Page 6 of Stalked By Shadows
Micah looked thoughtful and even that was cute. Fuck. “No. I did a handful of conventions while I was still doing videos. Online people are pretty creepy because they have anonymity. They say stupid shit. In person they are super respectful. I think when people met me in person, they realized I was a real person and not simply a fantasy.” He looked me over. “Is it weird for you?”
“A little?” I admitted. “I don’t want to say the wrong thing and offend you by accident. You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m glad my brother told me because I’d have known the second I saw your eyes. But it is a little weird to know that you now know that I used to get off on your videos. I mean you’re still super-hot and I’d totally do you…” Well fuck my life. “I tend to put shit out there…” I sighed, thinking I probably shouldn’t be swearing and saying all this stuff to my new boss at my new job. “My filter is broken.”
“Thank you,” Micah said and patted me on the arm. “It’s okay. Lukas did warn me that you say what’s on your mind. But it’s okay. I work with shelter kids with the same issue. They spent time on the streets and it’s a lot like a war zone. Survival of the fittest. They don’t know how to interact at first, but they learn. Lukas said you’ve been here a couple weeks?”
Out of the psych ward a little over a month. “Yeah.”
“So give it time. I’m not worried. You have no expectations of me, correct?”
“Correct.” I agreed. Just because I was attracted to him didn’t mean I was even on his radar. “I’m not one of those giant douchebags who think you being a porn star, ex or otherwise, means you fuck everyone you meet.”
“Then we’re fine.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What if I say something stupid to a customer?”
“What if you do? They say stupid stuff to us all the time.” He pointed to a sign behind the register that read:
Just because this is a wicca shop, does not mean I can magically make an item you saw on the internet appear. Try Amazon.
I gaped at the sign. In truth, there was a lot of little snarky things about the store from small signs that said “I’m a paranormal investigator. If you see me running, you better run too,” and T-shirts with cute pictures of rabbits with vampire fangs on them. I realized in that moment that Simply Crafty wasn’t all serious metaphysical witch shit, it was cute, fun, and a little snarky.
“I think I might like working here.”
“Good. Now can you help me with those boxes?”
“Sure.”
Sky reappeared from the doorway that must have led to a stock area or something. “Aw, did Lukas leave? Sad.”
Micah turned away from me and headed for the door. “Ask him out already.”
“He’s out of my league,” Sky said with a dreamy sigh. “And the cards say it’s not time yet.” I felt her eyes on me. “I’d still like to do a reading on you.”
“No,” Micah said. I wondered why he didn’t want me to have a reading with his friend. It was all random card draws, wasn’t it? Contrived meaning? I knew Lukas hadn’t wanted it because he discouraged me from doing anything the world would consider supernatural, which was funny since he’d gotten me this job. But it had been advice from my therapist, so I guess I didn’t have to understand all the mechanisms of my brother’s brain. Though knowing now that the shop wasn’t one of those crazy serious wicca shops and more fun tourist trap, might have been the reason he didn’t hesitate to throw me into the job.
Micah must have noticed the expression on my face because he said, “You’re not a believer, and that’s okay, but Sky’s predictions tend to be accurate. Whether that’s due to influencing the believer to make those things happen, or because they simply happen, who knows.”
“We tend to make our expectations reality,” I agreed. “Even if that isn’t a good thing.”
Micah nodded.
“Then maybe another time.” For now I need to focus on being normal, even if that was a day to day struggle. “You said something about boxes?” I reminded him.
“Right. Sky, look after the store for a few minutes, please?”
“Of course,” she said and stepped up to the register like she was ready for a line that hadn’t appeared. I followed Micah through the doorway. There was a small storeroom, a bathroom, and a little side room with a table dressed up in scarves and pagan symbols, then there was a door and stairway leading down. Micah took the stairs, and I followed. We came out at a mudroom sort of area, boxes stacked near the door. There were only six, but they were fairly large.
“I need these put in the storeroom so I can start sorting,” Micah said, shifting through the boxes. “It’s one of the downsides of having an upstairs shop. I’m always hauling boxes.”
“I’ve got this,” I assured him and picked up the first box, heading up the stairs with it. Of course my bravado didn’t last long as the boxes were pretty heavy and by the fourth trip my hip ached. When I brought the last box up I was a little sweaty and thankful to be back in the air-conditioned shop. Micah was already opening boxes and sorting things into stacks. I could hear voices coming from the shop area and glanced out to find a handful of customers at the register all talking excitedly about a tour.
“St. Louis Number One tour,” Micah said. “I only do them once a week as it’s a drive to that location, but they are always packed since I’m only one of four tour guides allowed in the cemetery. Everyone meets at the church nearby. There’s one early evening, and usually a smaller one after dark. Thursdays are my night in the cemetery. It’s one of the busiest since people always seem to make weekend dinner or club plans.”
“Okay,” I acknowledged, remembering reading about them. “Will I need to find a ride to get there?”