Witchin' USA

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Thank you and goodnight.”

  And it was goodnight, because the darkness found me a split-second later.

  19

  Nineteen

  I woke to the sun beating on my face through the newly restored window, a headache the size of Booker’s bus pounding between my temples and a warm spot in the bed right next to me. I rolled to my side, frowning as I ran my fingers over the indentation in the sheets. Someone had clearly been here moments before. The residual body heat remained, which meant … .

  Despite my headache panic took over, and I clawed to the side of the bed. My eyes went wide when I saw the pile of male clothes – flamingo-covered boxer shorts and all – discarded in a heap on the floor.

  I couldn’t remember a lot about the previous night – flashes of water spouts and joined fingers overlapping with giggles and breathy gasps – but I had a feeling something very big happened while I was out of it. Okay, I didn’t know how big it was, but if his hands and feet are any indication … wait! That’s so not important right now.

  I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead and rolled out of the bed, hitting the floor with a thump. I was in an oversized T-shirt that was inside out, and I didn’t remember putting it on. I caught a glimpse of my hair in the wall mirror and cringed because the bedhead was back and clearly ready to throttle me for being such a wanton harlot.

  Holy crap! I had sex with someone and I didn’t even remember it. There was only one option – Galen had been there for the water sports after all – and we’d clearly done the deed and I had no memory of the hot and sweaty … whatever. Wait, can something be hot and sweaty if you don’t remember it?

  I registered the sound of the shower shutting off in the next room and shifted my eyes to the closed door. He was still here! He was in the shower … naked … and still here! What the holy hell? How could this be happening? As if I didn’t have enough other life-altering things on my plate, now I’d had sex with a guy I barely knew and I couldn’t even remember it. That was the worst part.

  Okay, being loose and free was probably the worst part, but the fact that I couldn’t remember it burned brightest in the empty hole of disgust rolling into a ball in the pit of my stomach. How could I let this happen? How could he let this happen? What kind of guy takes advantage of a woman who clearly doesn’t remember what’s happening? A pervert, that’s what kind!

  Galen Blackwood may be sheriff – a sheriff who went out of his way to make sure I wasn’t charged with murder – but he was clearly a pervert. I knew it the minute I saw him. He was far too good looking to be anything but a pervert. What? That’s a thing. I totally saw it on television once. I think it was the Oxygen network.

  I jolted when the bathroom door opened, drawing the T-shirt down over my knees as I lifted my eyes and found Galen standing in the doorway with a quizzical look on his face. His chest was bare, water beaded across it – he must shave or wax, because he was smooth as a menopausal woman’s upper lip right after it’s been deforested – and he had a towel cinched at his waist.

  “What’s going on?”

  The question struck me as stupid. “You took a shower.”

  “I needed one after we got so wet and dirty last night.”

  My cheeks flooded with color. I was mortified. That was the only word I could use to describe the emotions flooding through me. “Um … okay.” I felt as if I was an alien caught in someone else’s life. Sure, I created the situation – and he obviously took advantage of me – but this couldn’t possibly be my life.

  “I have to go to work, but I’m glad you’re up.” Galen leaned over and scooped up his clothes, the towel shifting so much that I thought there was a legitimate chance it would slip from his hips. I was torn about whether or not I wanted that to happen. On one hand, I didn’t want to be caught staring. On the other, I’d been deprived of the memories of our dalliance and felt somehow cheated.

  “Hey! Are you listening to me?” Galen snapped his fingers in my face, causing me to jolt out of my reverie.

  “I’m listening. I … feel … weird.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” Galen hunkered down so he was crouching in front of me, his knees spreading in such a way that I had to force my eyes to remain on his face in case I did something absolutely stupid. Er, well, something more stupid than I’d already done. “You expended a ton of energy last night. You probably have a bit of a hangover.”

  Oh, well, he obviously had a very high opinion of his abilities, which was ridiculous because I couldn’t even remember them. “I need some aspirin.”

