Page 83 of I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker
“Are you okay?” Jackie ran straight to me. She grabbed me and looked me over like a mother whose child had just fallen off the park swing.
“I’m okay,” I choked out as she crushed me in an unexpected hug.
“You tell them everything they need to know,” Raymond spoke over Jackie’s shoulder. “I have some things to take care of. It won’t take long. I’ll be back to get you.”
My heart stuttered as I looked at him, and though my brain said to respond, my lips did nothing. That heavy awkwardness was still there.
Say something!
“Uh, um, o-kay.” I cringed; what the hell was that?
He nodded. Chill covered my arms, and the shadow appeared behind him. A second later, Raymond was gone.
“What was that about?” Jackie let me go. Her eyes darted to the spot where Raymond had vanished then back to me.
“I-I don’t know, but now isn’t the time to try to process it. They took Natalie.” I pointed to my desk where Natalie had been snatched.
“He told me on the phone,” Jackie said. “Where’s the video?”
I pulled up the video on my phone. She watched it then handed the phone to Miguel so he could inspect it.
“You mind if I plug in?” Miguel pulled the laptop from the bag that hung from his shoulder. “I want to see if I can pull anything else from the video.”
“Sure.” I nodded.
“Look, I hate to ask you this but,” I looked at Jackie, “do you think you could stay here and watch the place while I’m gone?”
“I got it here, Jericha.” She scoffed. “I already told you I would do that for you.”
“Are you sure? I mean, you have so much to do. Running your own business and the monster hunter stuff. I hate to lean on you like this.”
“Girl, don’t make me pop you. I got it. And I have that damn manual you put together to make sure I don’t mess anything up.”
“And I’ll be here with her.” Miguel handed my phone back to me. “I’ve moved some things around so I can stay to watch her back, just in case.”
“Thank you,” I said, relieved things would be in good hands without me.
Jackie pulled me to the side while Miguel busied himself looking aroundthe office.
“Girl, what is going on with you?” She lowered her voice. “And don’t tell me it’s nothing, because I’ve known you long enough to recognize when something’s not right. You look pale and nervous, which means there is something bothering you. Now, typically, I would mind my business and wait until you’re ready to talk, but this is different. I can’t let you leave like this.”
“He kissed me,” I blurted out. She was right. I had to talk about it. I just didn’t know how.
“So?” she shook her head. “You two have done a lot more than kiss.”
“No, this was different. It wasn’t just a kiss, you know? There was more behind it.” I nodded slowly until her eyes widened with recognition.
“Oh,” she sighed heavily. “I get it now.”
“Yeah, like the kind of kiss that makes you want to have that ‘what are we’ conversation.” I shook my head. “Jackie, I don’t want to have that conversation with him or anyone else, for that matter.”
“Damn, well, I mean, whatareyou two?” She knocked the question at me like a volleyball, like I hadn’tjustsaid I didn’t want to have that conversation.
“Jackie! I—” I was going to tell her I didn’t know what Raymond and I were. We were intense, passionate, hot, and opposing, but we were also magnets, and I felt his pull growing stronger every time I was near him. I was going to lay it all out because Jackie was a safe space, but that icy chill returned. It licked the back of my neck, and when I turned around, he was there again, that magnetic force already pulling on my chest. I wanted to run to him, have him wrap his arms around me and kiss me the way he had before. Instead, I stood there, mouth and eyes wide open like a deer in headlights.
His eyes met mine for a fleeting second in silent acknowledgment before he turned and walked to Jackie.
“This is for you.” He handed her a small leather pouch.
