Chapter 13
M y palms were so sweaty they were sliding on the steering wheel like it was covered in grease.
I wiped them on my jeans while staring at the red light, my gut churning at the thought of seeing Jenna.
I hadn’t seen her since I blew her off and I hoped she wasn’t too mad at me.
If she was, she had every right to be. I could’ve made it to the movie, but I was selfish.
I wasn’t being a good friend for standing her up—albeit unintentionally at first.
As I eased my foot off the brake and drove through the intersection, I thought back to three nights before with Rae. I wanted to tell Jenna about her, but I wasn’t sure how she would take it. I held out hope she wouldn’t judge me because she was really the only person I was close with.
I’d been shocked when Rae revealed herself, not because of her appearance but because I didn’t know if she ever would show herself to me. Then when she made me come with those long fingers and tongue? I thought I’d left earth and had been transported to another dimension.
It was still hard to believe I’d pulled a Mary Shelley and had gotten tongue-fucked on top of a grave. At least it wasn’t my mother’s. Instead, I’d noticed it was poor Anna Crenshaw’s. No disrespect to her. I hoped that wherever she was, she didn’t mind.
Rae was mouth watering in a gothic creature sort of way reminiscent of the likes of Dracula. I wondered if she had human-like features under her heavy cloak. I found myself more than wanting to find out and give her pleasure like she’d given me.
The gear shift made a soft thud as I put the car into park.
I took a deep breath and walked inside the restaurant.
Garlic filled my nose and my mouth watered as the hostess led me to a table.
I hadn’t eaten since waking up, deciding to skip breakfast and save room for all the pasta I was going to eat for dinner.
Or was it lunch? It was 8:00 p.m., but technically it was lunch for me with my backward waking hours.
The menu looked delicious, and my stomach growled.
Jenna wouldn’t mind if I went ahead and ordered, right?
I couldn’t remember a time when we hadn’t waited on each other, but I was starving.
I settled on my favorite, chicken carbonara, and after fifteen minutes of no Jenna, I said fuck it .
The sooner I ate, the better mood I would be in which would hopefully settle my nerves a bit.
Over all the years Jenna and I had been friends, I’d never canceled on her the way I had the other night, but I didn’t regret it. I was finally going after something I wanted and hoped she would understand.
A few minutes after I ordered, Jenna sauntered in, her ashy hair swinging as she weaved through the tables. She tossed her back in the booth and plopped in the seat with a sigh.
“Hey, you dyed your hair gray! Salon appointment this week?” I asked.
She sighed. “No, Jade, I had it done forever ago. After we talked last. It’s been like weeks. You would know that if you had time for your best friend.” She gave a small chuckle.
“Wow, shots fired right out of the gate,” I retorted. “Work has been stupid busy with Ruby’s daughter being sick. I’ve had to take a bunch of extra shifts to cover.”
Jenna’s expression morphed into understanding. “Oh, I didn’t know. Is everything okay?”
I nodded. “I think she’s on the mend, but the issue is childcare for Ruby’s grandson. The dad isn’t in the picture and Ruby is all there is to take care of mom and kiddo.”
“Gosh, that’s awful. I hope she gets better soon and you don’t have to keep covering so many shifts.”
The waiter and my food arrived resulting in a scowl from Jenna. “You ordered without me? I wasn’t that late!”
“Listen, I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. Sorry, not sorry,” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
After Jenna ordered, she turned back to me. “Listen, I’m sorry I’m snippy. Things just keep getting more annoying with Alex and I was salty you’re so busy.”
I shook my head and waved my fork in the air. “I’m sorry too. I have been busy, but I actually wanted to talk to you about that,” I said after I swallowed a mouth full of pasta.
Jenna stared, waiting for me to continue.
“So, you know I believe in certain supernatural things right?”
She nodded. “Like spirits and stuff?”
“Yes, but a bit more than that. Like certain creatures as well.” I took another bite of my food. “Anyway, I’ve met someone.”
Jenna’s laugh boomed over the table. “And? What do the two have to do with each other? Does this person also believe in those things? Are they a little gremlin or something?”
I froze, pasta suspended halfway to my mouth. Jenna stared at me as realization dawned.
“Jade, you’re not fucking serious,” she said, her tone transforming from playful to accusatory.
My fork clinked against the plate as I rushed to explain. “She’s not a gremlin. She saved me from that man on the night of the party.”
“You do realize how ridiculous you sound right now, right?” she scoffed. “Wait, is this why you ditched me? To go hang out in a graveyard with an imaginary creature for fuck’s sake?”
I held up my hands. “Shh, not so loud,” I said, looking around the table at the nearby patrons. “I thought you would understand. You’re my best friend. You’ve known my beliefs this entire time.” Hurt seeped into my voice, and a pit of dread opened in my stomach.
“Jade, I don’t believe in that stuff and I wasn’t going to shame you because you did.
You know I’d never do that, but this is also a bit too far.
I don’t know what you think you're seeing, but I know it's not real.” She looked out the window and crossed her arms over her chest. “Next, you’re going to say you fucked on a grave or something.”
I froze again, this time my heart skipping a beat. Did she have intuition she wasn’t telling me about or something? When I said nothing she whipped her head back to me. “You’re fucking with me right now. Jade, what the actual fuck? Are you playing some damn joke?”
Dropping my gaze to my unfinished food, I continued my silence. I wasn’t expecting her to act this way. Not after all our years of friendship and my rants about the supernatural to her. But come to think of it, they were one sided. I groaned inwardly and peered up at her through my lashes.
“Jen, I’m not sure what to say. I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
Jenna pursed her lips. “I don’t know what to say either. I’m just going to go.”
She slid from the booth and as she walked away a tear slid down my cheek.