Page 14 of Heal Me

Charlotte

On our way to New Life Spiritual Center, I keep sneaking peeks at Gabe in my rear view mirror. Now the weird energy I feel around him makes sense—Gabe’s only half-human. A very deep rabbit hole, I tell you.

We arrive at the Center, a sprawling, upscale spiritual retreat. Once checked in, we make the short trek to our private lodge. Entering the room, nerves take over as I wonder about the sleeping arrangements, but Gabe quickly announces, “Ladies, I’ll take the sofa bed in the living room.” I try not to audibly sigh, as the thought of sleeping in the same room with Gabe makes me uncomfortable, along with other feelings I’m not currently in the right headspace to acknowledge, let alone address.

My thoughts are put on hold as the couch slides across the room of its own accord, followed by the coffee table. “Watch your jaw on the floor, it’s gonna get hit by a flying table,” Aubry tells me with laughter in her eyes. I close my mouth so hard my teeth audibly clack. “What are you doing?” She turns to Gabe.

“Looking for runes or other symbols. Just being cautious,” he answers nonchalantly, as if floating furniture is an everyday occurrence.

“Where are your wings?” I blurt out.

“I only break those out on special occasions,” he says, flashing a smile that makes my stomach do little flip-flops.

Damion snorts from Aubry’s mouth, startling me, as I tear my gaze away from Gabe.

“Let’s go ahead and walk to the tower and take a look around,” Aubry announces, having taken back over.

We exit the suite and make our way to the trailhead. Aubry believes someone at the Center is connected with her best friend’s murder. If someone here is involved, I’m glad Gabe’s with us, even if the man does put me on edge. Half man, I correct myself.

The trail opens up, and Gabe and I are now walking side-by-side. My foot catches a root I didn’t see, but Gabe quickly grabs my arm, righting me before I fall. “Thank you.” I look down to see his big hand on my forearm, and jerk my arm away. The stitches came out the other day, leaving a large pink scar in their place.

“Of course,” he answers. If he noticed my sudden erratic behavior, he doesn’t comment.

We keep walking, my arms now wrapped around myself, trying not to shiver. I’m not sure if the goose bumps are a result of the chill, his touch, or the shame of my scar. I have nothing to be ashamed of; my therapist’s drilled this home many times. But understanding it intellectually and believing it are two very different things. A part of me feels soiled. Dirty. Broken. Scarred. And I have the angry pink scar to prove it.

Gabe pulls his fleece over his head and hands it to me. “Here, borrow this. It’s starting to get cold.”

“Thank you,” I say, not bothering to argue with him, even though he’ll be the one cold now. Pulling his fleece over my head, I’m hit by Gabe’s scent. It’s not cologne, but a very masculine smell, mixed with just the faintest hint of something sweet. Trying to pay attention to my steps and not the sexy man beside me, it’s a difficult task. His white T-shirt fits him snugly, showing off his lean yet muscular physique. He glances over, catching me staring at him; quickly, I avert my eyes.

The trail opens up, and we near the observation tower. It’s obviously fire damaged, hence the large barricade blocking it. Aubry sighs but looks resolute. “Okay then, let’s check the meditation hall. Maybe there’s a basement or a trap door.”

“Trap door?” Damion snorts, and I startle at him taking control of Aubry’s mouth. “She watches too much TV.”

“I don’t hear you coming up with a better plan,” she quips, having taken back over. It’s like watching a tennis match with these two. Any other woman I would worry about, but Aubry seems to be handling demonic possession just fine.

“I’m going to take a look around. I’ll meet you ladies back in our room,” Gabe announces and then disappears. Vanishes. Literally, he was here, and now he’s not.

“You get used to supernaturals popping in and out of existence,” Aubry tells me as she glances at me with my mouth agape.

Later, we return to the suite without any information about Maddie, finding Gabe’s already beaten us there. “Any luck?” Aubry asks Gabe.

“No.”

“Alright,” she says, disappointed. “Well, I’m going to get ready for bed.”

I sit on the couch, doing a double take at Gabe’s wardrobe change—he’s now in flannel pajama bottoms and a snug-fitting black T-shirt. It’s a good look on him, but I suspect any look would be a good look on him. “What are you doing?” I ask. He’s crouched by the door, drawing something in white chalk on the hardwood floor.

“Warding the room.”

“Why?” Even this sort of baby witch knows what that means.

“Just being cautious. Nothing to worry about,” he tells me in a reassuring tone.

I want to ask more questions, but Aubry pops her head in. “I’m going to bed. Night, everyone.” She has a far-off look, and I wonder if she and Damion are having a silent conversation. How weird would that be? I try to imagine it, but can’t.

Glancing over to his open duffle next to the couch, I spot a handgun. Having grown up with a southern grandpa who owned several guns, it’s not necessarily the weapon that surprises me, but the reason why Gabe believes he needs it here. “Are you expecting trouble?”

“Nothing to worry about.”

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