Chapter 4
October
Franklin was behind the bar, slicing lemons in preparation for the night. Saturdays were normally busy, but it was stormy outside, so he wasn't sure if there would be a lot of customers.
"Chann toppled over a crate of beers in the storage room." Elvin was grinning from ear to ear.
Franklin groaned. "How much was ruined?"
"Only a couple of bottles, but he dropped it right on his big toe. It's turning blue." Elvin cackled like an evil witch.
Shaking his head, Franklin went back to slicing lemons. Shifters healed fast, so the toe would most likely be okay before the real crowd trickled in.
Someone moved through the sitting area, and Franklin looked up, expecting to see Chann hobbling toward the bar, spitting and cursing, but it was Axar. He was sweating, his hair wet at the tips, his cheeks flushed, and he was panting. Despite the wind, it looked as if he'd run here.
He was wearing a thick, green, long-sleeved sweater but no jacket. A Christmas sweater with gingerbread cookies all over and the text: Tech support, I'm here to delete your cookies.
Franklin dropped the knife and grabbed a glass, which he filled with ice water and held out to him before he could say anything.
Axar kept panting, too out of breath to form words, but he nodded and forced a smile before downing half the glass.
"You look hot." Franklin wanted to reach over the bar and feel his forehead. Could psychics overheat?
"Sweaty, but I had to take the chance when it arose, and I have nothing underneath, so I can't strip."
He hadn't so much as pushed the sleeves up, but Franklin's mind presented him with an image of Axar walking around shirtless. He pushed it away. "Roll up your sleeves."
He couldn't interpret the expression flitting over Axar's face. "No."
Fine. "Drink more water."
Axar did, and it shouldn't please Franklin as much as it did. He forced himself to go back to slicing lemons.
"Have you sliced jalapeno? Everyone likes a good Spicy Margarita."
Franklin stared at him. Spicy Margarita? He didn't think they served Spicy Margarita.
"What did you say?"
Franklin startled at Elvin's voice. He'd forgotten he was there.
"Eh..." Axar looked uncertain, then focused on the empty air next to him, only to give the air a small smile. Franklin chanced a glance at Elvin. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Elvin mirrored Franklin's concern.
"Tequila, jalapeno, cucumber, lemon, and Cointreau. You need to steep the jalapeno and cucumber in tequila for eight to twelve hours." He looked at the empty air again and frowned. "Then strain it."
"What do you know about tequila and Cointreau?" Elvin studied him with suspicion.
Axar widened his eyes. "Nothing. I...eh...I've never had tequila."
"And yet you know how to make a tequila and jalapeno infusion?"
"I don't know how to, but--" He gestured at the air next to him, and Franklin took a deep breath.
"You want to introduce us?" Was it wrong to acknowledge imaginary friends?
Axar didn't reply for a long time, then he lowered his voice into a whisper. "Can you see her?"
Shit. Franklin glanced at Elvin, who made an exaggerated wince.
"No, sorry."
Disappointment overtook Axar's face, then he shrugged. "She's the one who wants to come here all the time, but it's hard to get answers."
Right. "Hard how?" He looked at Elvin again.
"Ghosts don't act like normal people. They talk when they want to and ignore you when they feel like it."
Ghosts. Was it different to believe you were talking to ghosts than to believe you had an invisible friend? Shit, he didn't know how to handle this.
"Did you sneak away from your mom?" Better to try to get some clarity about the dynamic of their relationship than dive deeper into the ghost thing.
"Neoma nagged me until I gave in. She kept a lookout and told me when to move and when not to." He shrugged. "She'll notice soon."
"And come here?"
Axar drank some more water, avoiding Franklin's gaze. Then he groaned loudly. "They're here."
"Who?"
"My family. They've parked outside."
How did they know to come here?
Axar's shoulders slumped, then he glared at the air next to him. "I'm sorry I can't run faster. I'm doing the best I can."
"What do you mean you can't run--" His words cut off when the same three people walked in with determined steps. The woman's eyes were blazing with fury.
"Stop this nonsense." She glared at Axar and waved at the man next to her to grab him. He did, and exactly like last time, Axar went where he was guided without any signs of struggle.
"Mother, I'm an adult. I get to--"
"Shut up."
The tone in her voice caused tingles to wash over Franklin's skin. Axar's lips sealed, and a new wave of unease washed over Franklin. Was she forcing him to follow her orders, or had she conditioned him to? Either way, it wasn't how a grown man acted around his mother.
The look Axar gave Franklin as he exited the bar had him ready to rush after them. It was filled with trepidation.
"Fuck." Elvin rubbed a hand over his mouth. "That was...It was..."
Franklin nodded, not sure what it was, but good it was not.
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