He stood there and had me taking all the tables by myself. Which I was fine with. And luckily the place didn’t get too busy.
The only time he moved from the register was when he asked me to follow him to the front door.
“Tell me he’s here for you,” Eddie said.
“Who?”
Eddie opened the door and pointed.
I gasped when I saw Wes across the street, sitting on his motorcycle.
“Yeah. Wes is here for me. I must have told him the wrong time I was done.”
Liar.
“Okay,” Eddie said. “Just making sure.”
“Eddie, are you okay?” I asked.
“Fine. Just fine.”
“I hope the bitch drowns in her own tears.”
I turned my head and couldn’t believe my eyes.
It was Kaci and Nelle.
Walking up the wheelchair ramp to the diner.
“Here, let me get the door for you two,” I called out.
They stopped and froze right in place.
“Aira,” Kaci said.
“Aren’t you missing someone?” I asked. “Or is she still drowning in her own tears?”
Nelle looked at Kaci then at me. “We’ll go eat somewhere else.”
“No you won’t,” I said. “You’re going to sit right in here and eat.”
I gave a head nod to Wes across the street.
When they realized they were cornered no matter what, they both reluctantly walked into the diner.
Amazing how when they found out I was working here they were so quick to show up and take a picture of me. So they could mess with me. Thinking they had all the power and control because of Mika.
Well, fuck you, bitches. You’re mine now.
* * *
I carried the plates of food to the table and dropped them so pieces of their salads scattered across the table. A cherry tomato rolled to the floor and I pointed at it.
“Eat that,” I said to Kaci.
“No.”
“I said to fucking eat it, bitch,” I said in a low voice.
I put my hands to the table and looked between the two of them.
“We just want to go,” Nelle said. “That’s all. Just go.”
“You will when you’re done eating,” I said. “And when Kaci eats that tomato off the floor. You’re both dogs anyway. So eat off the floor like a dog would.”
Kaci slowly reached for the tomato. She put it on a napkin and looked up at me. “Why?”
“Because I said so, bitch,” I whispered as I leaned down toward her. “Because you think you’ve got something on me but you don’t. Everyone thought it was fun to make fun of me because of my secret, right? And now look what happened. Look at the secrets exposed, Kaci.”
Kaci hurried and tossed the tomato into her mouth and chewed.
It was actually kind of gross.
I had no idea how many people had walked on the diner floor today.
But oh well.
“I’ll be back in a few,” I said. “Don’t fucking go anywhere.”
“Aira,” Nelle said. “Did you spit in our food?”
I laughed. “No. I’m a bitch, but not like that.”
I kept the two of them on their toes until I finally told them it was safe to leave. I enjoyed going back to the table and watching them stiffen. They were worried about their drinks and food. Honestly, I didn’t do a thing to their drinks or food. I had no intention of it. They were freaking themselves out. That made it that much better.
See, that’s why I didn’t need to spread the rumor about Mika. I had other ways of handling my business.
I blocked the table one last time.
“Before you go,” I said. “You two see anyone near my locker? Or my car? Or with a brick?”
“A brick?” Kaci asked. “What does that mean?”
She was telling the truth. At least I thought so.
“You see anyone near my shit, you tell me,” I said. “And you hear of anyone wanting to mess with me, you tell me. Got that?”
Nelle swallowed hard. “Mika’s our best friend. That won’t change.”
“That’s good. I can’t wait to take you all down then.”
I backed away from the table and Kaci hurried to get out of the booth.
I sidestepped and she cringed.
“You forgot to tip me,” I said.
“We did,” Nelle said. “Look…”
There was some money on the table.
I shook my head. “That’s not enough. My service was amazing.”
“What are you trying to prove?” Kaci asked.
I got even closer to her. “I want to show you what a cunt I can be if you push me. And I dare you to push me some more. You think I need this job? I don’t. I’m just here. So if you don’t fill that table with cash I’m going to take your pretty little face and smash it against the front window.”
“Here, watch,” Nelle said.
She dug through her bag and threw some pretty big bills on the table.
“Thanks for coming in,” I said as I stepped back. “Hope to see you again soon.”
Kaci rushed away from me to the counter. Nelle went right to the door.
Kaci left the bill and money on the counter and took off.
They were out the door and gone.
I grabbed the money off the table and walked it to the kitchen.
“Hey, Bratly, want a bonus?” I asked.
“What’s that, Aira doll?” he asked.
I put the money down and nodded. “That’s yours.”
“Mine?”
“Yeah. I found it. It’s for you. Our secret. Get yourself a new surfboard or something.”
“What?” he asked.
I started to laugh. “Hey. Did I tell you I started surfing?”
“Oh yeah? That’s great. I love to hear that. How’s it going?”
