Page 105 of Feverburn

“Shut the fuck up!”Bear boomed.“Go on, Carson.”

“Yeah, I speak and will talk a lot more now. I’ve felt unwelcome around here and let this cursed reputation hold me back from happiness for too long. I’m done with it. You don’t have to like me, but you have to tolerate me because I live here too, dammit.”

“Tell ‘em, Carson!”Harley yelled. Several people whooped in support.

“IloveRosie. We’re engaged. And you guys might think I’m an asshole, but she doesn’t. I don’t want any of you giving her shit for loving me.”

“He’s right!”a man yelled. I squinted at the crowd, trying to find who said it. Dane climbed on top of a picnic table, standing above the crowd with arms outstretched.“Car-bro, I’m sorry for telling everyone you’re cursed. I was wrong. And not to pull the orphan card, but I went through a lot and totally took it out on you. Sorry for being a douche and ruining your life.”His tone was overly casual and borderline funny.“You and Rosie are cute together. I’m glad she makes your crabby asshappy.”

I held back a chuckle at how bizarre this moment was.“Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”He helped me when Rosie collapsed. He was already forgiven in my book.

Hank cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled,“I knew you two were messing around for months. I’mhappyfor you, Carsyboy! You got yourself a good witchy woman!”

“You knew?”I shrieked. Rosie’s hands flew to cover her mouth.

Skyler said,“Yeah, dude, I thought it was Kiszka crying out, but it turns out it was Rosie.”

The entire crowd murmured with laughter as Rosie covered her beet-red face.

Someone yelled,“I saw you two dancing behind your store one night!”

Someone else added,“I thought I saw you two sucking face in Boston!”

It was Otto’s turn,“She was talking about you when I was at Viv’s store. I was in the basement but heard everything. The little gal makes great coffee, so I kept hersecretso she wouldn’t move away.”

“WeloveRosie!”someone yelled.

I clutched the mic, feeling like afool.“You all knew?!”

Several heads bobbed in the crowd.

Frankie hollered,“Carson, no one hates you! It was all in your head!”

“Yeah, let that shit go!”Kaylee added.

The crowd rippled again with affirmative nods.

Otto hollered once more,“Thought you were just heartbroken, kid. We’re all rooting for you!”

The town erupted in clapping, chanting,“Carson! Carson!”

“Okay…well…cool. Don’t mention this ever again!”I handed the mic back, and then, on second thought, I brought it back to my mouth.“Rosie, Iloveyou, and I’m sorry you have to deal with thiscrazyass town.”That made everyone chuckle and clap even harder.

She tried to yell over the applause, but Kaylee and Azalea tackled her to see her engagement ring before she could.

Rolling with how well tonight went, I carried out my plan. I texted the group chat, then waded through the crowd towards my woman. For the next hour, I was pitched from conversation to conversation, all about howhappypeople were for me and how much they loved Rosie. I got numerous slaps on the back and well wishes. I wasn’t used to this much human interaction. I was high on happiness, filled up, in a good way.

“Sorry,”I said bashfully, finally reaching Rosie.

“Don’t be,”she giggled, tilting her chin for akiss.

I held her to me protectively in the crowd, whispering in her ear, “I need you to follow me.”

Chapter Forty-Two

“Surprise!”the crew yelled. My jaw dropped, looking at Harley and Kaylee, Frankie and Meg, Maxine and Markos, Noah, Azalea, and Dane.

“What is this?”I asked, looking around at my empty loft. I eyed the black upholstered chair before people parted, revealing a mural on the brick wall opposite the vintage one for the store. The discolored brick now had a phoenix from floor to ceiling. The flames of its tail swooped to cradle a red rose, along with a painted scroll that read Pricked by a Rose Ink.

---