Page 39 of Feverburn

“Aimee.”She barked out the spelling,“A-I-M-E-E.”My theory was correct.

I made the drink in silence, then slid it across the counter with the friendliest smile I could muster. She picked up the cup and ripped the lid to splash me viciously.“That’s for Tyler, you fucking cunt!!” she yelled.

I yelped as I shielded my face with my forearms as the burning liquid splattered my skin.“What the actual fuck?”I shrieked, grabbing a towel to wipe myself down.

I rushed around the counter as Carson shot to his feet. She tried to throw the empty cup at me, but he caught it like a ninja in mid-air.“Get the fuck out of here!”he bellowed, scowling down at her.

Aimee snickered, holding up her phone as if she was taking a video of me. I lunged, swatting it out of her hand and flinging it across the shop. My best guess was this was Tyler’s new chick here to insult me.

“I take it he sent you?”I asked.

“I’m his girlfriend if that’s what you’re asking, youstupidwhore!”

Frenetic energy buzzed around us as she stepped to fetch her phone, distancing herself. I walked closer, herding her towards the door.“Lovely, well, enjoy your trauma. It looks like you’re made for each other, you fucking twat!”

“You’re just a jealous bitch!”She bent to grab her phone, then pushed a row of Kaylee’s ceramics off the shelf. I gasped as theyshattered. She delighted in my reaction, lunging for another row, destroying ass and titty vases in one sweep.

“Why did you come up here? Do you want us to take his picture down or something?” I asked asCarson inched between us, ready to break up a catfight. With each step, ceramic pieces crunched under our boots.

Aimee rolled her eyes,“Like I fucking care what you do in this shithole! It’s just a bunch of freaks claiming they’re witches.Pathetic! You didn’t keep Tylerhappy. That’s your own damn problem. There’s no need tohumiliatehim!”

“Wow, your internalized misogyny is showing. Tyler cheated on me and assaulted two people. If you weren’t such a hag, I’d be worried for your safety!”

Carson extended his arms between us like a cage.

Aimee’s face screwed up. “He’s a lawyer. He could’ve set you up with a nice life. Now, you show off your trashy tattooed body, making coffee for construction workers. Fucking slut!”

I shrieked, pouncing at her, stopped by Carson’s arms encircling my waist, reeling me back while he roared,“Now that’s enough!”

She continued,“Everyone is raving about this place online, and I’m fucking sick of it. Stop talking about him!”

I shouted, twisting in Carson’s arms,“Or what, he’s going to sue us? With his sketchy law degree? Honey, if he were a good lawyer, he wouldn’t have taken a bet to fuck Kaylee to get a promotion at work!”

Carson had had enough. He deposited me on the ground and approached Aimee, towering over her with a gritted jaw.“Listen, if a simple coffee shop disrupts your fragile sensibilities, maybe you need to assess your own shit, lady. You know that guy who broke Tyler’s jaw?”

Aimee fixed the purse strap on her bony shoulder.“Yes,”she hissed.

“That was my brother. And if you can believe it, he’s the nice one. If anyone from your camp comes up here again, they’ll wish they only had a broken jaw to deal with. I promise you; I’m not someone you want to fuck with.”He pointed back at me.“I would take a bullet for this woman, and this whole town would protect this shop. You’re fucking with the wrong people. Now get in yourstupidBMW I’m sure you sucked a dick for, and drive your dogface back to Boston.”

Emotions clogged my throat, almost distracting me from thepainfulburns. Aimee mumbled something and turned to open the door. Carson followed her, standing in the doorframe until she raced off, blaring Ariana Grande.

“Thank you,”I said as he turned to look at me.“But I could’ve handled that on my own.”

“You shouldn’t have to. Where the fuck is Kaylee?”he barked.

“On a date with your fucking brother!”I barked back as I threw down my towel, both angry that he asked and at my answer.

His gaze fixed on my collarbone. It hurt, but I was more embarrassed than anything. He sucked in a deep breath and gestured toward his store.“I have a first aid kit in my office—”

“Please leave.”

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m also about to lose my shit. Please leave.”I turned away to pick up the ceramics with my towel. I fought tears building, a sob shaking my voice when I pleaded,“Carson, for theloveof god, please leave!”

He waited a few seconds, then shut the door. I cleaned up and kicked myself in the ass for not having a first-aid kit in the shop. Searching for solutions, I realized I had an aloe vera plant at home that could ease the burns.

Perhaps it was childish, but a part of me kept thinking how unfair Kaylee wasn’t around for that act ofrevenge. Silver Springs was our shared creation. Kaylee didn’t get burned. She was on a fucking date with her lumbersnack. She was living herbestlife while I defended us and dealt with loneliness, even though in the love triangle, I was the girlfriend, not the other woman. I took a deep breath, stuffing down my jealousy and resentment. New tears pooled while I swung open thebackdoorof the dark hardware store, only to walk into Carson’s broad chest. A choked cry fled my throat, blowing my cover.

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