“I keep falling. The waves keep kicking my butt.”
“That’s what they do, Aira doll,” Bratly said. “They never stop either. Eventually you’ll get them back. You become best friends. It’s how it works.”
I thought about Wes.
I nodded.
I left the kitchen and took off my apron and put it on the counter.
“Eddie. I quit.”
His head snapped around. “You quit?”
“Hope you don’t mind. I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“Okay then. Are you feeling okay, Aira?”
“I’ll be fine.”
I walked through the front door of the diner and Wes was still there.
He was smoking a cigarette.
I showed him my keys and waved.
I watched as he smiled and nodded.
There was something so hot about the silent conversations between us.
I walked back through the diner one last time so I could get my bag and be gone for good.
I said goodbye to Bratly but didn’t tell him I quit.
I listened to him hum like he always did.
When I grabbed my bag, a piece of paper fell out.
I bent over and saw what was written on it.
be ready cunt
im coming for you now
I curled my hand around the paper and threw it out.
My jaw was already quivering.
In my head, I ran through the list of names again.
But it felt endless.
For every name I felt I could forget about, there was another added.
I ran out of the diner to my car and Wes was already there waiting.
Without hesitation, I threw my arms around him.
“Whoa, darling…”
“There was another note,” I said.
Wes hugged me tighter. “Fuck. Okay. I didn’t see anyone here. Except those two morons.”
“I took care of them,” I said. “Someone snuck into the back of the diner.”
I broke away from Wes and looked up at him.
He gently stroked my face. “I�
��m following you home, darling.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod.
But Wes wasn’t done yet.
“And, Aira… I’m staying the night.”
Chapter 18
Aira
I wasn’t sure how he’d pull it off and I wasn’t going to ask questions.
My eyes glanced up at the mirror over and over, watching the single light of his motorcycle right behind me.
It kind of turned me on the way he was being so protective. But the reason why… that was really scary.
For a second I thought about telling someone.
But I didn’t know what the police would do. Or could do.
I had thrown everything out that was sent to me. And finding my car door open meant nothing. What was scratched into my locker could have been anyone. The only real thing that happened was the brick through the truck windows.
My mind threw images of police detectives wiping the brick for fingerprints. Opening some kind of investigation into finding who was bothering me. It seemed really crazy. But then something crazier hit me.
My house.
The fire.
It was done on purpose.
It was arson.
My heart started to race faster as I pulled up to Julia’s house.
Wes was right behind me.
I got out of my car and hurried toward him.
His hands slid to my face with ease, like they were meant to be there forever.
“What is it?” he whispered.
“My house. Someone burned down my house, Wes. And now this is happening here. What if it’s the same person? What if they’re after me… because…”
Wes pulled me close. “We’ll figure it out, darling. I promise. I’m not leaving you.”
“How?” I asked.
“Don’t worry about it. Just go inside. Go to sleep. I’ll be here all night. Watching.”
“Why, Wes? Why are you doing this for me?”
“Because this is my fault,” he confessed.
“Your fault?”
“I tried to warn you about this town but then I brought you into it anyway. I didn’t stay away from you. I couldn’t stay away from you. I love you.”
“Oh, Wes…”
“Go,” he said.
I waited for a kiss but this time one didn’t come.
I walked to the house alone.
It felt like a ten mile walk in cold weather.
Which wasn’t reality at all.
The reality was that it was a warm night on the beach. The beach breeze throwing the smell of the ocean around. The sound of the waves still crashing behind Julia’s house.
When I opened the door, Julia was at the kitchen counter with music playing from her phone.
I didn’t recognize the song.
“Want some hummus, Aira?” she asked.
She was giddy.
I saw the glass next to her.
I grinned.
“You’re drunk,” I said.
“No,” Julia said. “Far from it. I’m just… eating hummus.”
“Since when do you eat hummus?” I asked.
“I always eat hummus.” She snorted. “What a word. Hummus. Like… a song…for us… you know. Hum. Us. Like we’re humming. But it’s food.”
“Are you high right now?” I asked.
“No,” Julia said. “I don’t do that stuff. I’m a responsible adult.”
I laughed. “Yes you are. I, uh, sort of quit my job tonight.”
“Good for you.”
“Good for me?” I asked.
“Yeah. You’re young. Beautiful. Rich. You don’t need that place. You don’t need this place either. This house. Or town. And you don’t need Weslee Jackson.”
“Why do you hate him so much?” I asked.
“I don’t like the word hate,” Julia said.
“But yet you hate him,” I said.
“That entire place… and family… I mean, Jett isn’t family, but close enough.”
“Ah,” I said with a nod. “This is about Jett. Of course it is.”
“Shhh,” Julia said, closing her eyes and putting a finger to her lips. She lifted the container of hummus and her glass of what I assume was wine. “I’m going to take my meal to my room.”