  “There’s some in the bathroom.” Galen gently reached out and pushed my hair away from my face. “I shouldn’t have pushed you to do what you did last night. I don’t think you were ready.”

  “It’s fine.” It’s fine? What is wrong with me? It’s not fine. It’s not even close to fine. “It happened and it’s done. Let’s not dwell on it.”

  “I don’t want to dwell on it either, but I think we need to talk about it. The thing is, I have to get to the office. I’m already running late. I didn’t want you to wake up alone because I figured you would have questions.”

  Why would he possibly think that? The only question I had was how much of a slut he took me for. “I don’t have any questions right now. I’m just … I feel funny.”

  “You need to have a big breakfast,” Galen ordered. “Eggs, hash browns, maybe some sausage.”

  Oh, now he was going for double entendres. What a creep. If he thought I would fall for that, well, he had another think coming. “Sausage sounds good.” Oh, good grief! Clearly some unseen force invaded my brain while I was unconscious.

  “Eat a lot of protein,” Galen ordered, his knee cracking as he stood. “I have some things to check on, but I’ll be back after my shift. We need to talk, but you slept much longer than I thought you would.”

  “Yes, well, I expended a lot of energy.” Sexy energy that I couldn’t remember. Could this day get any worse?

  “You needed the sleep,” Galen said. “We’ll talk tonight. We have some decisions to make. You should be okay here for the day, but if you go to town make sure you stay on the main drag and don’t get lost. I’m not convinced someone still isn’t after you.”

  “Yes, sir.” I mock saluted because … well, because I’m a geek and I have bouts of social awkwardness that I can’t possibly explain. “I’ll be good and keep to myself all day. I promise.”

  “You don’t need to do that. Just … be careful.”

  “I’m on it.”

  Galen’s expression was hard to read, but he left it at that, shaking his head as he moved toward the stairs. “Drink some water, too. I think you might be dehydrated after last night.”

  Could he be more full of himself? “I’ll do that.”

  “Okay. I’ll be in touch.”

  I SCURRIED INTO the shower as soon as I heard the front door on the main floor shut, whipping my hair back into a loose bun rather than worrying about drying it before fleeing the lighthouse and the huge curtain of sex guilt and shame hanging over it.

  I headed toward Main Street, a bottle of water in hand, and ignored every stray glance cast my way. I felt as if I was wearing a huge scarlet “S” on my shirt, so I kept my head down and scampered inside Lilac’s tiki bar.

  For the first time since I arrived on the island there were actual customers in the bar. Sure, it was only eight people and they were spread out at three different tables, but it was people all the same.

  Lilac caught my eye as I breezed through the door, arching an eyebrow as she mixed drinks behind the counter. “Your hair looks cute pulled back like that. You should do it more often.”

  “I generally prefer wearing it down, but the humidity makes me look like I have a dead animal on top of my head.”

  “I don’t think it’s so bad. There’s some special shampoo and conditioner to get if it’s a problem.”

  Lilac was sunny and happy as she bopped her head back and forth to music on
ly she could hear. Okay, I could hear it, too. I was going to tire of hearing about piña coladas at a certain point, but I ignored it for now.

  “Do you want to hear about my night?”

  “Absolutely.” Lilac slid two umbrellas into the fruity drinks. “I waxed my legs and eyebrows, so whatever you did has to be better than that. Hold on.” Lilac carried the drinks to one of the tables, her hips swishing as she did. She stopped at another table before swinging back. My patience was practically non-existent by the time she locked gazes with me. “Did you magically throw someone else out your window?”

  “Why don’t you say that a little louder,” I hissed. “I don’t think the couple in the corner heard you.”

  Lilac craned her neck to see over my shoulder, not bothering to hide her efforts as she stared at the couple in question. “They’re sphinxes. Harmless.”

  I had no idea what that meant. “Sphinxes?”

