Chapter 36
Aria
Ilove the atmosphere in Karma. That’s why I find myself with my laptop at a table in the corner writing while Lucy is on her shift. She’s been eating more and had her first therapy appointment since everything, but I can’t help my lingering worry.
That’s the other reason I’ve chosen to work down here.
Plus, I have a built-in excuse to get distracted from writing whenever I get stuck on a chapter.
Like now.
Captain Meridia shakes her head at me and barks a laugh. “You think you’re in a position to make demands, little one?”
“My name is Viola,” I say, the tremble in my voice diminishing any facade of confidence I had maintained up until this point.
“Viola,” the captain repeats slowly, as if she is savoring the name as it falls from her lips.
“The point still stands, little one. Your father has unpaid debts, and you—” She places the tip of her rapier underneath my chin and tilts my head up until I meet her gaze.
“—you are the collateral I am commandeering until he settles it to my satisfaction.”
It’s here that I’m stuck. How will Viola respond? I sure as fuck don’t know.
I sigh, saving my progress, and stand to make my way back up to the counter for another drink. Bennett is standing at the register and he greets me with a smile.
“Another tea?” he asks without prompting.
“Yes, please.”
As I watch him step away to make my drink, I reflect. I am so lucky. Truly. Living with Lucy has significantly increased my quality of life, both emotionally and financially. I have had a few freelance editing jobs here and there, but no viable open positions beyond that.
Taking my drink, I thank Bennett and make my way back over to my table.
I feel bad. I feel like I am taking advantage of Lucy in some way, practically living off of her funds while I job search.
However, every time I have brought up maybe looking for a part time job at a grocery store or other place that is not oriented towards my career path, Lucy waves it off saying that I shouldn’t settle when I have the ability to look for a perfect fit.
Sighing again, I lift my laptop lid and continue writing.
Maybe I’ll luck out, I think without much conviction, Maybe my book will go viral.
I blow lightly on my Lavender Haze and dive back into the mind of Viola, praying that answers come to me quickly.
***
Near the end of Lucy’s shift, I see Jeremy and Cierra stroll through the doors and, instead of making their way up to say hi to Lucy and Bennett, they make a beeline toward me.
I raise my eyebrows at their approach.
“Hey, Aria,” Jeremy greets me with an easy smile that immediately sets off alarm bells in my brain. “How’re you doing?”
“What do you need, Jeremy?” I reply instead, giving him an unamused look. Both he and Cierra let out a laugh.
“Nothing bad!” He holds his hands up in surrender. “We were just wondering if you might be able to take Lucy out for dinner so we can set something up in here?”
“And what is it that you’re setting up?” I ask, suspicion heavy in my tone.
“We got someone to do a painting of the last photo we have of all of us all together,” Cierra cuts in, her tone low and serious. “We want to hang it up in the book area as a memorial for Ms. Betty.”
I feel tears prickle my eyes and I swallow down the lump forming in my throat at the thought.
“We wanted to hang it up before,” Jeremy picks up the explanation, “but the artist hadn’t finished yet. Now? It’s perfect, and I would very much like to get it out of the back of my car.” I laugh unexpectedly at the thought before clearing my throat and locking eyes with both of them.
“You know Lucy will be suspicious as hell, correct?”
“Yeah,” Jeremy says sheepishly, “but we want to do it anyway.”
“Okay,” I acquiesce. “I’ll see what I can do.”
***
On our way home after a lovely evening, Lucy turns to look at me.
“Are you going to tell me the real reason you wanted to go out tonight now?” Her tone is filled with suppressed impatience and anticipation that is practically bursting from every pore in her body.
“All I can tell you is that you’ll find out when we get back to Karma,” I repeat for the fiftieth time this evening.
And I’m glad you have a therapy appointment tomorrow, just in case, I add in my head.
As the cab drops us off at the front doors of Karma, we see Jeremy, Cierra, and Bennett standing in front of the doors waiting for our arrival.
Jeremy holds a strip of black cloth in his hands and is exuding energy that clearly states he would be bouncing up and down if he wasn’t on the street in full view of the general public.
I follow behind Lucy as she cautiously approaches the group.
“Funny,” she says is a dry tone, “I could have sworn that the shop closed for the evening over an hour ago.” Even without seeing her face, I can hear her eyebrow raising with her words.
“As your favorite people in the world, I would assume you’d be happy to see us,” Cierra pokes back. At this Jeremy steps forward and raises the strip of cloth—the blindfold—he’s holding.
“Nope.” Lucy says succinctly and backs up into me. My arms wrap around her automatically and I lean my mouth down until it brushes against her ear.
“They’ve been working so hard on this surprise for you,” I whisper in a low, almost seductive tone. I feel her shiver against me. “You wouldn’t want to ruin their fun, would you?”
I feel her shoulders tense for a moment as though she simultaneously wants to capitulate and keep fighting until, all at once, the tension leaves her with a sharp exhale.
“Fine,” she grumbles, stepping out of my embrace to let Jeremy fasten the blindfold around her head. She reaches back blindly and I grasp her hand before stepping closer to loop her arm through mine.
“I’ve got you, Princess,” I whisper in her ear again, cataloging how her cheeks darken and her thighs rub together.
Noted, I think wickedly.
The group leads us inside and straight into the bookstore area. I lead Lucy through the shop, but I can tell her muscle memory is engaged as she begins to dodge around tables before I can pull her.
When the group comes to a stop, I glance up and gasp, tears immediately filling my eyes. Lucy’s head snaps towards me at the sound.
“Can I take this off now?” she asks impatiently. Receiving a nod from Cierra, I maneuver Lucy directly in front of me before untying the blindfold and handing it off to Bennett.
I feel a tear slip down my face as I look to Lucy for her reaction.