“You do that,” I said, sticking my nose up in the air. “Call room service if you need more.”
Julia laughed. “Are you my room service?”
“Nope. I’m going to bed.”
“No funny business tonight,” she said.
“No business at all,” I said. “Store is closed.”
“I don’t know if that’s sexual, but you shouldn’t compare your body to a store.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was a joke. Stop being such a mom.”
“Hey. Someone has to look after you.”
“Julia. Thank you for having me here. You… you sort of inspire me. Not sort of. You do. You inspire me. You’re a good person.”
Julia blinked fast. “I just… whew. Funny how things come together. I know what it’s like to be near Weslee’s family. And it’s dangerous. At the same time I know what it’s like to be near your family. Maybe not dangerous, but my god, it’s weird. So fucking weird.”
“Yes,” I said. “Weird.”
“Goodnight, Aira. If you need anything, you know where I’ll be.”
I smiled and watched Julia stumble and shuffle her way to her bedroom.
I snuck back to the front door and opened it, looking for Wes.
He wasn’t out front.
I rushed through the house to the backdoor and looked out to the deck.
At first, I didn’t see Wes.
But then came the glow of his cigarette.
He was down on the beach.
Walking back and forth.
He was really going to stay the night.
Stay awake.
Watch everything for me.
I bit my bottom lip.
Yeah, I knew everything about him and his life was dangerous.
But I loved him and everything about his life.
* * *
It’s the smoke, Aira.
It’s back again.
You need to wake up and see it.
You need to escape.
This is your chance.
I’m ready this time for it all. I know where the smoke is. Where the fire is. I’m not drunk either. God, I swear I’m never touching alcohol again. Oh, and when I get out of here, I’m going to find Jesse and I’m going to crush his balls with the heel of my right foot. I mean it too.
Fucking cheating on me?
That isn’t going to fly with me.
Not anymore.
I climb out of the bed and the smoke isn’t bothering me this time.
I take a deep breath, inhaling it.
Yeah, it burns.
But so what?
It won’t kill me.
I wave my hands and the smoke clears out.
The smoke is afraid of me.
I own the fucking smoke now.
The smoke can choke on my breath.
Motherfucker.
I walk through the room with ease.
I touch the doorknob.
Shit.
It’s really hot.
But I’m able to keep touching it.
I turn it.
It turns like it should.
I rip open the door and am ready to take on the flames.
I’ll fight them with my last breath.
I’ll…
The flames are waiting.
But not for me.
The flames already claimed their victim.
It’s Wes.
Wes is on fire.
“No!” I scream as I jump at him.
That was the moment my eyes opened.
My hands were curled around the sheets as I hurried to sit up.
I blinked fast and tried to calm my breathing.
I had never had a dream like that one before.
My d
reams - nightmares - were always the same. It was always me in my old bedroom, struggling to get through the smoke, heat, and fire. It always ended with me ready to take my last breath, succumbing to the flames, and that’s when I’d wake up.
But this…
“Wes,” I whispered.
I threw the covers off my body and ran to the window.
The beach was quiet and dark.
I reached for my phone and saw it was two in the morning.
I hurried out of my room and went to the back door.
And there was Wes.
Standing at the corner of the deck, facing the opposite direction.
I watched his head move left to right.
I couldn’t believe he was still there. And he was still awake.
Keeping his promise to me.
My hand grabbed for the door and I slid it open.
There was no sneaking out there without Wes hearing the door.
He quickly turned around, hands tightened up into fists.
He relaxed when he saw me.
“Aira,” he said.
“You’re still here,” I whispered.
“I’m not leaving, darling. I’m not fucking leaving.”
I shut the door behind me and walked toward Wes.
I was barefoot.
Wearing the hoodie I stole from his bedroom.
Nothing under that hoodie, and only a pair of panties on the lower half of my body.
My heart began to race but in a very different way.
He stood in the corner of the deck like a giant. In a black t-shirt that blended into the night but I could still see the way he filled it out. The bottom of his shirt was hooked above the top of his jeans. On purpose or not, I didn’t know, but I did know what it made me feel.
I reached for him while I was still too far away to reach him.
His hands touched my sides before I touched his face.
We paused…
… one…
… two…
I was going to give myself to three to really consider what was about to happen.
I never got to three. Wes pulled me toward him.
In a fast and dangerous move, he turned, lifted me up, and sat me on the railing.
My legs wrapped around his body as his hands moved down to the bottom of the hoodie. We stared at each other, not even kissing, as he started to climb his strong hands against my warm skin.
I shivered and sighed.
When his fingertips grazed over my nipples, I bit my lip and groaned.
HIDDEN CREEK DARKNESS: a hidden creek high novel Page 16