This Strange Addiction by Julie Steimle (story books to read .TXT) 📖

“Hey, don’t get mad at Rick,” Randon said, taking the rabbit’s foot from Rick with a head shake. “I gave it to him as a good luck charm.”

She shot him a dirty look. “I don’t think it brings much luck—especially for that poor rabbit.”

But she took the keys back once the rabbit foot was off. With the small packed bag that Silvia had prepared for her, Audry went out the front door.

It was weird, though, that none of them followed her out to the car. No guard. And when she got to the curb, she looked for what probably was Rick’s vehicle. She knew he drove a hybrid. But on the curb were two almost identical cars. Apparently Rick had bought Randon one. She pressed the key fob to find which one on the curb was his. When the vehicle to the right beeped and the lights flashed, she unlocked the doors and got inside.

It really was a nice car. The seats were comfortable, plush. No leather. And it was clean. She had to adjust the seat and the mirrors, pulling the seat closer. Oddly, though, the car had a sweet musk scent to it. It wasn’t quite a perfume smell, but it was surprisingly pleasant. She looked around for a deodorant tag, but saw none. There wasn’t even an attachment over the air vents. When she pulled on her seat belt and buckled it, she saw Rick finally exit the apartment. He went straight to her car across the street and got in. She noticed that it took him a moment to adjust his seat and mirrors to fit his long legs.

She drew a breath, sighing. What a mess, she thought. Both of them would have to fix everything to their vehicles when they got them back. However, it surprised her how badly he wanted her safe. It made her think of the scars she could see on his neck. The guy was traumatized for life over what happened that last summer. He was desperate to keep people safe. So she felt obliged to do whatever she could to calm him down. It was a bit like staring at her wolf when he had just been shot. Rick needed a tranquilizer. And maybe even his jaws strapped shut to keep him from lashing out in fear. She chuckled at that thought and turned the ignition.

His car drove like a dream with beautiful steering when she pulled into the road and onto the highway. The amazing hybrid smoothly rolled over the roads like it was flying. And so quiet. For a lot of the trip back to New York City, Audry secretly regretted saying ‘no’ to Rick’s offer to buy her a new car. He would have bought her one like this, no doubt. But as she entered the city proper, she realized that perhaps he let her drive his car to sell her on the idea. He was a sneaky guy after all. So with renewed stubbornness to stick to her plan as she pulled into the parking garage and gave the attendant the key, she marched out to the subway where she was surprised to find Bobo waiting for her.

He grinned at her and extended his hand for the parking tag. “Good ride?” Bobo asked, his smile widening.

Blushing, Audry nodded, handing him the tag.

“He’d buy you one. All you’d gotta do is name the color,” he said, not quite taking the tag yet.

“Is that what you are?” she asked wryly, now sure Rick was still trying to sell her on the idea. “A car salesman?”

Bobo shook his head. “Nope. I told you. Temp’ry bodyguard—‘specially until the witches leave you alone.”

“And not Hogan?” she asked.

Shaking his head, Bobo laughed, taking the tag now. “Nah. Rick’s accepted you’re gettin’ married.”

She chuckled, nodding. Then she headed into the subway, waving good-bye.

“Take care,” he said.

Nodding, she went down.

Once Audry was gone from sight, Bobo walked back to the parking garage and stood at the entrance. Rick pulled up a few minutes later in Audry’s car. He got out. With a nod, Bobo traded parking tag for the driver’s seat of her car.

“It will be a little cramped for you inside, I think,” Rick said. “I adjusted the seat for my legs, but I don’t know how far back it goes to fit you.”

“Damn, I am not that tall!” Bobo laughed. Truthfully, Rick and Bobo were only an inch different in height.

“So…” Rick went to his door once Bobo closed it and adjusted the seat and mirrors for himself, “What’d she think?”

“Her eyes are covetin’, but she didn’ bite.” Bobo snickered into his hand. This, of course, was in reference to the car offer.

With his own painful chuckle, Rick nodded. “Fair enough. Thanks for everything.” He patted the car hood to let Bobo know he was free to go.

“I’d do anythin’ for you ya know,” Bobo said, not quite leaving.

Rick stiffened. “Don’t say that. You already took a knife in your chest for me. I owe you.”

But Bobo shook his head, peeking out the driver’s side window. “Nope. You got it bass-ackward. I owe you. Nobody would have touched me at Gulinger if it weren’t for you. You made me a person again. And I am never gonna to forget that debt.”

Rick stared at him, confused. “You were always a person.”

Bobo smiled, his eyes a little wet. “And this is exactly why I would do anythin’ for you.”

As Bobo drove off, Rick watched him go.

