On My Way - Eve Langlais Page 0,66

Let it go.” I would chalk it up to par for the course. Murphy was right. Bad things kept happening around me.

I sipped my coffee and mournfully eyed the cake. With my nerves strung taut, all I wanted was something to eat.

Orville read my mind, and he gave me meat, all kinds of different bite-sized versions from chunks of chicken wrapped in bacon to little cubes of steak, marinated and fried. He spoiled me further with crispy baked broccoli, the oil and Parmesan he’d liberally doused it with giving it a crunchy texture, and the cheese dip had a hint of spice.

A few times he popped his head out and asked if I thought it good enough to add to the menu. I freely admit I groaned. In pleasure. Like I’d not groaned for sex in decades.

Sad. I know. But the flavor in my mouth pleasuring my taste buds helped.

I ate more than I should have, and yet it was low carb enough I’d not suffer any ill effects. Don’t judge. The after euphoria from eating calmed my nerves. It took the scream trapped in my throat and swallowed it down far enough I could manage conversation. When Marjorie paused long enough for me to say something that was.

She was still freaking out about the car and pondered aloud the same thing troubling me. Was the person behind the wheel the same one trying to ruin my store?

“Are you sure you didn’t see them?”

I’d racked my memories over and over, the brightness of those lights causing me to squint, making it impossible to see. Someone obviously drove, but I never got a glimpse. I shook my head.

“I’ll bet it’s that prick ex of yours,” she declared.

Martin? Was it stupid that I didn’t think it was him? He would make a logical enemy. Yet a hit and run seemed a tad too impersonal given his level of hate.

I gave Marjorie another scenario. “There is a possibility it truly was an accident. Don’t forget it snowed a bit earlier. They might have hit a patch of black ice and skidded.”

“Maybe.” She didn’t bother masking her skepticism.

She knew the car had targeted me, but I didn’t want her to worry. I didn’t want any of my friends involved. I couldn’t deny the many dangerous coincidences stacking up around me. A woman could only be so unlucky before she realized there was an effort to eliminate her. But what if, in this person’s vendetta, one of my friends or my daughter got hurt?

I couldn’t help remembering the demon of the previous night. Those creatures with the beaks. I’d barely survived and only because I’d managed to get the house to activate some weird defense system. Would it protect Winnie, too?

As for the car, what if I’d not been alone on the sidewalk? It could have been Trish or Marjorie or even Orville or Darryl by my side. Would my invisible wall have shielded them, too?

Were the two incidents even related? Tonight, someone human had to have been behind the wheel. Unless a demon could drive a car? The very idea almost set me off. I held tight the hysterical laughter bubbling inside.

Nothing about this was funny.

The patrons left the diner, and I gave Orville and Marjorie a hand tidying up. I didn’t argue at all when Orville insisted on walking me to my car.

Used to his usual silence, he surprised me. “This place is dangerous for you.”

My lips twisted. “You don’t say. And yet at the same time, I’ve not actually been hurt.” Nothing lasting at any rate. The attack by those monsters felt like a dream now.

A harrumph noise rumbled. “It’s only a matter of time.”

“I’m sure my run of bad luck will end soon.”

He slewed a gaze my way. “Do you believe that?”

Not really, but I couldn’t lie to him, so I said nothing.

When we reached my car, he spoke again. “I’ll drive.” Mark it on a calendar. Orville was being my friend.

“What? Why would you do that?”

“To keep you safe.”

The niceness of it had me throwing my arms around Orville and giving him the biggest hug. He stiffened, and I realized just how solid he was.

“You can’t drive, because then you’ll be stuck at my place. I’ll be okay.”

He frowned. “Fine, then give me a ride to my car, and I’ll follow you home.” He truly was worried.

So was I. Worried that he would get caught up in the mess that circled me. Things appeared to be culminating. I didn’t want