  “Yeah, they’re kind of anal-retentive freaks, but they mostly keep to themselves unless they decide to lust for power. Then you have to kill them,” Lilac supplied. “Those two are just here for tans and mixed drinks.”

  Wow! Every single time I think I have my head wrapped around this place something proves me wrong. I don’t even know what to think about that. “Okay, well … .”

  “Hey, can we get two more rum runners?” A guy in a corner booth raised his hand to get Lilac’s attention.

  “Sure thing.” Lilac nodded as she hopped to work. “Keep talking. I’m listening.”

  I wasn’t so sure, and I needed her full attention. “Something weird happened last night.”

  “Did you and Galen get naked and sweaty? By the way, if you answer that question in a negative manner I’ll totally lose all respect for you.”

  How did she know? “Yes.”

  “Good.” Lilac shoveled ice into a glass. “I’ve been saying … wait, what?” She stilled before lifting her head, very slowly and deliberately, and giving me an extended once over. “You had sex with Galen?”

  “Yes, only I don’t remember it.”

  Lilac wrinkled her nose. “Was this sex in your head?”

  “No.”

  “Then there’s no way you wouldn’t remember it,” Lilac challenged. “He’s the catch of the island. No, I’m not joking. Every woman who grew up here wants a piece of Galen. He dates occasionally, but it’s never serious. Talk at the gym says he’s … well … fabulously gifted in that department. The relationships never last long, but the memories are forever.”

  Oh, good grief. That was the last thing I wanted to hear. “The sex wasn’t in my head,” I snapped, my voice carrying enough to cause the men in the corner to smile in my direction. “Why would I make it up?”

  Lilac shrugged. “Maybe you’re lonely. I don’t blame you. I’d be lonely living in that big lighthouse alone.”

  She was clearly trying to give me an aneurysm. “I’m not lonely. I haven’t been alone long enough since I arrived on this island to be lonely.”

  “That’s good.” Lilac patted my arm before grabbing the drinks. “I’ll be right back.”

  I bit my tongue to keep from exploding as she carried the drinks to the corner booth, stopping long enough to chat with the sphinxes before returning to the bar. She looked as if she didn’t have a care in the world. “What were we talking about again?”

  “The fact that I turned into a total slut last night,” I barked, causing the sphinxes to giggle.

  “Don’t worry about her,” Lilac offered, waving off the curious stares. “She’s high strung. She can’t help herself. That’s why the sex – even if it’s imaginary – is a good thing.”

  “Do you want me to punch you?” I asked, my temper flaring.

  “I’m not much of a fighter, but I get the point. You’re at the end of your rope. Okay. Spill. Tell me everything that happened.”

  That’s where I ran into difficulty. “I don’t remember everything that happened.”

  “Well, tell me what you remember.”

  “We were doing dishes … .”

  “Oh, this is how all good softcore porn stories start.” Lilac pressed her hand to the spot above her heart and made an exaggerated face. She was trying to be endearing, but I was torn between punching her and bursting into tears.

  “We were doing dishes,” I repeated. “Then he said he wanted to show me something.”

  “Was it in his pants?”

  “No, it was on the beach.”

  “That’s promising.” Lilac’s smile was serene. “Continue.”

  “The story isn’t dirty,” I supplied.

  “Then get to the good stuff.”

  I really wanted to punch her … and maybe kick her a little, too. “He wanted to show me that my magic could do more than kill a man, so we made a water monster … er, kind of a water girl to be exact.”

  “Is that like making the beast with two backs?”

  “Do you want to hear this story or not?”

  “Sorry. Continue.”

  “The last thing I remember is seeing the water beast thingy and then everything goes funny in my memory. When I woke up this morning, the spot beside me was warm and empty because Galen was in the shower and all of his clothes were on the bedroom floor.”

  “Huh.” Lilac cocked her head. “Did you ask him?”

