"Yeah, I saw him." He throws the towel down on the desk in front of me, grimacing. "Is that why you said no earlier?"
What is he talking about? "You saw who?"
"Look, just because I'm a mechanic doesn't mean I'm stupid." He huffs and leans over to where there is a stack of keys and grabs mine. "I saw the guy with dark black hair that came in right after you went back inside. Is he why you said no?"
Gross. That's freaking disgusting, but that’ll at least save me some face with him. He did fix my car after all and it makes things a little bit easier on me. I just hate that I have to pretend I'm dating a freaking demon. "Yeah, it is. I'm sorry. I just didn't know what to say."
"God, I'm sorry." He rubs a hand down his face. "I feel like such a moron. I didn't mean to come on so strong. It's just, hell you're new and I'm into you. Just forget it ever happened."
Oh, how I wish I could, and this awkward conversation could be over. "No worries. Water under the bridge." Please can we just drop it?
"So, I finished up with your car and it's ready to go." He pulls out a sheet of paper and hands it over to me. "The total is three thousand four hundred and fifty-five, which covers the rebuilt transmission and fan belt."
Holy shit that's expensive. There's no telling how long I'd be here if it wasn't for Damien. I grab my wad of money out and count out thirty-five hundred. "Here you go and keep the change." I still have at least five hundred dollars in my hand left over. Why would that demon give me so much?
Alex's eyebrow quirks up. "Well okay then." He finally hands me the keys and takes the money. "I hope I still get to you see around."
"You won't." I give him a small frown. "I'm running to the motel to grab my things and heading home."
"Oh, wow." He puts the money up and nods. "Well, be careful driving back. However, your car shouldn't give you any problems."
Hell, it better not after the amount of money I just dropped on it. "Great, thank you so much."
He stares at me for a minute then clears his throat. "Oh, your car is parked in the side parking lot."
Thank god. I can finally get out of here. "Okay, thanks again." I head out the door without a backward glance. I walk to the side and find the car sitting there. I unlock the door and slide in. I turn the key and hold my breath waiting for it to crank. When it starts without any problems, I let out a breath. Now I'm rocking and rolling.
I need to grab what little things I have and head back home. It's around a six-hour drive and I have a full tank. At least when my car decided to crap out on me, I had just filled it up. So, I should be coasting into town around midnight.
Pulling out onto the main highway, my heart begins to pound as I begin my journey home.
Now that Margaret's gone what will the other members of the Council want to do with me? She was the only one who seemed willing to work with me, but now that she's gone, what will happen?
I have to figure out who the hell Brad is working with. It’s crazy to think one of my good friends has turned out being against the council. It’s fine, but it’s as if he was using me too to get to the Earth Crystal. Whoever he’s helping must be a bigger player in this whole thing than I realized. He caused a lot of problems that day, but what is their ulterior motive? I'm learning everyone has them, but it's the figuring out what they really are that is the problem.
Missing Charlie has been the hardest part of being away. He's become such an important part of my life, it's disconcerting. I'm not even sure what it means. When Beth was alive and after her death, he hated me. But something has happened since I've been on the search for these artifacts that has brought us closer. He's my best friend. But is it supposed to feel like a piece of you has been left behind when you leave a friend? I'm not sure what's going on between us anymore and some lines are beginning to blur. I don't know if it's just on my end or if he's confused as well.
The biggest change of all is my parents. Their one-eighty attitude change. I believe it's sincere, but I seem to have some nagging concerns about it. Can just losing your status and downgrading a house make you change that much, or is this some kind of play? I don't want to entertain this thought, but it's always there in the back of my mind.
What does it all mean when you have ancient elemental artifacts dissolve into you? It can't be a good thing. And it's not helping I'm beginning to feel unbalanced and I have no clue why or how to get it under control. And now Damien, the council, Charlie, and everyone is going to want me to go after the third artifact. Am I ready for that?
That's the funny thing about it all. You would think a six-hour drive would take forever, but when your lost in thoughts and dreading returning home, that drive flies by in the blink of an eye.
So, somehow, now it's midnight and I'm pulling into the apartment complex.
Honestly, I should be going to mine, but I pull into Charlie's visitor spot. I get out of the car, letting my feet lead me to his door, my hand hovering before I knock. It's too late, but now that I'm this close, I can't go back to my place without seeing him.
A few seconds
