Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
K AYLA
The diner is unusually quiet the whole morning, and time moves at a snail’s pace.
I yawn half the morning because I haven’t slept well.
Obviously. I played fake scenarios in my head.
All. Night. Long. Like, what if I said that thing differently.
Or this thing with a smile. Or if I pushed my butt against him, what would have happened?
I think the last one bothers me the most. I sigh, shake my head, and go to clean up—at least I’ll be busy with something.
I’m mechanically wiping tables, completely checked out, when a high-pitched yell comes from outside.
It sounds like a damn dying banshee, or at least that’s how I would have pictured one sounding.
I wipe my hand across my forehead and see Alicia sitting on the bench across the street from the diner.
She holds a laptop on her knees and is typing energetically.
I’d say a little too energetically. One might say furiously .
And then I see why. Five feet from her is the Wicked Witch of Little Hope, Ashley the Bitch herself. Even from here, I can hear what she’s yelling.
“You need to tell him that you lied! You hear me? Go tell him now !” She stomps her foot in her high stilettos.
Very well-presented lady, as I’ve mentioned before.
Justin likes them classy. Though right now, she’s a little less of a lady—or as Freya would say, she got some Dorian on her face, though I’m still not convinced I understand the meaning of that.
I picture a much different thing of Dorian’s that can end up on her face.
“Alicia, you need to talk to him!” She keeps tapping her foot on the asphalt.
Alicia doesn’t pay her any attention and just keeps on typing.
“I see it’s time to put our protective amulets out.” Marina walks to me, and we both watch the unraveling.
I chuckle. “Yeah, looks that way.”
“Aren’t they friends?” There’s doubt in her voice, and I know what she means.
Alicia’s so different from them, but Ashley’s always around her, trying to get her to join the coven.
Marina and I know Ashley doesn’t do friends; she does acquaintances who suit her in the moment.
Our windows face Main Street, which means we see a lot .
A good chunk of drama unfolds in front of our eyes.
We should sell popcorn for the occasional shows.
I wonder what she’s talking about now, though. Might have been some fallout among the wandering vaginas… or maybe Justin finally had a talk with her .
Please, let him believe me. For his own sake.
“I think they were,” I say with a shrug, though neither of us believes it.
Marina leans on the pillar and crosses her arms over her generous chest. There’s never much going on in Little Hope, so any and all drama is considered entertainment.
I’m just happy it’s not at my expense this time.
I almost turn around to keep cleaning when I hear Ashley’s loud voice.
“You think you’re so special? A little damaged bird ,” she mocks the last part with a pretend pout.
“Everybody thinks you’re so cute and innocent, huh?
But we both know the truth, don’t we?” She laughs.
“That you spread your legs for anyone and enjoy the ride. Like you’ve done on a few occasions before that, huh. ”
Oh no, no, no. She did not just say that!
I look at Alicia—she smacks her laptop closed, her jaw working.
“What’s she talking about?” Marina’s accent is thicker, anxious after catching on to what Ashley may have meant. Nobody knew what had happened to Alicia. I only found out when Justin told me. And now everyone will be wondering what Ashley meant. It’s a small town.
“I’ll be right back.” I drop the towel on the table and storm out.
The closer I get, the more prominent Alicia’s tears become.
I can see them running down her beautiful, angelic face.
But Ashley just can’t freakin’ stop. “What did you tell him, Alicia? What? Why the hell didn’t you just keep your mouth shut?
You don’t even know what you’re talking about! ” she shrieks.
“Hey!” I storm up to her, positioning my body between them. “Why the hell can’t you keep your mouth shut, huh? Didn’t drink enough infant blood this morning?”
“Oh, look at that! The savior is here. The trailer trash in all her glory.” She sneers and keeps tapping her foot. “Get the fuck out of here, or I’ll tell everybody what you did.”
“Really?” I ask, my voice flat. I quirk my brow, channeling my best Dwayne the Rock Johnson. “What is there that everyone still doesn’t know?”
That shuts her up, and I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. When she finally gets her wits together, she yells in my face. “She told Justin I slept with this… this… trailer trash!” She spits the last word out like it’s poison in her mouth.