  “I was too stunned. He came into the bedroom, said he was late for work and that we would talk later.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I waited until he left, hopped in the shower and then came to find you.” I had trouble catching my breath. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Get him naked again and see if you can remember it this time,” Lilac suggested. “I can’t enjoy the story without more details.”

  I was incredulous. “That’s it?”

  “What do you want me to say, Hadley? That was a totally lame story.”

  “No, you’re lame,” I challenged.

  Lilac smirked. “You’re so cute I just want to dress you up like a little doll and carry you around in my pocket.” She squeezed my cheek and gave it a good jiggle. “Try really hard to remember next time. That will make the story much more exciting.”

  “Ugh.” I exhaled heavily and dropped my head in my hands, ignoring the way Lilac chirped as she poured me an iced tea and took another round of drinks to her guests. When she returned, she was on to another conversational topic.

  “So, Mark Santiago’s sister works at the bar down the way and I heard she has the afternoon shift today,” Lilac announced. “I was thinking that as soon as my relief comes in we can head down there and question her. You know, act like we’re real detectives and stuff. I always thought I wanted to be Nancy Drew when I was younger.”

  “I preferred Trixie Belden.”

  “They were both fun,” Lilac said. “What do you think?”

  I thought it was an absolutely terrible idea. “Sure. What have I got to lose?”

  20

  Twenty

  I’m a big fan of time travel movies and television shows. The idea that I could possibly go back and forth in time and correct a wrong was incredibly appealing given my irresponsible actions of the previous night. I had no idea if any magical creatures could make it happen, but it was an interesting thought.

  “Is time travel real?”

  Lilac glanced over her shoulder as she led me down the beach. I was surprised when we left the main drag and headed toward the shore but I figured Lilac knew where we were going better than anyone else, especially me. As long as we didn’t run into Galen I didn’t care where we ended up.

  “Are you talking about time travel in like Outlander or The Butterfly Effect?”

  That was an interesting question. “Are they different?”

  Lilac held her hands palms out and shrugged. “I think they’re very different. In The Butterfly Effect he wanted to go back and alter the past to save someone in the present, but each thread he yanked made things worse or just as bad. Ultimately
he had to remove himself entirely from her life if he wanted her to survive and thrive.

  “In Outlander the main character didn’t make a choice to go back – er, well, at least the first time – but once she got there she wanted to change the past,” she continued. “They realized they couldn’t change their part of the past and became resigned to their fate. Which outcome do you want?”

  Wow! That was an extremely heavy question. “I only want to travel back to yesterday and not make a fool of myself.”

  Lilac snorted, her amusement drawing attention as we ducked into a beach tiki bar. It was much smaller than Lilac’s bar and looked to have a removable floor and bar area. I hadn’t seen it on my earlier treks through Moonstone Bay. It was kind of cute … and also worrisome because it made me wonder if a stiff breeze could pick it up and toss it in the ocean.

  “You need to let that go,” Lilac chided as she led me through the sparsely-populated bar and toward a booth in the corner. “You bagged the hottest bachelor in town on, like, your fourth day here. You should be thrilled.”

  “I am thrilled. Can’t you tell?”

  “You also need to work on your sarcasm.” Lilac slid into one side of the booth, leaving the other for me, and scanned the bar. “We’re looking for Sarah Santiago.”

  “What does she look like?”

  “Really tiny. Cute. Long dark hair. I don’t see her, but I know she’s supposed to handle the lunch shift. She’s probably not here yet.”

  “What are we going to ask her?” I couldn’t help being nervous. The idea of questioning the sister of the man I killed – however accidental or necessary – made me nervous.

  “We’ll figure it out as it happens,” Lilac replied, forcing a smile as a waitress headed in our direction. I didn’t know Lilac well, but I could tell when she was being genuine, and the faux sugary smile she brought out to play now was jarring. “Hello, Cordelia. I didn’t know you’d be here today.”