I drove down several streets with no idea on where I wanted to go. My chest squeezed, and I wiped the tears from my eyes. Even though she meant it to be for the best, Aunt Jo could be a real bitch sometimes. I’d kept that night buried for years, only having to face it on the lonely nights. I snorted and shook my head. Poor little me, all alone in the world. Aunt Jo had suffered that night, too. She’d lost her ability to walk.
I parked my car in front of the coffee shop and stared at it blankly for a few moments before reaching in my glove compartment. Beneath the pile of old insurance cards and oil change receipts lay my mini first aid kit. I slathered burn salve all over my tattoo and wrapped it with gauze and tape. The burn had subsided into an annoying sting mixed with a tingle.
Unfortunately, fire didn’t heal the body. It consumed. The only way we could heal would be if we absorbed a god or daimon with that ability. Of course, that made it easier for them to take over.
I leaned my head against the window of the car and closed my eyes with a sigh. The pounding in my head had disappeared during the drive. The prickling had traveled up my arm, and my pulse raced in my ears. Aunt Jo had done more than open me up. She’d given me some of her own resonance. Better than coffee.
The way this day had gone, I should have headed home, spiked myself with sleeping pills, and slept until morning, but it wouldn’t have worked. I would have been tossing and turning, alone with my memories all night long. Instead, I would find someone to run the night with, drinking, talking, and laughing until we found our way to his bed where his warm body could comfort me.
A strong tap on my window caused me to jump. Mercer was leaned over, peering at me with his eyebrows drawn together. Perfect. All reservations I had this morning flew from my mind as I rolled down the window.
Chapter 14
Mercer knelt by the window and frowned at me. “Where have you been? Serenity and I have been looking all over for you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You stopped fighting?”
“She’s pretty worried about you. She’s been trying to call you all afternoon.”
I glanced at the black screen of my phone. “I must have turned it off.”
I pushed it the button on the side, let it power on, and sent a quick text to Serenity. Knowing her, she was wearing down our carpet by pacing, though I didn’t think she would be worried enough to call Mercer. I glanced back at him and gave him a sly smile.
“Looks like I’m the reason she’s talking to you,” I said.
He ran a hand through his hair and gave a soft chuckle. “Unbelievable.”
“What?”
“I’m glad you’re all right,” he said. “You left pretty quickly after the police.”
I stared at my hands, and my voice softened. “I couldn’t stay there anymore. I went to see my aunt.”
“I thought you were from out of state.”
“She came down to visit me. Didn’t Serenity … oh wait.” I chuckled softly.
He gave a laughing sigh and stood up. “Since you’re all right, I’ll leave you alone.”
“Wait.” I stepped out of the car and tried to brush the wrinkles out of my dress. “I’d love some company.”
He turned back to me and crossed his arms over his chest. “What was that you were saying this morning? About it being better if we not see each other?”
“That was before …” I swallowed hard. “But you’re probably busy.”
“I did spend the afternoon searching for you and ignoring everything else,” he said.
My shoulders slumped. I’d wasted enough of his time already. Why did I think I was special enough to take up all of it just because I was having an insecure moment? I’d have to find someone else. Serenity had promised ice cream and video games this morning.
Mercer’s hand brushed against my chin, lifting it up to meet his gaze. My whole body tingled, and I licked my dry lips.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked.
My heart raced. Here was my moment. “How about your hotel?”
He smiled. “Do you want to leave your car here?”
I clicked the button and locked the doors. “Let’s go.”
He took my hand in his and paused at my bandaged arm. “What happened?”
I waved my other hand dismissively. “Clumsiness.”
He pulled me to his car and held open the passenger door for me. I leaned back against the leather seats and breathed in the cherry air freshener with a slight smile as he climbed in. And then we were off, racing the sunset, not that we would ever beat it.
The sky turned a burnt orange, and the clouds reflected pink. Street lights flickered on as he merged onto the Dallas Tollway. The towers of downtown Dallas rose up with their lights glittering in the darkening sky. Mercer pulled up in front of the Omni hotel and hopped out. A valet opened the door for me. Mercer tossed him the keys and, with a grin, held his elbow out for me.
“My lady,” he said.
I put my hand to my chest and put on my best southern belle accent. “How chivalrous.”
He chuckled. “Not really. I wasn’t around for any of that.”
“Yeah, no one was.”
“Mmm.”
The bellhop held the door open. “Good evening, Mr. Chaplin. Will you be needing anything tonight?”