Shiver(37)

“Okay. But I don’t like it.” She directed that statement toward Aidan.

“See you Sunday.” Raven left the shop.

Aidan lagged behind her due to the damn boot strapped to his leg, and being careful of the package of teapot and mugs Tern silently handed him. “It was good to see you, Tern. I like your shop.”

Then he left and hobbled toward the waiting Suburban. Raven already had the engine running. He got in, set down his purchase, and buckled his seatbelt. Raven was quiet as she backed up the rig and left the Arctic Tern.

“Don’t do that again,” she said, her voice hard and tight.

He didn’t pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about. “Tern’s quite your protector.”

“I know.”

“Why does she see herself that way?”

Raven sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “I had some rough years. She stepped in and straightened me out. Now she thinks she’s responsible for me, I guess.”

“What kind of rough years?” Had he really broken her heart? Even though she’d been the one who demanded he left. Was Tern right? Had it been Raven lashing out because of the pain she felt over her father’s death? Maybe she didn’t blame him completely.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“One thing I’ve learned is that you don’t heal without talking about it.”

She pulled into the parking lot of Fred Meyer’s, put the vehicle in park, killed the engine, and turned to look at him. Disbelief in her expression. “A man who wants to talk? Get real. I’m going to go and get what’s on Mom’s list. You stay here.”

“I don’t want to stay here.”

“Too bad. I want to hurry.” She glanced at his leg in the boot. “And you will slow me down.” She handed him the keys. “In case you get cold.” She opened the door and stepped onto the running board. “Don’t go anywhere.”

She slammed the door and left. He watched her walk into the entrance of the grocery store. He didn’t like having to stay in the car. He wasn’t a kid, or a dog. It was boring in the car. He looked around the parking lot. Mountains made of plowed snow were in the corners of the lot. Before break up, dump trucks would come and carry it all away to the river, far outside of town to help prevent flooding. For now, they were great places to climb and slide down, when the lot was empty. He remembered when he was young, coming to town and seeing kids do that. Not that he ever had. Earl hated town. Aidan hadn’t gotten here often as a child, unless his mother needed a booze run and he conned his way into going along.

He rubbed his hands together, blew on his fingers, and noticed a Starbucks sign outside the building. Fred Meyer’s had a Starbucks? He didn’t have to think. He got out of the Suburban and made his way inside. He’d be back before Raven could get the many items on Fiona’s list. He’d get her a cup too. Maybe that would sweeten her up.

Ever since he’d mentioned wanting to see her studio, she had shut down on him. No, that’s wrong. It went back to when he’d told her he’d missed her when they’d been at the overlook on Hagelbarger. He walked into the building, enveloped by a blast of heat. Starbucks was off to the right. The smell of ambrosia, and suddenly he missed Seattle. He ordered a Americano with double espresso and a Carmel Macchiato for Raven.

He paid for the drinks, took a sip of his, almost burning his tongue in his haste, and savored the bold, rich espresso as it warmed him all the way down to his toes. Now this was more like it. He bought a bag of house blend to take with him. Who knew what he’d find at Earl’s place? Earl had been a fan of canned coffee. Bitter and lifeless. Much like the man.

Aidan limped his way back to the Suburban and found Raven, her feathers ruffled, waiting outside with a cart.

“I told you not to go anywhere.”

He held up the coffee cups. “Starbucks.” He handed her the keys so that she could unlock the rig while he put the coffee in the cup holders and then went to help her unload. “You were faster than I thought you’d be.”

“I told you I was in a hurry.”

“Who would have suspected you could get a list of groceries faster than I could get a cup of coffee?” He helped load the last of the bags.

Her lips twisted. “What did you get me?”

“You? I got me two cups. It’s Starbucks. It isn’t like I can get my favorite cup of Joe in Chatanika.”

“One of those cups had better be for me, or you’re going to have a long walk back to Chatanika.”

He smiled. “I always thought you were the Caramel Macchiato with a pump of chocolate type. Is that okay?”