6. Amethyst
Six
Amethyst
D espite my alarm being set later, I still wake up just as the hazy glow of dawn filters through the curtains.
I know trying to fall asleep for the small amount of extra time is pointless.
Instead, I grab my phone to turn off the original alarm and set a new one for seven thirty.
That should give me plenty of time to make the drive to Burrow’s.
I second guess myself for the hundredth time about starting a job this soon. There’s a lot mentally that I need to work through on my own. I’m not sure I’m in the headspace to be around so many people…
So many paranormal. The cashier yesterday was a demon; that much was clear by the horns on her head. She doesn’t exactly seem fond of me either, which only makes my anxiety worse. The other man, Draeven if I remember correctly, vampire.
One that had been turned. Most vampires are born, like Enzo, and have regular eye colors. But the man making that delivery yesterday had blood red eyes, signaling he’d died and been brought back by a vampire sire.
I should expect to see mostly paranormal out and about. Humans only make up two percent of the population at best. The horror stories of humans being attacked, or even killed, were far easier to brush aside before Enzo made me live out one of those stories in real life.
Yet, even with these doubts weighing on me, I can’t stop thinking about him.
Skyler.
The absolute last thing I want to think about right now is romance. It’s done nothing but award me heartbreak. I detest romance, actually.
Yet, I know I’m lying to myself. If I truly detested romance, I wouldn’t still be thinking about those hazel eyes; a lush forest I could wander and find myself lost in for hours.
I definitely wouldn’t be thinking about his tanned skin and the way his muscles rippled under that black polo. Above all, I would especially not be thinking about how his lips might feel pressed against mine, and how the look in his eyes suggested his thoughts were on that same wavelength.
Creators, I really do watch and read too many romances. Which has led me to being a hopeless romantic, no matter how much I want to declare otherwise. Shaking my head as my feet touch the floor, my arms raise above my head in a stretch.
Hopeless romantic or not, one thing is for certain, falling for my boss is majorly off limits. Maybe that works in movies and books, but in real life that’s surely a lawsuit waiting to happen.
I slip into the bathroom, eyeing my reflection in the mirror.
A minimal look for today seems like the safest option, I decide.
My shoulders sag, relief washing over me as I take in the dark brown waves of my hair.
I’ll never change my hair color again. It’ll be brunette until gray, and then I’ll embrace that too.
Yesterday I tried to buy mostly neutral clothes, making sure a couple of black polos made their way into the haul. I thumb through the tops with one hand while gliding my toothbrush through my mouth with the other.
I layer a chunky black sweater over the polo but let the collar stick out. Just enough coverage to stave off the early morning chill, yet also not too heavy that it’ll have me sweating later in the afternoon warmth.
Swishing water around my mouth to rinse, I decide to pair the top with light-wash jeans and my tried-and-true sneakers.
I pull the top half of my hair in a ponytail just to give it a little definition.
Seeing the time on my phone, I quickly drag some eyeliner across my lids, add some mascara, and finish off with a blush-colored lipstick just as my alarm goes off.
Passing through the kitchen, I grab a muffin and water bottle. Ensuring all my lights are off, I slip out the door and lock it behind me. A twig snaps under my foot, nearly causing me to jump out of my skin.
Shit! Why did I think I could do this?
I bury my face in my hands as I lean against the steering wheel of my Jeep. I feel small and helpless. Even though I know I’m more capable than I give myself credit for. Still, it feels like this fear will never subside.
I will always feel like I’m being hunted by Enzo. And that, I am helpless to stop. He is a vampire. I’m human. There is nothing I could do to protect myself. Taking a few deep breaths, I try to calm my racing mind and heart.
If Enzo was going to find me, I’m certain he would have by now. He has enough money to pay everyone on Earth to search for me. And, assuming the tales about a vampire’s speed is true, he could’ve made the same trip I did in half the time. It’s been three days.
I’m safe. I just need to keep repeating it until my brain believes it.
Blowing out a breath, I turn the key in the ignition. Delilah starts right up. My good, trusty girl. Backing out of the driveway, my mind wanders away from Enzo and toward a dream... I think.
