumbled, finally snapping out of my head. I went on when he didn’t say anything. “I mean with Clare.”

“Of course. What did you need?” he asked when he switched with the guy he was spotting… Who was the same one as last time.

I gave the guy an apologetic look that I was interrupting but then sort of shrugged it off, accepting that we were really doing this. I let out a heavy breath. “You have me journaling for my magic, and I’m—I think there was a point for that—or another one and I’m there.” I thought of how to phrase what I wanted to ask without giving away too much to those listening.

“Go ahead. There aren’t any stupid questions, Ms. Millen,” he guided.

The guy spotting him snorted. “Yeah, right. You of all people saying that is hysterical, Derek.”

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