Page 64 of Heal Me

After escorting Charlotte home, I teleport to Biloxi. Opening the door to the less than sanitary outdoor men’s room, I walk the length of the dock to inspect my boat. Reaching my boat slip, I stop short. Grabbing my phone, I message Turek.

Me: Cleanup aisle 1. Coordinates 30.39094160 latitude, -88.87098690 longitude.

Turek appears standing next to me. “Tada,” he says, holding his hands out like a game show model displaying a toaster oven. My boat is now covered in little glittery red hearts and cupids with arrows, the name changed to Pristine Condition.

Not amused, I shove him off the dock. He surfaces and then pulls himself out of the water.

“Evening.” I smile at a couple walking by. Perfect timing, as Turek won’t be able to retaliate.

“Oh no, you took a tumble,” the woman says sympathetically to a sopping wet Turek. “The first time my husband was backing our boat into our slip, he sent me flying,” she tells us as she cuts her eyes to her husband.

“And I’ll never live it down.” He sighs.

“My, what an interesting decal job,” the woman says, admiring my boat.

“She’s a beauty,” Turek agrees.

“Yes,” the woman says skeptically. “Well, you gentlemen have a good evening,” she says, and the couple walks on.

“What? You said pristine condition,” Turek tells me. “And cleanup aisle 1 is top level priority. You know that,” he says, moving so quickly, I don’t see him until I’m falling into the water.

Surfacing, I pull myself onto the dock, wiping the water from my eyes. “You defacing my boat is top level priority.”

“No, top level priority is why you’ve been hiding away the new lady love, Charlotte, from your brothers. Do tell.”

“You really have to ask why?” I eye him, and then my boat.

His phone chimes and he fishes it out of his pocket. “You’d better be glad this case is waterproof,” he gripes. “Ah, another cleanup aisle 1. Here’s hoping it’s actually an emergency this time.”

“Wait! Clean up my boat!” I shout, but he’s already gone.

* * *

Charlotte

“How was your trip?” Aubry asks, giving me a little kitchen magic tutorial at her, Vivian, and Callie’s apartment. Vivian actually has a cauldron in this kitchen. This baby witch wants to grow up to be Vivian.

“It was great. My dad hasn’t exactly given up hope that I’ll change my mind about med school, but we didn’t fight over it this time. So that’s an improvement. Plus, Gabe was there to mesmerize my dad with talk of football and boats.”

“That’s some man magic right there.”

“Yep.”

“What are some fun things you did?”

“Yes, we want to hear all about the dungeon and bondage play. Was I right or was I right?” Vivian walks into her kitchen with her black cat, Elvis, in her arms. Doogie is shy but a very loving cat once he warms up to you. I wouldn’t describe Elvis as shy, but then again I wouldn’t describe him as loving. I have a healthy respect for Elvis.

“We do not want to hear all about that, and I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you were not right,” Aubry informs Vivian.

“We had a great trip. Thank you for the suggestions.”

“Don’t encourage her. And don’t you have poker this evening?” Aubry says, eyeing Vivian’s gold Tunica T-shirt.

“Fill me in on the deets later,” she tells me as Elvis hops down from her arms. “I’ll be out late,” she tells Aubry as she grabs her keys and a pack of cigarettes, walking out the door.

“Don’t ever ride with Vivian unless you want to smell like an ashtray,” Aubry informs me.

“I didn’t even know she smokes.”

---