Page 93 of Feverburn

She popped out a hip with an exasperated fling of her arm. “What was it all for if a manstillcame between us? What was the point?”

I stepped closer to her. “You got to move on, Kaylee. You found someone new. You got this beautiful life handed to you, and what was I left with? The same shitty barista job and a drafty loft?”

Her lips pursed thin.“I think you forget I was stalked and assaulted by Tyler.”

“You were gone when his new bitch chucked a latte at me! Besides, I’m sick of squeezing around yourperfectlittle life.”

“I’m trying to carve out a good life here in Pine Bluff. You can’thateme for it!”

Tearsstungmy eyes as the truth rolled up my throat.“But I dohateyou for it! I was the girlfriend,”I shoved my finger at her,“you were just the fucking bet!”

She gasped, rearing back.

“You got everything! You got to run away from what happened with Tyler. You got to prance into a great guy’s arms right after, and then you ran from him, and hestillchased your ass. And what did I get? Hmm?”I tilted my head, walking closer to her.“I got nothing.”

Her nostrils flared with a disdainful snort.“Then why did you befriend me? Why did you open Silver Springs with me?”

“Because I felt guilty. I so badly wanted to be as good as you. If I had caught my boyfriend with another woman, I would’ve hated her. I would’ve never sought her out. What you did made me feel like I needed to be as good as you. Allperfectand kind and understanding. But I’m not!”

She rolled her eyes at my confession.

Venom was now in my gaze and tone as I continued,“And for months, I’ve had to sit here and watch you two. I’ve denied myself from being with Carson. I can’t win either way. So, you know what, fuck this, and fuck you!”

I walked out the back door with a manic chuckle. A flood light greener than it was white lit the back parking lot. Behind me, I heard a low voice.“Rosie girl…”

Viviane was smoking a joint on a bench behind her store. She wore a flowy white dress with a thick hunter-green cardigan with white stars on the breast. Jingly anklets rang when she crossed her skinny legs.

“Viviane, what are you doing here so late?”

“Inventory, it’s a bitch.”She puffed out thick smoke and offered me a drag, but I declined. I’m worthless when I’m high. Viv and I exchanged a gauging look before she continued, her voice trembling with age and the daintiest smoker’s cough.“I’m going to guess they found you knocking boots with how you just stormed out of there.”

“Yep. They walked in with Carson bending me over the desk.”

She let out an amused laugh and blew rings with the smoke.“Good for you. You go find your man, and I will hold down the other two for a smutty summit.”

“A smutty summit?”I asked, trying not to laugh, wanting to keep my righteous anger.

She flicked ash in a flowerpot of colorful chrysanthemums.“Yep, a peace talk after being found with your panties around your ankles. You need a mediator; I am stoned to the bone and nosy as fuck. I’m just the girl for the job.”

She got to her feet, which werebareas always, and opened her back door. Over her shoulder, she added,“Oh, and be a doll and get me Cheez-its and a Mountain Dew. I’m going to get somewickedmunchies in a bit.”

Then I fetched snacks and my lumbersnack to talk about my recent indiscretions.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I drove back to town with too many thoughts in my head. I saw the lights were on at Silver Springs, so I pulled up front. Before I could evenknock, Rosie opened the door with her eyebrows pulled together in a way I had never seen before.

“You came back,”she whispered.

“You never left,”I held her face to sweep a thankfulkissacross her lips.

“I’m so sorry everything happened with Whitney, and now I’ve put you in this situation with your brother. You were right. We should’ve told him.”Her lips scrunched to her nose in discomfort.“I feel awful. How can I make this better?”

“Nothing, you did nothing wrong. I will talk to my brother. We will figure this out.”

She looked behind her shoulder towards the crystal side of the shop.“He’s still here with Kaylee. I caught Viv smoking in the back, and she will be our mediator.”

I fought a chuckle.“Did you get her Cheez-its?”

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