Page 33 of Of Poison & Pumpkins
“Yes, but maybe they each got food poisoning from something at the cafeteria at school.” Behind my back, I try to wave Elias away, hoping he leaves before Hudson catches sight of Porter hunched in the backseat.
“Food poisoning?” Hudson shakes his head and reaches for the cuffs on his belt. “Come on, Rynn. No one’s going to hurt you,” he says, gesturing to the growing number of onlookers. “This is simple policy.”
The rumbling of Elias’s car quiets, which sends a warm wave of relief through my blood. Good. There’s no point in his name being dragged through the mud with mine. Technically this mess is my fault.
“Do you have an alibi for your whereabouts at 12:10?”
“Yeah, I was at Raven Slam.”
The murmurs of the crowd double. Raven Slam hasn’t always been on the friendly side of Nergs. The owner only hires Fuzers as staff, which caused an uproar in the community a few years back.
Hudson drops his head. “Can anyone vouch for you?”
Footsteps clomp behind me, and without turning, I already know it’s Elias. He still has the same easy going saunter, like there’s no rush to arrive at his destination.
“She was with me,” Elias says. I feel his hand around my waist. “We were there for over an hour, and at least two staff members saw us.”
Where’s Porter? Where’s the car? My heart rate triples and sweat slides down my back. I’m unsure if it’s from Hudson’s scrutinizing glare or Elias’s closeness. Maybe both.
Hudson crosses his arms, then lowers his chin. “Well, we’re going to have to confiscate all your cosmetic products until this gets sorted out. Send them for testing.”
“Fine. Do you want me to show you where they are?”
“I think I’m qualified to find makeup on my own.” He rolls his eyes. “Rynnlee, you need to be careful. This doesn’t look good for you.”
“What do you recommend I do? I can’t close my shop. It’ll put me out of business and then Maya won’t have?—”
Hudson holds up a hand. “The shop can remain open but stay nearby. Don’t leave your home or Palooza until you’ve heard from me.” The warning in his eyes couldn’t be any more serious. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I say, knowing I won’t be following that order.
Once he turns away from me and the other officers disperse on their unicorns, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. A light squeeze tugs at my hand. When I look down, Elias’s hand is holding mine. When had that happened? Did he grab mine or did I lock onto him like a security blanket?
“Thank you,” I whisper to Elias as I watch the cops dip into my empty shop. “But you should’ve stayed with Porter.”
“Zee is hauling him up to your place already. Come on.”
Elias’s eyes dart to mine for only a moment before he pulls me around the back side of the building, past his parked car. My mind is racing as I let Elias guide me up the stairs to my apartment, as if I have full trust in him. Is that true? A sharp point, small as a needle, jabs me when I grapple with that question. As far as I know, Elias has never lied or cheated or kept major secrets. Would it be bad to rely on him a little?
Inside my studio, the scent of a vanilla candle spreads towards us. I breathe in deeply, wanting to feel comfortable in my home, but suspicious officers lurking one floor below doesn’t make that possible. Will I not feel safe for the next month until this spell runs out? What if I can’t find Alexandra? Could they arrest me without proof?
Over by the couch, Zanther flops Porter down like a ragdoll. He must have troll strength to carry a six-foot man up a flight of stairs. My ex stares at the ceiling and the brothers whisper to each other in the corner. Occasionally, Elias smacks Zanther’s shoulder and hisses for him to ‘shut up.’ It must be nice having a close sibling.
Speaking of demons reincarnated, AKA siblings, my phone vibrates with Orion’s face on the screen. I hit ignore and wait until the voicemail picks up my brother’s message.
“Hey there. You okay?” Elias’s baritone from my dreams pulls me out of my spiral.
“Um, no, not really,” I say. But when I drown in his dark, charismatic eyes, it’s like swimming in his soul.
The apartment and my conflicts fade away. All I focus on is this man. It’s not even fair how many things I like about Elias. How he makes snappy choices. Or how he displays affection with constant miniature touches.
Zanther waves with a cheery grin as he slides out my door, closing me and the two men within. One from my past. And one is my possible future. What would a relationship with Elias look like?
“I have an idea.” Elias gently rubs my elbow while maintaining a safe distance. “We could shove sleeping meds down Porter’s throat.” Elias sounds like he’s joking, but his brows are pinched. “That way, when we report him, it’ll seem like an overdose.”
“Elias!”
“Fine.” He shifts on his feet nervously. “Oh my Goddess, Rynn, I need to know one thing, or I’ll go insane.” He shoves his palms into his eyes. “No, I won’t ask. I can’t know. I can’t.”
