Page 13 of Feverburn

“Sounds interesting,”I said, trying to hide mypanic.

“We could carpool,” Dane teased like a smartass.

Harley cleared his throat,“Mama, don’t traumatize the newbie.”

“What do I always say, kids?”she asked, looking around the table.

In unison, they all flatly said,“Everyone fucks.”

I almost spat out my drink, unable to hide my laughter. They all joined me. It was nice to be around this many people. Tyler’s family was a stuffy, unwelcoming bunch. Plus, he asked me to cover up my tattoos so I didn’t offend his fossil of a grandpa. Fuck that shit.

I never had a big family. It was just me and my mom. She was a nail technician, so I grew up in salons surrounded by women. It made meextraskittish about men well into adulthood. Women felt safe, men not so much. The combination of both in a family setting was a refreshing middle ground, something I didn’t know I was missing out on.

After dinner, Carson went to do the dishes without a single word. I got a tour of Maxine’s office, filled with even more questionable art. A boob puppet and a tattered book titledOur Bodies, Ourselveswere on the desk. I tried to keep quiet, not wanting my crush’s mom to ask me about my womb or Kegels. By the sounds of it, Maxine had a women’s circle down at the community center, and Kaylee was teaching a yoga class for the attendees.

In the hallway, the brothers argued in a language that wasn’t English. If I had to take awildstab in the dark, it sounded Persian or Greek. Their deep voices were sexy as the words streamed out. The argument was playful, eventually erupting into boyish laughter. It made their faces soften, Carson’s scowl vanishing for only a moment. I fought my urge to gawk before someone caught me.

He was the first to leave, but he wrapped his tiny mom in a quick hug, nodding at his dad in the process before opening the door. Nobody else got a goodbye or a single glance. I couldn’t make sense of it. What was his problem? As an observer, it was bizarre and left me with more questions than answers.

Thankfully, the rest of the night, no one discussed what brought me to Pine Bluff. Kaylee and I agreed that we would never be ashamed of the affair.

We were the ones hurt and screwed over.

We were the ones taking our power back.

And…everyone fucks.

Chapter Six

I slept withwethair, so my mane was an angry tangle of curls. I put it in awildbun with pieces hanging down to frame my face. Then, I spackled on makeup to feel more human, adding highlights and shimmery powders to look dewier. A small voice told me I was preening for Carson. I wished that little voice would shut up.

I pulled on jeans with a faded black Garth Brooks T-shirt I wore half ironically, half seriously, along with a slouchy taupe brown cardigan. I had sewn a giant, black patch on the back that said Bog Witch in a scratchy white font surrounded by skulls with flowers and mushrooms growing out of the eyes.

Kaylee was running errands and asked me to let Carson in this morning. Waiting for him, I finished shelving all the beautiful pottery she made for the shop. Most were mugs in the shape of boobs, butts, and cauldrons. The boob ones were my favorite because she made them all shapes and sizes, some with endearingly lopsided nipples. Staring at a mug, I jumped when I saw him by the door.

“Morning,”I said jadedly, letting him in.

“Morning.”He wore a black Carhartt hoodie, boots, and jeans. All three had light paint splatters. Between that and the perfectly groomed beard, I wanted to climb the fine fucker like a tree. He stood there with an expectant raise of his eyebrows.“So, are we going to be weird now?”

“Weird? You’re the one that made it weird.”

“I was looking out for you. Maybe you’re not used to that.”

“Nope, I’m not.”I walked towards the counter, unwilling to give him more information.“You were quiet at dinner last night.”

He shrugged in response.

“What language was that when you were talking to Harley? It sounded Persian or—”

“Greek. We’re half Greek. My dad’s side.”

“Kouris?”I asked.

“It means forest dweller. His parents immigrated from Greece in the 50s.”

“Your grandpa started a lumber and hardware company with a surname like that?”

His mouth pulled in a crooked smile.“Listen, babe. I never said it wasn’t ironic.”

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