5

Emily had never run so fast in her life. She heard Kian shout her name out a few times, but she didn’t stop or look over her shoulder to see if he was following her. She needed to find Selma and get out of the pouring rain. Not be under a pavilion making out with an extremely sexy stranger, who made her toes curl and her body burn from passion. Shaking the thought of Kian and their kiss, she continued to run.

In no time, she was standing by Selma‘s car; however, there was still no sign of Selma. Anxiety was overwhelming Emily. She would hate herself if anything happened to Selma while she had been off having a make-out session. 

“Emily,” she heard Kian shout off in the distance. His voice calling her like a siren. The logical, rational side of her kicked in and brought her attention back to finding Selma.

“Oh. Hell.” She took off towards the garage hoping to find Selma and avoid Mr. Yummy. 

The garage lights were still on, but she saw no signs of Selma. Things weren’t looking too good. Emily needed to get Jughead to retrieve her car just in case something happened to Selma. God forbid. 

Emily pushed the door open hard making the overhead bells jingle loudly. “Mechanic,” she yelled as the door slammed shut behind her. There was no sign of him either. “Where is everyone?”

“What do you want now, woman? I told you the roads were washed out,” Jughead growled marching down the narrow hallway towards her.

“Woman?” Emily snarled at him. “Look you damn chauvinistic pig!”

“I don’t have time for this.” He glared down at her. “I’m busy. Very busy.” They both stood there. Jughead glaring down at Emily. Emily glaring up at him. The man really irritated the hell out of her. She despised men like him. The overbearing, drinks too many protein shakes, and doesn’t have very many brain cells that work type of man. 

Emily thought she heard someone call her name but was too busy having a stare down with the mechanic to care. Whoever it was would have to come to her.

“I don’t know how things work around here in Twilight town, but your manners fucking suck. For lack of better words.”

“I told you I would go in the morning. The roads are washed out...” he snarled back.

“Emily?” She was about to respond to her name, when she heard Selma yell, “Damn it, Emily, where the hell have you been?” 

Relief washed over Emily. Standing a few feet behind the mechanic was Selma. Her lips looked like she had been making out. Surely not her, too! Emily screamed in her mind. 

She wondered if Selma and the beast in front of her had been kissing. He was good looking. She couldn’t blame Selma if she did. However, Emily didn’t know how Selma could muster past the man’s horrible personality.

The sound of the door being pushed open brought Emily back to the world around her. The bells once again jingled loudly. A gust of wind and rain blasted past her. She looked over her shoulder and groaned. It was Mr. Yummy again.

“Did you really not feel anything back there?” Kian asked as he stared at Emily. Her cheeks warmed from the embarrassment of him having mentioned the kiss in front of the others. 

“Ugh! Why are you still following me?” She stomped toward him and thrust her finger into his chest. His rock-hard chest. She regretted her action instantly. 

HONK! HONK!

Emily dropped her hand at the sound of the car honking. She hoped there had been another mechanic that Jughead sent to retrieve her car. Although she didn’t remember telling him which way her car was. But she was still hopeful. Emily was ready for her and Selma to get the hell out of the creepy town. 

Jughead stalked over to the window. “About fucking time,” he snarled then slammed his hand on a large red button. The old garage bay door began to rise. It rose with lots of whines and clanks. 

When it finally reached the top, Emily’s heart fluttered. In drove a hot pink, 1955 Crown Victoria. She hadn’t seen one in years. And had never seen one in that color. Her favorite color at that. 

The mechanic hit the red button again. Without a word, he went storming down the hallway with Kian, Selma, and Emily in tow towards the bay.

“Casper...” Kian called out behind the mechanic. Casper? Like the fucking ghost? Emily never would have thought the large barbarian to be named such a wimpy name. He looked more like a Sven or a Gustav.

“Not a fucking word, asshole,” Casper snapped as he went through a door.

Emily looked at Selma, who just shrugged. They continued walking until they were inside the large open bay. Emily couldn’t help how she was drawn to the beauty in front of her. 

“I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Emily gasped. “A 1955 Crown Victoria!” She walked around the car with her hand an inch away from the car. It was a rule to never touch someone’s car without their permission; especially a classic. 

As Emily reached the back fender, the front door of the car swung open. Emily glanced to see who the driver was. When the driver didn’t get out right away, she returned to looking the car over. 

Emily could see Casper, the not-so-friendly ghost’s reflection on the rear window. He had crossed his arms in front of his chest and took up a defensive stance. He obviously didn’t like whoever the owner was, which seemed to be a woman judging by the manicured nails on the hand that reached out of the car.

