Page 24 of Painted Scars
I draw breath. “I don’t want to worry you, Mom, but someone followed me home tonight, and it’s not the first time.”
“You’re worried it’s Blackthorn?” Her voice sharpens like knives. She’s been through this twice before.
The name never fails to punch the air from my lungs. “Yes.”
“Do you want me to call him?” Mom’s tone turns steely.
“No!” I snap too quickly, then soften the rest. “I don’t need his help or want to have to worship the man.”
“Do you want me to come over?” Mom’s voice gentles.
“No, it’s okay. It’s probably nothing.” My hand aches from gripping the steering wheel so hard. I pump my hand to get the blood flow back.
“Call me tomorrow with updates,” Mom says.
“Sure. Love you. Night.” I put on my bestI’m finetone to ease her mind and stop her from making the thirty-minute trip over to stay with me.
“Love you too, sweetie.”
I end the call and do my best impression of someone not on the edge of a confused spiral. The knot in my chest loosens. Mom didn’t say anything magical to completely relieve me, but just hearing her voice, knowing that she cares, and hasn’t been bothered by Blackthorn, is a boot off my throat.
I check my mirrors for the biker. Nowhere to be seen. Next time I see him up close and personal, I’ll have questions. And this time, I won’t be the girl who’s afraid. I lean over to touch my handbag. I’ll be the girl packing pepper spray, something sharp, and have bite on my tongue when I ask questions.
Ten minutes later, I pull into my driveway and park my car. Getting out, I scan the parked cars along the road. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Unsettled, I climb my porch and find an Amazon parcel and mail left on my doorstep instead of my mailbox. That’s weird.
I bend down to collect it and pry open the package first. It’s my tea order. Delivered in a matter of hours, yet I don’t have a Prime account for expedited delivery. I take out the two slips inside. One’s a delivery docket and the other is a note.
Hydrate first. Moan later.
Your unsolicited tea supplier.
What in the name of the Celestial Fae realm is this? Gifts from an unidentified tea supplier are a first for me, and I’m not sure whether to be giddy or worried. Whoever the sender is, they know me well. My bet is on Harper. She’s the likely candidate with the moaning reference when it’s my exact reaction to my first sip of tea in the morning.
Bonus Bestie Points!
The second is a metallic pink envelope with a paw print sticker. Curiosity growing by the second, I tear open that baby and read.
Your neighbor won’t be bothering you anymore. Read all your mail and look left to understand. Enjoy the lessons.
No signature. Just a gift card for training lessons with a local dog trainer inside. Two guesses who sent this one. Harper or Charlie. They both think Josh is unruly, like me. My dog’s an overachiever in the barking department. I’ve tried everything. Toys and play activity morning and night. Install a barrier between him and the fence to quell his contact with the neighbor. Walked him twice a day. I’m yet to try training anddiscipline. My bad for calling him the Brat Prince afterLestat De Lioncourt.
I look left as instructed. At the base of Harry’s driveway is the Mount Everest of horse poop piles. Whoever did that is my kind of petty.
I rifle through the rest of my mail to understand the context of all this. Monthly bill for my phone. Junk mail that I’ll toss and won’t read. A letter from the Local Council that I fetch from its envelope.
Goddamn Harry complained to the Council about Josh’s barking, and they’ve fined me. I’ll have that old bastard know my dog is the cutest little squeaker ever and only barks when a courier delivers something. My insides sharpen, and I feel the need to stab something.
Stay Zen. Find my inner peace.
Harry’s gonna have to cart away twenty wheelbarrows’ worth of shit to get his car out of his driveway tomorrow. Talk about Karma.
I unlock the door and shoot off a quick text to Charlie.
Me: Thank you for the tea and doggy lessons, my sweet angel. We feel thoroughly spoiled. Catch up for lunch and coffee on Friday?
Ready to give Harper a hug that will elicit hives, I nudge open the door with my elbow, cradling my goodies.
