The Haunted - Jessica Verday [97]
“Coming right up.” I hurried out to the counter, where I grabbed a scooper, loaded up a small cup with the green ice cream, and swiped a spoon from the plastic dispenser. Aubra was still sitting calmly when I returned, and she took the ice cream from me without a word.
I resisted the urge to pat her on the head and tell her to be good as I left the room, and then let out an exhausted sigh when I headed back out front. What have I done to deserve this headache? Whatever it was, I sure hoped my good-deed karma was racking up the bonus points.
Vincent never showed up, and I stayed to help Aubra close. We both worked in silence.
The tables were really messy, so I decided to put some space between us and grabbed a spray bottle to go wipe them down. Then I glanced out the front window.
Caspian’s face was pressed against the glass.
“I’ll, uh, be right back,” I called over my shoulder to Aubra. “I need to get some fresh air.” I bolted through the door and gestured for Caspian to follow me around back.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, facing him. “Not that I’m not happy to see you and all, but how did you get here?”
“I walked.”
“You… walked?”
“Yeah. You know, when you move your legs?”
I made an exasperated noise. “I know what walking is. I mean, why are you here?”
“I was worried about you. That phone call sounded serious, and that scratch on your hand…” He reached out to grab my palm and then drew back. “I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”
I tried to keep a stern face on the outside, but on the inside my heart was melting. “I’m fine. Aubra’s okay. And the jerk didn’t even show up.” I took a step closer and peeked up at him. Uncle Bob’s store was close to an hour’s walk away from home. “You really walked all the way here just to make sure I was safe?”
He ran his fingers through his hair, almost looking bashful, but his gaze was solemn and steady. “I’d go anywhere to find you.”
My heart somersaulted and then melted in a puddle at my feet. I gazed at him with a sappy smile. “My protector.”
His face fell. “Of sorts.”
Suddenly, I remembered Aubra. “I have to get back in. I don’t want to leave her alone for too long.”
Caspian nodded. “I’ll wait for your mom to pick you up before I leave.”
“Leave? As in, you’re going to walk back home?”
“Yes.”
“Um, no. You’ll ride back with us.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but I shook my head at him. “I’ll be more worried about you if you walk home, and you wouldn’t want that, would you? Put my mind at ease, okay?” He grinned. “Okay. You twisted my arm.”
“That’s why they call me the arm twister,” I said. “At least it’s better than the alternative, though.”
“What’s the alternative?” he asked.
“A ball buster.”
Caspian looked shocked that I had said such a thing, and I laughed at the expression on his face. I led him back to the store, and he stopped short to take up a watchful stance at the door. Aubra had everything turned off and shut down when I walked in.
“Do you want me to ask my mom to drop you off at home? We can come back later for your car,” I said to her.
“Why would you do that?” she asked.
“Because I’m not sure you should be driving after taking a Xanax.”
“Me?” She scoffed. “I’ve taken them before. They don’t affect me like that.” Whatever. I wasn’t going to push her. I had to set my limits somewhere. “Are you still going to break up with Vincent?” I asked instead.
She tossed her head. “I texted him like an hour ago and told him it was over. He never responded. Drake’s such an asshole.”
My head snapped up. “Drake? I thought you were with Vincent?” Aubra looked at me like I was slow. “Vincent Drake. Everyone calls him Drake.” Instantly, an icy sensation filled me. It couldn’t be. There was no way. Kristen would never fall