Page 20 of The Witch's Werewolf
Tonight will be a different sort of hunger, though.
“You do realize you two decided to play your kinky little game while the whole town is looking for you.”
I wrap my hand around the ceramic mug, feeling the burn against my skin. “It wasn’t planned. It just happened.”
“Get control of your shit before you get her killed, Timber.”
“Go to sleep, bro. You’re crabby. Even with the treated windows to keep out the ill effects of the sun.”
“I don’t sleep. I rest with my eyes open,” Finnegan informs me.
“Have you tried a sleep mask?” I ask, sipping my tea.
“Very amusing.”
“Thanks.”
The stare down continues.
I’m the first to blink, of course. I don’t have a defense of how reckless I was last night. After months of stalking Cherry, I just could not be away from her, not even for one night.
I finally say what needs to be said. “Thanks for bringing Cherry home last night. You know, after the full shift.”
Finnegan points an index finger at me.
“That’s two nights in a row you cornered her. If you keep this up, you’re going to do something you regret.”
“Too late. I’m in love with her.”
Finnegan freezes with his mug halfway to his mouth. “Tell me you didn’t bite her.”
“I didn’t bite her.”
“Thank the devil.”
“But I might’ve nipped her a little bit.”
“You didn’t break the skin, did you?”
I shake my head, swallowing down the rest of my tea.
“See that you don’t.”
My friend dumps his tea in the sink and lopes off to bed. “Make sure you shower before you get your wet dog stink all over my guest bed. And wash my car if you use it to get home. That dirt road you live on always leaves it filthy.”
That’s Finnegan’s version of letting me know I can sleep it off here at his house. As crash pads go, I could do worse. The concrete midcentury structure might as well be a bunker, complete with an impenetrable fence to keep nosy neighbors at bay.
I do what I’m told and take a long, hot shower in the guest bathroom. But I can’t sleep.
I’ve got too much to think about.
About noon, I take Finnegan’s Porsche into town and drive to Cherry’s house, where I fully expected to find her.
Then I remember it’s Sunday, the day she usually spends at her grandmother’s house.
As I head back to the car, I’m not looking forward to another trek through the woods. When I drive down Main Street, I’m caught by surprise as I see Cherry going into the candle shop.
Without thinking twice, I grab a tray of coffee drinks from the nearby coffee shop on my way to the candle store.