“You mean Mark?” I ask, and she hums. “Oh, she didn’t tell. I did.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m surprised nobody else did.”
“You?” she screeches again, and I wince. I swear she can bring a UFO down with that high-pitched frequency. “I knew you always wanted him for yourself!” She jumps closer and presses her long nail into my chest. I slowly look down and then look up.
“I strongly recommend taking your damn hand off me,” I say through clenched teeth.
She must see something in my eyes because she drops her hand like it’s been burned.
A wise choice, as I’m not known for my fancy upbringing, and living in a trailer park can teach a person a thing or two about survival.
“I always knew it,” she hisses in my face. “You look at him like he’s a prime rib you can never afford.”
“Go away, or I’ll make sure everyone knows you accused an innocent man of assault.
How many more are out there? Because of people like you, real victims aren’t taken seriously.
” I take a wide stance, showing that I’m ready to go at it if she is.
She’s best friends with Adison, another one of the witches of Little Hope who loves to spread lies.
Maybe there’s a limit to the number of bad apples the towns around us will take, so they all end up here.
“Oh, trailer trash thinks she’s got some sort of power? ”
“Leave, Ashley. I’m sure there are some virgins out there in need of a blood sacrifice.” I try to stay unaffected, but I cringe inside that she noticed. I thought I was hiding it so well. Her nostrils flare, and she storms away. Her hair flying behind her in a perfectly silky wave.
“She’s right; you’re pathetic with your puppy eyes for Justin.” Comes a hiss from behind me, and I turn around in surprise. “I didn’t need your help.” Alicia grabs her laptop and stands up. “Stay away from me and my brother. You’re bad news.”
I stand there dumbfounded as she almost runs to her car. When I finally pick my jaw up from the ground, I walk back to the diner.
Marina meets me with a frown. “None of the good deeds go unpunished.”
“That’s not the saying.”
“It is mine.” She shrugs and walks to the kitchen.
Indeed, she’s right. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. My road was paved such a long time ago that no amount of good or bad deeds will sway the way. My dear sister made sure of it.
By the time I’m done processing what the hell happened, it’s almost two o’clock, and my feet are already hurting.
For such a small town, we sure have a lot of people dining in.
I clean the tables and refill the waters and coffee for customers before pouring myself a cup.
Just when I take my first sip, the door opens, and Justin walks in.
A cloud of fury follows him, and I’m preparing for battle.
Sure, it felt like we had a breakthrough yesterday, but I don’t know what to expect today.
“What did you say to her?” He grinds his teeth so hard I can almost hear it .
And we’re back to square one. I sigh. “I just told her to mind her own business.”
“Why would you do that? She has enough shit to deal with!” His raised voice is full of disappointment.
“What the hell, Justin? I don’t give a flying crap if she has stuff on her plate. I got my own stuff too! The only thing I told her was to leave Alicia alone!” I almost yell at him. The show started, and the only thing the regulars in the diner are missing is the popcorn.
He stumbles back. “What are you talking about?”
“No, what are you talking about? I thought we were past this already. Stop blaming me for everything!” I smack the counter with my palm for good measure.
“I’m talking about Alicia. What did you tell her?” His voice evens a little.
“What?” Now it’s my turn to be confused. “I didn’t say a word to her, but she sent me on my merry way when I told Ashley to leave her alone.”
Justin’s shoulders sag. He wipes his face with his hand and groans. “Fuck.” I wait to hear what else he has to say because I’m tired of defending myself when I’m not at fault. “Mom called me and said Alicia came home in tears and cried that you know about her secret and now, the whole town knows.”
“She’s right; the whole town knows because Ashley stood right there,” I point to the bench where the previous event unfolded, “and yelled about it for the whole town to hear.”
“Fuck. Fuck!” he says louder.
“Yeah, fuck indeed. Now, since you don’t have a valid reason to rage at me anymore, can you leave? You scared all our customers.” I’m hurt, and I’m tired. I’m so very- very tired. But our customers aren’t scared; they’re excited. Bloodthirsty bastards.
He presses the heels of his palms into his eye sockets. Looks painful if you ask me. Press harder. “Kayla,” he says quietly.