Page 10 of Crazy Thing

She shifts her attention back to her captivated audience around the bar. I know she can still feel me staring. I can tell by her rigid spine and the way she holds her shoulders like she’s bracing for a fight.

Y’know what? I feel annoyed, too. Sure—I gave her good reason to be mad at me. But that was a long time ago. I thought she’d have let it go by now.

Isn’t she spiritual or something? Isn’t she all about peace and love? Or does forgiveness not fit into her whole woo woo philosophy?

Tipping my head back, I take an angry chug from mylukewarm beer bottle. I keep on ruminating and I have no idea why it bugs me so much that Ziggy isclearlytrying to avoid me. I’m not a man who requires the validation of others. Why am I giving this practical stranger the power to affect my mood?

I should be focused on putting a stop to Edison and saving the waterfall. But right now, Ziggy is all I can concentrate on.

Out of nowhere, a thought pops into my head. And once it does, I can’t get rid of it.Shit.

I know damn well that Ziggy Beaumont wants nothing to do with me. But at the same time, I have a feeling that she might be the very key to fixing this whole big mess.

5

ZIGGY

Back at my quiet metaphysical shop in Honey Hill, I’m standing behind the front counter, shuffling my favorite tarot deck and throwing a pity party for one.

I slowly flip three cards over, setting them face up on the counter. The devil…the tower…andthe death card?

Shit. It’s official. I’m screwed.

And so damn stressed. I’m stressed about the waterfall. I’m stressed about letting down my friends from Starlight Falls. I’m stressed about the fact that my shop’s lease won’t be renewed.And these grim cards aren’t offering much hope for a happy resolution.

With a sigh, I put down the tarot deck. My eyes fall on my growing stack of past due letters. Just more unpaid bills. I read through the letter from the landlord again, foolishly hoping that the verdict has changed.

Nope, it still says the same thing.

Due to multiple lapsed payments, we regretfullywill not be able to renew the lease of your shop after the current rental agreement ends.

Ugh.

I tiredly gaze around at my jam-packed shop. I should clarify. It’s packed withthings. Not withcustomers.

The shelves of Divine Treasures are stocked nearly to the ceiling with all my unsold merchandise. I used to be proud of the collection I’ve amassed over the years. Crystals and candles and incense sticks. Now it’s just a reminder of all the items I will have to box up with bubble wrap when it’s time to leave.

All of this is massively overwhelming.I’m starting to feel sick to my stomach again.

My eyes start to burn with unshed tears, and that just makes me even more frustrated. I’m not used to feeling this way. I usually trust in the universe to present a logical solution to my problems. But right now, my faith is shaken. I’ve been meditating on this for days now, and I’m getting nowhere.

No solutions. No positive energy. No relief.

I drop my forehead to the counter and utter another short prayer. Begging, pleading for a way out of this mess that I now find myself in.

When I hear the chimes above the door sound, I swiftly wipe at my tears and paste on a wide smile. Customers are good. A customer means that I’m one step closer to paying one of those overdue bills.

But when I look up at the entrance, my smile dies abruptly. It’s not a customer. It’s worse. It’s Darius Brighton.

What’s he doing here? All the way at my shop in HoneyHill?!

He stalks toward my counter, and my body is immediately on high alert. I brace myself for my day to get exponentially worse. Because this man is nothing but bad news. I learned that a long time ago.

For years, I’ve managed to steer clear of his path. At first, it was easy enough. I’ve been living in Honey Hill and according to the rumors—okay, fine—and myoccasionalsocial media searches, he was out in New York or California or wherever the hell. But lately, I’ve intuitively felt the degrees of separation falling away between us.

It started with rumors that he’d begun doing business with Cash Westbrook, my friend, Meghan’s husband. And then, my other friend, Nicky, fell in love with his brother, Ronan. But the biggest, rustiest nail in the coffin that sealed my fate was when Daphne got engaged to Felix. That’s when I knew for sure that I’d eventually have to come face to face with Darius Brighton. I’ve been silently bracing myself for our eventual meeting ever since.

When I was in Starlight Falls yesterday, I made eye contact with him a handful of times. But I always made sure that there was a crowd between us. That there was always space between us.

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