It’s unbelievably vivid, almost like I saw it in person, but that’s impossible because I don’t recognize the surroundings. A sparkling body of water, a sandy wolf that’s the size of a horse. Its eyes were striking and familiar. She ran in circles around my peripheral.
I realize then why the eyes seemed like a mirror; they are mine.
A deer darts out of the trees, pulling me out of my head. I slam the breaks, skidding to a stop just before clipping it. Glancing in the rear view and finding no one behind me, I allow myself a moment to catch my breath.
The silence is loud. Hell, I never even turned any music on.
No matter. I’ll let my thoughts keep me company this morning.
I try to remember more of the dream as I slowly press the gas pedal down again. All I can dredge up is a scene as if the wolf jumped on me. No… more like into me? My sight became clearer then. The water impossibly colorful, like the earth had flipped, and it was the auroras I stared at instead.
I shake my head to clear it and pop on my left blinker. I’m almost to Burrow’s, and I don’t need to be distracted by giant wolves and fantasy lands while I’m trying to learn how to operate this register.
Unfortunately, I just need a completely new brain at this point. Because as soon as I push the wolf out of my head, Skyler settles back into it.
Will he be training me? Will I get to know him better?
Would he ever talk to me outside of work?
He’s incredibly handsome. It was impossible not to notice the muscles rippling beneath his shirt.
His hazel eyes and dark hair, the one wispy curl falling on his eyebrow.
His smirk when he told me what time to be here this morning is burned into my memory.
Okay. Time to derail that train of thought.
I bring Delilah to a halt inside the white lines, next to the only other car in the parking lot, a black sports car.
Squinting to see if anyone is behind the counter yet, I catch Skyler gliding toward the doors.
I chew on my bottom lip. That means the car is his.
Which decidedly makes him more attractive.
I peep at my dash to check the time, but I don’t need the clock to know that it’s eight a.m. sharp as Skyler begins unlocking the doors. Quickly, I give myself a pep talk.
I am brave.
I am smart.
Most importantly, no inappropriate thoughts, jokes, or gestures.
I’ve got this. He’s just a guy — just my boss. Another thing I need to repeat. This time until my body believes it. Skyler’s gaze meets mine as my feet touch the sidewalk. An unknown amount of time passes, or perhaps it freezes entirely.
The atmosphere is charged between us. His eyes pierce straight to my soul, as if they can see the broken pieces. I study them, flecks of green woven between the browns. Bright with life that could trickle between the cracks and bloom light in the darkest parts of me.
“Good morning, Amethyst. I’m delighted to see you showed.
” His voice breaks the spell. I find it hard to catch my breath.
“Is a new hire showing up so strange?” I ask.
With a chuckle, he holds open the door for me, “Practically equivalent to seeing a unicorn in a field full of deer.” I quirk a brow, wondering who would go through the trouble of getting a job if they didn’t intend on showing up for it.
“There’s also the ones who take the job, but start showing up egregiously late, like the other associate scheduled this morning.” He continues, stepping behind the faded black counter. He shakes his head, then motions me over to the register. I stop at his side and he grins at me.
Suddenly there’s a herd of butterflies in my stomach. “Anyway, don’t let me scare you off on your first day.” He slides his fingers across the register, punching a few keys as they pass. “This is how you’ll clock in and out.”
I trace the pattern of keys he pressed with my eyes, making sure I understand. It seems simple enough to remember, just follow a rectangular shape. Two keys over, three down, two over again. Nodding, I turn to him, but he’s hunched over writing something down.
Just as quickly he turns his attention back to me, handing me a note. “This is your employee I.D. and password. We do have to change the password every six months, which is super frustrating, but corporate, you know? I’ve had a running variation of Hellscape101 for the past few years.”
Covering my mouth as my laughter turns into a mortifying snort, I tap the buttons he showed me.
That takes me to a screen asking for the I.D.
While typing in the numbers from the note, I add to the conversation, “I definitely know all about corporate.” I recall the unpleasant memories of how after taking the contract deal, I pretty much lost all of my creative freedom.
“They have the brains of a goldfish. Make decisions in ignorant bliss with no knowledge of the outside world. Or in this case, inside the store.” I scoff, then turn to Skyler for my next directions, only to find him staring at me with such an intensity, I lose my words momentarily.