Kian rushed over towards the car. He grabbed the hand of the driver and helped her out. Player, Emily thought. She felt a ping of jealousy at his chivalrous behavior towards the driver. After all, he had just been passionately kissing Emily. Let it go, Emily. He’s just a random guy. One to write in the books. It wasn’t like her to go around kissing random men, but she needed to tell herself something to subdue the ping of jealousy and hurt feelings.

The woman looked like she had just stepped off of the set of Leave it to Beaver. She was a picture perfect 1950s fashion model. Her hair was perfect without a strand out of place. The curls were pinned nicely into a chignon on the back of her head. Pearls hung around her neck. She was dressed in a white button-up shirt, fitted pencil skirt, and black pumps. 

The woman’s age was a mystery. She gave the appearance of maybe early thirties; however, something about her made Emily think that she was much older than that. 

“I see you like my baby.” The woman said smiling sweetly at Emily. “My name is Nikki, and you are?” Emily decided to dodge the question by turning her attention back to the car. 

“She’s gorgeous.” 

The woman laughed and turned to Selma. Her heels clicked against the floor.

“Nikki Lovecroft, real estate broker and all-around fixer-upper,” she chuckled and offered her hand to Selma.

“S-s-sel-sel-ma,” she coughed to clear her throat. “Selma Alvar, sales associate and author.” Emily noticed the hesitation in Selma giving her hand to Nikki. Finally, Selma shook hands with Nikki. Something wasn’t right. Selma looked like she had just gotten zapped. Nikki’s smile became even brighter.  

“Glad to meet you, Selma Alvar, very glad.” Nikki dropped her hand then made her way back to Emily. “Now, who is this lovely chickadee?”

Emily really didn’t want to tell anyone in this town her name. She had already made the mistake by telling Kian her name. 

Lie, Emily. Lie. Make up a name.

Against her better judgment, she decided to not be rude to the older woman. “Oh, I’m so sorry. How rude of me. My name is Emily.” Emily reached out her hand towards Nikki. She cringed when her hand accidentally tapped the car. She gave Nikki an apologetic look.

Nikki just laughed it off. Emily laughed with her. Not because she thought it was funny, but because she didn’t want to look like an ass. They finally shook hands. Emily felt a zap rush up her arm. She winced at the pain. Nikki smiled then dropped her hand.

“So.” Nikki clapped her hands together. She looked around at the others.

A crystal clear chime sounded through the air giving Emily the creeps. When a blue glow came from Nikki’s wrist it added to the eeriness of the room. This town was really spooking her.

Judging by Selma’s mouth being gaped she had heard the chime and now saw the glow.

“Does your bracelet always glow?” Emily asked trying to hide that she was ready to run for the hills.   

“Well, well. Imagine that.” Nikki smiled. Well, well, what? Emily screamed in her mind. She looked at Selma to give her the sign for let’s get the hell out of here, but Selma was busy staring at Nikki with wide eyes. 

“No!” Kian and Casper’s words echoed throughout the garage. They both looked scared to death. 

“Afraid so boys.” Nikki gave them both an award-winning smile. “Now, let me just switch this off.” Nikki fidgeted with the bracelet. After a few muttered words, the bracelet’s glow died out.

“What is that?” Emily asked giving up on her manners. 

“Nothing, just a toy really.” Nikki tugged her sleeve down over the creepy bracelet. Emily wasn’t buying it. Why was the woman now hiding it if it was nothing? “It was a gift from my family and I can’t bear to part with it, even if it is glitchy.” Nikki’s smile dropped as she mentioned her family, but she quickly shook off the thought and smiled. Then she walked over to her car and leaned inside. 

After a few seconds, she stepped away from the car. A notebook and pen were now in her hand. She opened the notebook, then began to jot stuff down. Emily hadn’t a clue what Nikki could be writing down. 

“Now, to get you two girls a place to stay the night.” Stay the night? Emily’s own words echoed in her mind. Nikki was looking over the notebook glancing back between Emily and Selma.

“I need to be back on the road,” Selma blurted before Emily could.

“I’m sorry, chickadee, no one is going anywhere tonight with the road washed out.”

“Washed out,” Selma squeaked.

“I already told you that,” Casper growled between clenched teeth. The man was just as rude to Selma as he was to Emily. Emily suddenly felt the need to stick up for Selma. She doubted Selma would challenge the barbarian herself. She seemed to be the timid, reserved type. 

“Look, Jughead,” Emily snapped at Casper. “Did your mother not teach you any kind of manners?” 

“You have someone bust into your place making demands and see how you react,” Casper snarled.

