“I’m sorry if you feel the need to give me space. It was rough at first, but I feel better about the situation. We can be nice to each other now.” I lifted a handle to the portable shower head sitting next to a cooler, waiting to be organized in his tent. “I mean, at least you could use the toilet and shower inside. There is no need for this.” I pointed at the shower head accusingly. “If you piss outside, you’ll over fertilize my plants.” I might have been acting a little overly dramatic, but come on.
“Hazel, if you don’t stop bickering, I’m going to find some eggplant and make you eat it,” he barked and continued working on his living space. I gagged with the thought of eggplant touching my tongue.
“Yeah, well I’ll make peppermint grow in your tent.” Maddie hated all things peppermint. Christmas became his least favorite holiday because everything smelled like peppermint that time of year.
“Hazel.” Maddie stopped working and crossed his massive arms over his equally large chest.
“Fine. But when you get bitten on the ass by bugs, I don’t want to hear it.” I stomped back inside the house, speechless by what he did out there. Truthfully, I should be happy because I got the space I wanted. Part of me, however, didn’t like the idea of him out there, even though I knew he’d be OK.
Focusing on many of the other things I had on my agenda, I powered up my computer to check over my social media accounts. I tried to respond personally on as many fan’s tags and comments as I could, but it became overwhelming. I browsed through my emails, checking for anything important and found a reminder for an interview tomorrow in downtown Seahill. I had almost forgotten about it. Shayla would have reamed me a new one. Maddie’s presence had messed with my mind and my normal routine. This email reminded me I still had a job to do, and I couldn’t putz around playing house with my old friend.
After sending off a few emails and talking with Shayla for a few minutes, I strode into my room and picked out my clothes for tomorrow.Music City Magazinewanted to talk about my big album of the year win and what was to come. I’d done an interview with them before, even found myself half-naked on the cover with a guitar covering my breasts. They liked that I kept it real with them and their fans. I never bullshitted anyone, a rarely found trait these days.
I packed a few more clothes, deciding that a few days in the city would be good for me. I’d get out among people and hear the sounds and stories that inspired me. Also, with Maddie knowing about my powers, I might be able to swing a little superhero action in the mix. Maybe he’d join in. He fought in the military, probably saved lives, it could be a common ground between us.
I turned on the TV in my room to catch up on the news from the city. I plopped on the bed next to my suitcase. Some days, I despised the news, but then other days it inspired me to use my powers to help those who needed me. I’d been given my gifts for a reason, and I didn’t dare waste them.
“We’re coming to you live from the Portobella where a man just burned himself with a fire poker to write something on his chest.” The reporter hustled toward a man being carried into an ambulance.
“Sir, can you tell us why you did this to yourself? Are you protesting something?” The reporter pushed past the paramedics to get her mic close to the man. I hated reporters with aggressive journalism. The man obviously needed to get to the hospital, not to sit and have an interview.
“She made me do it. The Collector is trying to send a message.” The burned man groaned and clutched his hands to his bare chest, where a paramedic tried to place gauze over.
“Oh my God,” I gasped, my hands covered my mouth in shock. I reached for the TV and paused the news to stare at the man’s chest.
“HK come to me,” had been burned into his skin. My insides turned to mush and fear paralyzed me to the bed. HK. It couldn’t be about me. I didn’t know that man or any particular collector. I tried not to draw conclusions that this message was meant for me, but my thoughts rolled over the possibility.
Part of me wanted to run outside to tell Maddox. I sat for a few minutes and cooled my nerves. I chose the non-stupid path. I went to the door to where Maddox organized his tent, with his shirt off.
Hazel
I’ve seen men’s bodies before. I’ve danced on stage with hot guys shaking it and gyrating like they were having sex with invisible women around me. I’ve dated a model or two in my time. So to say Maddox was the hottest man I’d ever had the pleasure of gazing upon was not a cliché. Yes, in my head, Maddie graduated to Maddox because the Viking god Thor made the teenager I cared for into a god, too. My knees quivered and my hands twitched with desire to touch every inch of his sweat-coated chest.
“Hazel?” My hooded eyes peered up to meet with his confused expression.
“Yes, Maddox?” Apparently fifteen-year-old Hazel had taken over my brain and kept me in a lovestruck stupor. He chuckled and strolled closer until not even a foot lay between us. His hand reached up, and I forgot how to breathe.
“You sprouted lavender.” His hand came back into my view with a piece of lavender in his grasp. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I pushed fifteen-year-old me back in her room with her angsty teen drama. Adult Hazel was needed to handle this beast of a man.
“I guess I needed a little extra calm scent to be around you.” I lifted my chin a little higher, hoping the confidence smothered the lie. Lavender was also known as the herb of love for its aphrodisiac properties. … so that little tidbit needed to stay secret between us.
“Right.” He didn’t believe me.
“I saw something on the news.” I stared him down, praying my flustered heart didn’t give me away. He grabbed his discarded shirt and lifted it to wipe the sweat beading against his brow.
Oh dear baby snapdragons everywhere. The way his muscles flexed, the way his pants rode lower, following his happy trail made me hot all over.
“You OK, Hazel?”
“Yeah, the news. It . . . uh . . . weirded me out.” Something tickled my neck, and I smacked it away only to see something out of the corner of my eye hit the ground. Petals of blue and purple floated down as I tilted me head. Instantly I reached up and felt a fucking garden in my hair.
“You sure you’re OK? Does that happen often?” His hand lifted to touch a flower and I waved his touch off, fearing what I might do.
“Yep, all the time. Nothing to concern yourself about.” Lies, lies, lies. Apparently, I literally grew a garden when I got turned on by Maddox.
The realization struck me, and suddenly the whole reason I came out here seemed small in comparison. I couldn’t get turned on by Maddox. I mean, sure I wanted us to be together when we were younger. He was cute back then, too, but I loved who he was on the inside the most.
I didn’t know how to handle this version of him. Everything about him flustered me.
