Chapter 23
CLEMENTINE
Ever since I replaced my phone, Carl and I share our locations with each other. Knowing where I am keeps him from having a panic attack every ten minutes, and knowing where he is means I don’t have to wander around town, searching for cop cars.
Luckily, today, he’s at the station.
I head there straight from my chat with Neri, Shrimp strolling through the town by my side.
The Folk Haven Police Station is located inside the Town Hall building, an impressive marble construction that acts as the statement piece of Main Street.
I jog up the front steps, eager to share my decision.
Shrimp’s collar jingles as he bounds behind me.
I know Carl will be happy about at least one of my pieces of news.
There are a few people in the entryway, but I don’t need to ask directions from anyone. My teenage years included more than one trip in the back of a cruiser. I half wonder if Carl decided to join the force to make up for the laws I’d broken.
Still, it’s not like I did anything truly horrible. Trespassing. Graffiti. Some light vandalism and underage intoxication.
But for my law-abiding brother, each misstep I made was a blow.
He didn’t yell though. Didn’t berate me or ask the universe why he was stuck taking care of me.
No, he’d just drive me home, quiet heavy between us, and when we were back at the house that used to be our family home, he’d ask, “Can we talk about it?”
And I’d snarl out a, “No!” Then I’d lock myself in my room and muffle my cries under my covers and swear I’d figure my shit out on my own.
But I never did. Not while I was living here anyway. I needed to get out of this town so I could break my self-destructive habits.
A wooden door with a fogged glass window and the words Folk Haven Police sits ajar. I push it the rest of the way open and step into a large room that has multiple desks and a holding cell toward the back.
Carl sits alone at a desk, filling out some paperwork by hand.
I plop into the empty chair next to his station, and he jerks upright, his blink of surprise turning into a smile of welcome. Shrimp sprawls on the tiled floor, as if the walk over here was too much exercise and he needs a nap.
“Clem. Hey. What are you up to?” Carl’s welcoming expression falters. “Why aren’t you with Griffith?”
“I figured since I’m not about to keel over, I could give him a little time off.” I hold my hands up. “No unnecessary risks. Just been wandering around Main Street.”
His shoulders, which had been creeping upward, relax. Then he clears his throat and tries to smile again, though this time, his eyes are sad.
“I know, since you’re healed now, you’re probably thinking about heading out again. But I’m hoping you might stick in Folk Haven for the time being. Because of the hunter and all. I’d rather you have the town at your back if that guy Luke finds you.”
“I was getting tired of Nashville.” I lean back in the seat next to his desk, crossing my ankles. “Folk Haven has a lot going for it. More than safety. I thought I’d give it another try.”
Carl’s eyebrows rise so high that they threaten to blend with his hairline, and I bite back a giggle at his stunned expression.
“You’re staying here?”
“Yep.”
I can tell Carl is doing everything he can to keep his cool. To not show exactly how wildly excited he is at the idea of me remaining close by.
“That’s … that’s great.” He shuffles some papers on his desk, trying to look unconcerned. But I can see the smile he’s attempting to subdue. “If that’s what you want. You staying here would be fine. Just fine.”
“I’m also going to make an honest man of your best friend.”
Figure I should lay all my news on him at once.
Carl freezes, hands in the middle of piling papers. The shock on his face is comical. “Come again?”
That’s exactly what I want to do.
I keep the dirty joke to myself.
“Griffith. I’m planning on dating the shit out of him.”
Carl’s mouth bobs a few times, and then he sputters out a handful of random words until he lands on, “But you hate him!”
Bracing an elbow on his desk, I prop my chin on my fist, look my brother in the eye, and give him the simple truth. “Not anymore.”
Carl narrows his eyes as he studies me. “You’re not messing with me? Or with him?”
“I mean, I do still like messing with him. But now it’s flirty. And I want to rip his clothes off.”
“No. Nope. Not another word.”
He waves a hand in my face, then shudders, and I bite back a grin. Carl reclines in his chair, frowning, his focus on the ceiling, as if he’s mulling things over.
I give him the time he needs to adjust. Hell, I needed some time to acknowledge that my feelings had morphed from agitation to affection. Reaching down, I scratch Shrimp’s ears while I wait.
Carl sits upright abruptly. “All right. I’m okay with this.”
“Wasn’t asking for your permission, but cool.”
Carl grins at me. “Griffith has a business here. A life here. He’s not about to leave anytime soon.”
“And if I fall for him, then I’ll be staying too.” I say out loud what he isn’t as I roll my eyes. “I already told you I’m not leaving.”
“And now you’re definitely not.”
“What if Griffith shoots me down?” Though I highly doubt he will after the bathtub. But I can’t help poking my brother.
Carl scowls. “He’d be an idiot to. You’re amazing.”
“Aww. You’re so sweet,” I tease.
“He’ll say yes to you—or else.”
A snort sneaks out before I can stop it. “I’d love to hear you tell him that.”
“Fine.” Carl pulls out his cell phone. “I will.”
And I watch with open-mouthed delight as my brother rings up his best friend and puts the call on speaker.
“Hey. What’s up?” Griffith’s voice is a lovely rumble, even through the phone.
Tingles run up and down my spine in response to his casual words.
“What’s up is that Clem likes you.” My brother doesn’t even bother with a hello, getting straight into protective mode.
“And she’s going to ask you out. And you’re going to say yes because don’t even think of telling me you can find better.
” Carl sounds like a principal lecturing a misbehaving student.
There’s a pause.
Then, “She’s staying?”
“Yes. And when she asks you out, you’re going to say …”
“Yeah, Griffy,” I call out even though his wolf ears could probably pick up my voice easily, “do you like me? Check yes or no.”
“Of course I’ll say yes,” Griffith growls. “But why the fuck do you think you have any say in our relationship, Carl?”
“I’m her brother,” he sputters.
“And he said you can have me in exchange for a mere five kegs of beer,” I add with a cheery grin. “A bargain deal, good for the next five minutes. Better act fast.”
“Done,” Griffith says.
Carl’s face flushes red, and he hangs up on his best friend without even a goodbye. I burst out laughing so loud that Shrimp joins in with a howl.
“You’re the worst,” he mutters.
“And now you have to put up with me even more.” I giggle, then push myself to stand and stretch my arms over my head, the humor of the moment another type of healing.
“You heading to Local Brew?” Carl asks.
“In a bit.” I glance toward the darkening sky, visible through the window. “Since I’m healed and it’s a dark moon night, thought I might take a swim.” Our eyes meet, and I spy the understanding in them. “It’s been too long.”
I worry he’s going to give me a lecture about safety. Claim that it’s too great of a risk that a hunter will show up and catch me in a net or something.
Instead, Carl nods, then scribbles an address on a scrap of paper. “This is Samantha’s.” He names the chief of police, who is also a mermaid.
After the few interactions I’ve had with her since being back in town, I’ve decided I like her a lot more than the past chief, who threatened to arrest me on a weekly basis when I was growing up.
“She lets me use her dock. I’ll give her a heads-up. She won’t mind.”
“Thanks.” I fold up the paper and slip it into my pocket. “For everything.”
He shrugs. “I’m your brother.”
Leaning over, I give him a tight squeeze around the shoulders.
“You’re the best family a girl could have.”