“Aww. Did the poor Jughead get his feelings hurt,” Emily said in a dramatic baby-talk voice.

“Now, doll. I wouldn’t go barking up that tree,” Kian chuckled.  

“Shut the fuck up, pretty boy. This is my place, and this woman has been nothing but a pain in my ass.”  Casper glared at Kian, who until that point had been reserved and well-mannered.

“Cool it, Cas,” Kian deeply growled at Casper. “She’s just trying to get her car fixed. Not her fault you’ve been stuck in a foul mood since 19—”

“Boys!” Nikki yelled. Before they could respond, she had both men by their ears and pulled down to her level. “This isn’t how you were raised to act in front of ladies.” Nikki may have wanted the two men to stop arguing, but Emily couldn’t help but love how Kian stuck up for her. Seeing his masculine, protective side turned her on.

“No, ma’am, we weren’t,” Kian acknowledged bobbing his head with a wince as he bent closer to Nikki to ease the pain. Damn you, woman! Let them fight! Nikki still had them both by their ears. 

“This is my garage,” Casper snapped not seeming to be phased by Nikki’s motherly hold on his ear.

“Look here...” Nikki began but stopped. She released both men’s ears. She didn’t look too happy. “You know the rules. Follow them.”

“Or what? What more can you do to me, fairy?” Casper stepped up to Nikki as though he was challenging her. Surely he isn’t going to hit her, Emily thought. She balled her fists at her side ready to hit the big oaf if he even stepped toward Nikki in a threatening manner. This man really was a barbarian. 

“Back off, dog, or I’ll show you,” Nikki’s voice was quite impressive. It would have made Satan shake in his boots with the tone of voice she used.

“So... do you think the rain will stop tonight, Nikki,” Kian asked in a soothing voice. He took a step towards Nikki and Casper, who were in the middle of a standoff. “I’m sure our out-of-towners would love to know.” 

“You are absolutely right, Kian” Nikki turned and patted the man’s cheek like a mother would do a child before turning to Selma and Emily. A smile plastered back on her face. 

“You girls will want your own space and I just happen to have two fully-furnished and empty apartments.” 

Both guys looked at each other and then at Nikki. Emily wasn’t crazy about the idea of staying the night in Camden. However, she was wet and tired. She didn’t want to stay in an apartment. She wanted a hotel room. An apartment seemed too intimate and too permanent. 

“No need to go out of your way for me. I understand the weather’s too bad to drive tonight, so point the way and I’ll gladly pay for a hotel room. But I definitely need to get moving first thing in the morning.” Emily couldn’t have said it better than Selma had. Mentally she gave Selma a high-five. 

“Oh, sugar, don’t you worry about it. It’s no trouble. Besides, we don’t have a hotel in Camden.”

“What?” Both girls snapped in shock. Emily couldn’t believe how the day had turned out. First, getting lost thanks to the GPS and now being stranded in a creepy town. She was wondering if having Bitching Betty was really worth it.

Emily looked at Selma. She contemplated pulling Selma off to the side and seeing if Selma was 

willing to drive them both to Lansing tonight. Camden was giving Emily bad vibes that were making all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

“Every town has a hotel,” Selma added after a few moments of silence. “Right?” 

“Of course, Camden doesn’t have a hotel,” Emily snorted sarcastically. Her hands were balled at her side, and she felt like her head was going to explode.

“However, we have some very nice apartments that you can stay in free of charge,” Nikki assured sweetly. “I just feel awful you sweet girls are stuck here.” Nikki’s voice was a little too sweet for Emily’s taste. Her words and tone seemed rehearsed.

“I can pay you...” Selma and Emily began but stopped with a laugh as they looked at each other.

“No, sugars. It is on the town of Camden. Don’t you worry about it none. If the mayor had taken care of the roads you wouldn’t be stuck here. I’ve been on him about them for years it seems.” Nikki made a face as though she was speaking of an ex-husband. She shook her head then went back to smiling at Emily and Selma.

“Thank you, Miss Nikki,” Emily said as sweet as she could considering how annoyed she was by the entire situation. Selma nodded in agreement then Emily turned to face Casper. “But you can bet your sweet ass that I will be back here first thing in the morning.”

“I open the garage at eight,” Casper growled.

“I’ll be here at 7:55,” she growled back. 

“Now, Kian, you take Emily to apartment 2C. And, Casper...” Casper growled at Nikki, and to Emily’s amusement Nikki reached up and smacked him on the nose. Emily grinned ear to ear. 

“None of that now. You take Selma to apartment 3D in your building.”