Page 5 of Feverburn

I held up my hands.“Wait, stop!”

The raccoon reached the tub’s edge and crawled up the shower curtain like Rambo. I inched forward as it padded along the pole before it launched directly at me. The woman squealed as I caught it like a football to my chest, grabbing it by the scruff like a cat to hold it away from my body. Purple glittery water dripped from its tail as its little paws clawed the air in a futile scramble.

“Oh my god! What the fuck?”she yelled, slumping further in the tub as I leaned over her, shutting the window to prevent the bathroom bandit from returning.

I booked it outside with the critter, plopping him by my dumpster in the far corner of the lot as Kiszka howled in my truck the entire time. Returning to the store, I heard her sobbing as I washed my hands. I wanted to go back upstairs to check on her, but I didn’t want her to feel all exposed since she was naked.

“Are you okay?”I yelled up the stairway.

“Yes,”she called back with a sniffle.

Yanking the damn leash off the hook, I opened the back door to leave,“I will fix your door tomorrow.”

The jilted woman said nothing in response. My presence made everything worse, as always.

I knew this was a mistake. Letting her live above my store was my attempt to mend things with my brother. Harley and I were estranged since he dumped the family store on me, forcing me to take over alone while he went to college. When he returned to town with his fancy degrees and forest ranger job, he acted better than me, so we had even more of a rift. Time doesn’t heal all wounds. And we haven’t been the same since.

Thank god for Kaylee. She took the edge off my brother being a complete asshole, so when she asked if her friend could live above my store, I felt inclined to say yes. My sister shot me daggers behind Kaylee’s head as she pitched the idea, which helped, too.

Driving back to my cabin, the woman flashed in my mind. Herstrikingred hair piled on top of her head, the blush tracing her round cheekbones from the steam, herpaleskin covered in tattoos disappearing into the dark water. Even when screaming, she was cute, which was impressive.

Thoughts about her swirled as I slid into bed that night. I heard she and Kaylee were in alovetriangle with some creep back in Boston. I remember thinking it was classy that they befriended each other instead of fighting over some idiot. But I blew off the rest of the details. Now, I wish I had listened more closely.

What was her name? Why would she ever agree to move to a small town like Pine Bluff?

I also chastised myself for already scaring her away. The notion that above me was a woman living her life while I went about mine seemed like a sick joke and adangerousdistraction.

I was done with distractions. I had been properly distracted enough in mylifetime.

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Chapter Three

I woke up multiple times throughout the night, dreaming of a man barging into my loft. Each time I’d jerk awake, I’d stare at the door’s remnants, reminding myself I was safe.

The guy who hulked into my loft like a SWAT team member must be Carson. I was too busy screaming and shielding my tits from being chomped by a raccoon to introduce myself. Watching him clutch the critter like a damn handbag while leaving, mumbling in a language that wasn’t English, felt like a fucking fever dream. I would have assumed I hallucinated the entire exchange if it weren't for the mess.

Wanting toescapethe shitshow, I texted Kaylee that I was heading to the shop. Not knowing the vibe yet, Iplayedit safe with a black long-sleeved shirt, jeans that made my butt look good (if I do say so myself), and plum Doc Marten boots. Then, I stacked my usual amber, bronzite, carnelian, and jasper beaded bracelets on my left wrist and slid on some rings.

I hadn’t put much effort into my appearance over the last three months. Staring down at my cosmetic bag today was like seeing an old acquaintance I couldn’t recall the name of at a party. Dabbing some concealer, dusting some loose powder, sweeping on mascara, and winging some eyeliner was all I could muster. I left my hair down, fighting the temptation to put it in a bun.

I felt ridiculous leaving because I had no solid door to pull shut. The mystery man promised to fix it, and I had to take his word for it. Weighing my options, I decided I’d rather feel like a damsel than have an awkward phone call with Frankie this soon.

Kaylee parked her burgundy Jeep in front of our shop and hopped out wearing funky tie-dye harem pants, a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt, and a flowy black cardigan since it was still chilly. She topped off the look with lime earrings shaped like alien heads, like an eccentric art teacher. She had a certain glow about her after leaving Boston. It was probably from Harley and all the sexcapades they had in their cabin. I had to shove that thought from my mind with a hard blink.

“How did last night go?”she asked, digging around in her purse.

Iforceda smile.“I got mostly unpacked already.”I wasn’t ready to admit what happened. The last thing I needed as a newcomer was an embarrassing story. Shit, people already knew Kaylee walked in on me getting railed in a coffee shop.“This was an ice cream parlor?”I asked, diverting the attention away from me.

“Yep, the tourists loved ice cream so much they moved to a new place witha drive-thru and more outdoor seating.”

I unlocked the door with my keys.“And it sounds like everyone has been okay with a witchy shop in town?”

“Absolutely! This place is surprisingly open-minded for a small town. I think the promise of coffee helped,”Kaylee shrugged.

Our shop was two-sided, separated by agorgeousbrick wall that was distressed with years of history. Closer to theentrance, the brick wall gave way to an archway that led to the smaller space we’d be using for the crystal shop with empty round tables and display cabinets ready for inventory. The lighting overhead wasn’t a buzzing fluorescent. Instead, we picked warm Edison bulbs to make everything look cozier.

The walls were a beautiful shade of indigo, giving the space a mystical flare. Over the register, a sign hung in Old English font stating; Allshoplifters will be prosecuted by the universal law of fuck around and find out. Unattended children will be fed to Baba Yaga on the next full moon.

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