In Death's Grasp Part I by Alyssa B. Cole

Author:Alyssa B. Cole [Cole, Alyssa B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2020-07-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

She finds herself in Reed Park in the outskirts of town, perched on a park bench with Amadeon’s suit jacket wrapped around her. Primrose had told him her sweater was thicker than his dress shirt, but he had ignored her, placing it around her shoulders anyway without comment. She has to admit that it does warm her up, and since Amadeon isn’t shivering or huddling into himself from the cold, so she leaves it be.

They had driven here in Amadeon’s car, which she hadn’t realized he had. They had to walk close to Lulu’s to get it, but she kept her head down and tried to calm her racing heartbeat. She hoped Elaine wouldn’t seen her.

Apparently she was successful, because Primrose is speaking to her now and Elaine’s made no comment about it.

Primrose hadn’t anticipated talking to her again, at least for today, but when Elaine called on their way to the park bench, she had accepted. It was easier to talk on the phone than face-to-face.

Elaine’s much calmer now, but Primrose can imagine her pacing in the café. She’s using her careful phone voice she donned when she did phone interviews after graduating last year. Primrose had been seated in Elaine’s apartment bedroom for emotional support, watching her pace back and forth in the small room, practically tripping over clothes that didn’t make it into the hamper all week. Elaine had said with a smooth maturity Primrose had never heard from her before, “Oh, my philosophy?” and proceeded to spin together a thoughtful response on sales.

“Girl, I just want to get paid,” Elaine said afterward, flopping beside Primrose on the bed. “Can’t that be my philosophy?”

Primrose hears the same careful articulation and smooth voice now as Elaine says, “I’m sorry if I upset you. It wasn’t my intention.”

Normally by now Primrose would start to grovel or begrudgingly sigh and say, “It’s fine” before moving on. But Primrose doesn’t feel like brushing it away now. “It wasn’t just you,” is the closest she comes. “It’s everything. It’s been building.”

Elaine’s voice sounds much more natural when she sighs, “Yeah, that makes sense. I’m still sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

“Do you want to come to my apartment when I’m done? I’m on break right now, but—”

“No,” Primrose says, glancing at Amadeon, who is kindly looking ahead rather than at her. Sometimes his gaze makes her almost want to squirm as much as it makes her feel safe and seen. “I’d rather not. I’m out with a friend right now.”

“Who?”

“Hang on.” Primrose stands, flashing Amadeon an awkward and apologetic smile—more of a grimace, really—before stepping over to the lake across from the bench. The fields around it are filled with more scattered leaves than usual thanks to the heavy winds and rain lately. “I’m with Amadeon.”

Elaine lets out a groan. “I know we’re fighting, I guess, so my opinion probably doesn’t matter, but I don’t like that guy.”

Primrose frowns. “Why?”

“He’s creepy!”

“He’s introverted, like me. He’s really nice.”

“Maybe to you. When you left earlier, I’d tried apologizing and asking if he wanted a free cookie or drink.

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