Page 46 of Kai's Hunger

He smiled wider. “But youarestaying there? At the house?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then the phone is paid for.” I started to protest further, but the manager held a hand in the air, stopping her mid-complaint. “You’ll have to speak to the Ravenbriars, Ma’am. In the meantime, Jake will be glad to finish ringing you out.”

I knew when I’d been beaten. Still, I intended to take it up with Kai when I saw him. After Jake rang up the purchase, it took some time to transfer everything from my old phone to the new one. When it was finished, I thanked him and left the shop, then headed across the street toward the café Kai had told me about.

When I entered the little building, a blast of warm air hit me. It felt good. I hadn’t realized that the temperature was dropping. I scanned the room, noticing the checkerboard linoleum floors, red leather booths that bore the marks of countless conversations, and a long counter punctuated by chrome stools.

The aroma of comfort food wafted through the air, mingling with the chatter of only a few patrons and the sizzle of the grill. The last rays of daylight filtered through the lace curtains, casting a warm glow over the cozy space. Behind the counter, a friendly blonde waitress in a retro uniform jotted something onto a pad, while the sound of clinking dishes echoed from the open kitchen.

The walls were adorned with framed photographs capturing snippets of the town’s history, telling stories of generations. The jukebox near the entrance hummed with a nostalgic melody, adding to the ambiance.

I saw a clock on the wall behind the cash register. Five in the evening.It’ll be getting dark soon.How long would Kai be? I worried about him. Worried about his plans toward the mysterious Patterson.

“Are you Lily?” the pretty blonde waitress asked, smiling at me.

I smiled back. “I am. Are you Tessa?”

“Sure am.” She pointed toward a stool at the counter. “Does that work?”

“Of course,” I answered, following the tall, voluptuous woman. What exactly was her relationship with Kai? I was tempted to ask.

Tessa leaned closer. “What can I get you?”

I didn’t even have to think about it. “I’d do just about anything for a black coffee.”

She laughed. “Feeling like you need a fix, huh?”

“So much,” I sighed. After Tessa placed a cup in front of me and poured a portion of the dark brew, I decided to ask the big question. “So, you and Kai are friends?”

“Sure are.” She poured herself a cup, then replaced the carafe. “He’s sweet, but just a friend.” She winked. “In case you wondered.”

Relief swamped me. “He’s helped me out since I wrecked my van. They’ve all been so gracious actually.”

“That was you?” At my nod, Tessa replied, “I saw them bring it to the shop. Looks like you’re lucky to be walking.”

“Very lucky.” My experience at the auto shop and the phone center prompted me to add, “What is it with the Ravenbriars around here? They seem like...”

“Legends,” she supplied. “I’ve only been here a few years myself, but everyone seems to respect them. And the Ravenbriars have done a lot for this town. My understanding is that the town fell on very hard times when the paper mill closed down. Put a lot of folks out of work. But Kai’s grandfather bought up a bunch of land, opened up several businesses, and got the town back on its feet.”

“Wow, I’ve never known anyone to do something like that.”

“No, but the Ravenbriars have called this place home for generations. I suppose they felt it was their duty to step up and do something.”

“I’m staying with them,” I blurted out. “That fact seems to have garnered a fair amount of shock from some of the townspeople.”

“Uh, yeah, I’d say.” Tessa moved closer, then whispered, “No one goes out there. Not ever. They’re mighty private. Sort of survivalist types, I hear. Their daddy taught them everything. Fishing, hunting, trapping. From what I’ve seen, there ain’t nothing those boys can’t do.”

“Including medicine,” I added, tapping my brow. “Creeg fixed me up, even gave me a CT scan.”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Yep. They have their own clinic. It’s kind of crazy.”

Tessa glanced out the front window. “And you’re driving Kai’s SUV. Ain’t never seen him hand over his wheels to a woman.”

I could feel my face heat. “He’s, uh...”

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