Deep Burn (Burned Duet 2)

“I’ll tell her,” I whispered, but I knew Elodie wouldn’t come back here. Not yet, anyway. She had more healing to do, more steps to take, and being opposite the shop wasn’t one of them. “I’ll get her to call you.”

“Thank you,” Aleste sighed out. “Thank you.” She took another breath, waited a second, then twirled around and left the same way she’d entered. I watched as she crossed the street, took one last look at the front of my shop, then headed back inside her studio.

“She’s been leaving notes under the door nearly every day,” Lara said from behind me. “Think she was close to calling the cops if you weren’t back by next week.”

“That’s good,” I commented, blinking several times to get out of my own head.

“Good?” Jez laughed. “How’s that good?”

I turned, facing the entire shop and the three people who worked here. “Because it means there’s someone else who cares about her.” I left that hanging in the air, not willing to say more than that. “Come on, Mav. Let’s head to the hardware store. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can relax in my own fuckin’ shop again.”

Chapter Eleven

ELODIE

Leo: Can’t wait for you to be back at school. It’s so boring with no one to talk to.

My stomach bottomed out at Leo’s text. I’d told him a few days ago that I’d be back at school after Christmas, but I wasn’t sure I’d be ready. Time felt like it was whizzing by at a pace I couldn’t keep up with.

We’d been back from the lake house for over a week, which meant it was only a couple of weeks until Christmas. Each day that passed was a day closer to me having to go back to that school.

Elodie: Same.

It was a lie. A lie I knew he’d be able to see through, but I wasn’t willing to tell him I was nervous about going back. Lola had been in to speak to the principal, and they’d told her Knox wasn’t allowed back at the school due to his bail conditions, but that didn’t mean he still didn’t have friends there. I had no doubt they’d make it known how they felt.

It didn’t matter though, because both Knox and I knew the truth, no matter what lies he’d spun to his friends. All I needed to do was attend my classes and let each day pass by uneventful. It was a temporary situation, one that would be over before I knew it. I hoped.

Leo: You’re a liar lol.

Leo: Want me to come over after school, and we can study?

I glanced at the time at the top of my cell screen, seeing it was already one in the afternoon. School would be out in a couple of hours, and Asher had his first proper day back tattooing with clients today, so he wouldn’t be home until around six.

Elodie: Yeah. Bring snacks.

Leo: Always.

I grinned and switched to a game on my cell. I’d completed all my work for today, and I’d get a head start on tomorrow’s when Leo came over, so I deserved a break for a little while. I settled back on the sofa, determined to get to the next level, and just as I managed it, several knocks on the door rang out.

My heart jumped into my throat, my hands started to shake uncontrollably, and my fear kicked in full force. Lola wasn’t coming over today, Asher was at work, and Leo was at school, so there shouldn’t have been anyone else knocking at the door.

Several knocks rang out again, this time louder than the first few. I stood, backing into the kitchen to get a weapon. I’d let myself get comfortable—allowed myself to think it was over—but it wasn’t. It’d never be over, not inside my head.

“Elodie?” a gruff voice shouted. “I know you’re in there!”

My heart hammered in my chest but for a different reason this time. I didn’t want to walk to the door and open it. I didn’t want to face what was on the other side. It wasn’t just Jax I was ignoring, I hadn’t seen Aleste either. Asher had told me she’d come over to the shop to see him, but every time I stared at her name in my cell, I couldn’t bring myself to click “call” or “send message.” I didn’t know what I was supposed to say—didn’t know what I could say.

“Open up, Elodie.” He knocked again, this time softer. “Lemme in, it’s freezing out here.”

I inhaled a breath, feeling the burn at the back of my throat. It was Jax. The same Jax who had looked out for me when he’d lived in the trailer park. The same Jax who had given me a job when no one else would. The same Jax who had been blowing my phone up constantly.

“If you don’t open up, I’ll go get the keys off Asher,” he warned, and I knew from his tone he was serious.

“I…I’m coming,” I croaked out, loud enough for him to hear, but I still couldn’t get my feet to work. My legs felt like Jell-O, and I was afraid one step would have me collapsing to the floor.

I didn’t know why I was so afraid to see Jax’s face. Maybe it was because he was the closest thing to my family? Or maybe it was because I was scared he’d see the change in my eyes. I wasn’t the same Elodie I’d been before. I wasn’t the Elodie who could flip a switch and become Lotus in the club. I was a new kind of Elodie, one whose moods went up and down like a yoyo.

“I’ll wait all day if I have to,” he said, his voice lower so only I could hear him.