But it really was a terrible thing to say. Bobo did not know what kind of thing he was requesting from him. To do anything? That was dangerous. It was like the request to be his bodyguard. Though Bobo could take blows and survive them due to his rubber-and-glue voodoo curse, he didn’t actually know how to fight back… and Bobo felt all the pain. Bobo had confessed as much back when they were thirteen at Gulinger Private Academy when no one but Rick would sit with him in class or toss him the basketball during a game because they were too scared of getting hurt from the rebound. And Rick did not want to hurt his friend.

He walked into the garage, got his keys, and found his car. Leaving the garage, Rick drove out, almost immediately spotting Danna’s car on the street. She had followed him there, but that was it. She did not seem to see him, though. And it was also just her in the car—none of the others. Which meant they definitely split up to hunt. Danna seemed to be arguing with someone on her cellphone. Perhaps she had seen the exchange between him and Bobo, though he was not sure. She did not even turn her head when he drove into traffic. But she did appear to be staring at the subway, as if she had figured out what they had done to protect Audry.

He would have to tell Matthew about that. The witches weren’t stupid. They must have figured out their target had taken public transportation and realized that following her car was now useless.

He drove on, but not back to Rhode Island to Brown University which he had originally intended to do. It was a three hour drive from New York City and he had class tomorrow which he could not ditch. But he also didn’t go to his family’s New York penthouse—which was usually what he did when he intended to stay in the city. He drove to another parking garage—this one in Brooklyn.

He took his keys with him, stuffing them nervously into his pocket. He looked to see if anyone had followed him. No Danna, thankfully. No other car that he knew either. His hands were clammy and his heart was racing. He had told himself all day that he was going to go back to Brown and not come here again—but he found himself going on autopilot as soon as he got into the vehicle. Drawn there. Brooklyn was not Rhode Island, he told himself. He should go home, not here. Here was a bad idea.

Yet instead of turning around and getting into his car like his brain told him to, Rick’s feet took him up to the street and out where he followed the sidewalk to an apartment building. His mouth was getting dry as his heart thumped heavier when he went up the steps, then in through the main doors. He went up two floors to a door which to any eye would look as ordinary as any place. Because it was. It was just a Brooklyn apartment, and not even a nice once.

His hand lifted to knock on the door, hesitating.

He should just go home. He should just go back to Providence where he had his own bed and room, where he could be alone and keep his head clear. Where he could prepare for class in the morning. Or back to Manhattan where he could just crash and call his dad without interruption. And yet, his heart boomed more, and he knocked.

“One minute,” a light female voice answered.

His heart beat harder. He rubbed his palms, finding it difficult think. He should run. He should go.

But the door opened. And standing in it, wearing a loose thin dress with spaghetti straps, stood Daisy—who upon seeing him, wrapped her arms around his neck and greeted him with a sumptuous kiss.

“There you are…. It took you a while,” she said once they broke apart. She sauntered backward in her bare feet as she pulled him by his tie into the apartment. She gently pushed the door shut, the lock immediately engaging. “So you came back for more.”

He averted his eyes, staring at the floor, his cheeks flushing as his heart beat harder. His breathing was already heavy, absorbing her tasty aroma which also filled the apartment. It was irresistible. He was dying for it. For her. He had been coping with withdrawals all week. They were what drew him back.

Leading him in further, she pulled out a kitchen chair and urged him to sit down. As Daisy bent over, he could see she was not wearing a bra as usual. His breathing grew heavier. If he were wise he would run from that place now.

Why had he come back against his better judgement? Why didn’t he tell his friends that Daisy had come back? He could have. They were all there. They would have helped him. They would have rescued him. He could have at least told Bobo. Why hadn’t he?”

“You are so stressed out,” she said, running her fingers along his back. She started to massage her hands along his shoulders. “Come on. Let me make you feel better.”

“You are what is stressing me out,” he said, finding it difficult to keep focused. He really should leave. All he had to do was get out of the chair and go to the door. But he closed his eyes as her hands stroked and massaged the tired muscles around his neck. “Why did you have to come back to New York?” he muttered. “I have to go to school. We can’t start this again.”

“We’re part of each other,” she whispered soothingly, her voice like music. “Moon bonded.”

His heart thumped heavier, resounding now in his ears. Her scent was washing over him like a wave. He wanted to swim in it. He wanted to lick it up.

 “I can’t let you go any more than you can let me go,” she said while next massaging the muscles down his spine. “You are so tense. Why do you always fight it?”

She had already loosened his tie, taking it off and rubbing her hands into his shirt, her fingers stroking his barely healed scars.

“Because this isn’t love.” Her smell, the feel of her skin against his was making it impossible to resist. He should run, but he stayed, enjoying the feel of it.

“Oh, please. You are free to stay away if you wish to. I mean, I’m in New York. You