The White Witch (4 page)

I sigh knowing that what I’m about to say is going to make me sound like a bitch, or just plain crazy. “Look, Logan, you’re nice and all, but trust me, you don’t want to hang around me. I’m not a whole hell of a lot of fun, I’m not one of the money spending party girls you might find in Shippan. As a matter of fact, I don’t even live around here. I just like their bookstore better. I live over in Cove. I’m just plain old Katelyn, with a plain old life.”

He presses his lips together and nods, not saying a word.

We continue walking to our cars, though this time, the walk seems much longer. As soon as we start approaching, I click the button to unlock the Jeep.

His silence starts to eat at me. Logan reaches around me and opens the driver door for me, still not saying a word. I get in, put the books on the passenger seat and put on my seatbelt. He leans against the door as I do all of this, all the while his eyes are scanning me and his brow is furrowed. “You always try to push everyone away Kate?”

My heart drops into my stomach. I know that is what I do. Hell, my parents know I do that, but no one has ever called me out on it until recently. “Ye- Yeah, I guess I do.”

He shakes his head. “That’s a shame.” Logan closes the door, gives me another look with a sad smirk and walks away.

The pain in the pit of my stomach gets worse and I grab hold of my steering wheel with both hands and slam my forehead against it. “Aaah!” I scream, though only to myself.
No, this is good, I try to convince myself. I still don’t know what happened yesterday and I sure don’t need any new people calling me a freak.

I lay on my hammock, trying to read but no matter what position I get in, I’m just not comfortable. It doesn’t help that the birds are just chirping away in their cheerful bliss while my thoughts continue to go back to Logan and what I did. I feel awful for doing that, scratch that, awful is too nice, I feel like a horrid bitch. Then I start thinking about how I’ve done it to Ana, and I am pretty sure that I am about to see my lunch again.
I need to skate
. I need to clear my head and convince myself that not letting people close to me is a good thing. I walk back inside, leaving the stupid chirping birds in the preserve behind my house to continue their songs.

I get out of my car and find Liz outside with a clipboard in her hand, instructing some delivery guys on where they needed to go. This competition is a huge deal, I swear that pretty much every conversation I’ve heard them having lately is about the competition or preparations for it.

“Hi Liz.” I wave a floppy sleeve at her as I slide on my hoodie.

“Thanks again for the surprise. You and dad didn’t have to do that.” I give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I had texted them a thank you earlier, but it isn’t the same.

“You’re welcome, dear. “ She gives me a quick squeeze. “Are you doing better?”

“Yeah, why?” I shrug my shoulders and give a smile, but I’m pretty sure she’s not buying it.

“You just look a little bothered is all.” She smiles back.
Nope, she’s not convinced, but at least she’s not pushing the subject
. “I’d better check on those delivery guys. I’ve got quite a few moms waiting on new blades and outfits for their kids. I’d tell you that your dad is in his office, but to be honest, I have no idea where he is right now. We have been all over making sure that everything is done.”

“No worries Liz. Do you guys need any help?” Maybe doing something good to help someone will take my mind off my own crappy behavior and apparent lack of social skills.

“Well, it would be really helpful if you grab a clip board from the office and take a walk around the rinks and make sure that everything is up to par. Check on the bathrooms and make sure they’ve been cleaned, the Snack Shack area, ask Gloria if she got all the food she needed, you know, just stuff like that.” She clutches the clipboard to her chest. “That would be so very helpful.” She gives me a big cheesy smile that makes me laugh.

“You got it!”

I walk over to my dad’s office, take a clipboard off the wall and start to make my rounds. Thanks to Liz being so anally organized and on top of things, there wasn’t really much to report save for an order for more wine and beer for all the adults attending that had not arrived. I walk into the office again to make the call to the supplier and find my dad.

“Hey dad, looks like everything is good except that you are missing an order for adult beverages that was supposed to get here this morning.”

“Hey Kiddo, thanks. I’ll give them a call tomorrow. There isn’t anyone in their office now that could help me anyway.” He takes a post-it, jots down a note then sticks it onto his reciever. “Thanks for your once over. Now we should be all set. The out of town skaters should arrive in the middle of the week for the competition next weekend.” He takes his reading glasses off and offers a weak smile.

“Dad, you look exhausted. Why don’t you and Liz go have a nice dinner and go home? I can lock up tonight.”

“You sure about that?” He begins putting away the papers on his desk, clearly in the hopes I’d say yes.

“Yes, dad, I’m sure.” I chuckle. “Now go on, scat. Once tonight’s skate session is over, I’ll make sure that the Snack Shack team cleans up, John zambonis the ice, and all the rentals are put back and sprayed.” I put my hands on my hips. “See? I’ve totally got this. Out you go.” I grab him by the hand and lead him out of the office.

“Hm, and I’m sure you will also be willing to test the freshly zambonied ice with a little private skate session, right?” He raises his eyebrow at me and laughs.

“I will neither confirm, nor deny that statement.” I laugh as I release him to Liz who was walking toward the office.

It doesn’t take long before I get a text from dad and Liz while they are sitting at their favorite restaurant. I feel good about doing this for them, especially considering everything they had to deal with yesterday. I send a text back telling them not to wait up since I do plan to skate and maybe grab some coffee. My brain is still going a thousand miles an hour with my behavior toward Ana and Logan, and both of them calling me on it within a few days of each other. I mean, yeah, Ana was more discreet about it, making it about our friendship instead, but looking back, I know what she meant.

I need some ice time.

I walk around one more time to ensure that everyone is gone and that they did everything they were supposed to before leaving.

The counter tops at the snack shack gleam and I see through the glass doors of the drink fridge that it’s been stocked. I walk through the seating area and all the tables and booths have been wiped down. I walk across the way to the skate rental and find not one skate on the floor. Putting my hands on my hips, I take in the smell of the disinfectant spray we use on them and nod my head.

Good job guys
, I say silently to myself as I walk out and back to the office, though I will be sure to tell them that next time I see them. Though my dad trusts me to run the rink when he’s gone, I’m sure he worries, so it’s nice that the employees do so well and all without me having to say a word.

Alright, I get to the office and immediately start taking off my shoes. I lace up my skates, tying them once around my ankle before securing my bow and putting my jeans back over them. The light from my phone as I scroll my way to my music is the only light I have while I walk back toward the hockey rink, shoes in my bag over my shoulder. I remember liking the eeriness of the rink at night since I was a kid. I loved when my dad would shut off all the lights except for a few over the hockey rink, leaving it dimly lit. I turn for a moment looking at the darkness behind me. Hey, I may like it, but it’s still eerie.

I insert my ear buds snugly before sliding the phone in my pocket. I stand at the entryway, my blades already on the ice, and take in the smell and the feel of the ice and cold air around me.

It doesn’t take long for me to lose myself in the strides, a wordless epic soundtrack pulling me along. I revel in the cold air blowing through my long hair, and biting at my cheeks as I cross one blade over the other, then glide down the ice before taking more long strides. I glance back as a strange sensation begins to overcome me, but quickly try to shake it off reminding myself that all the doors are locked.
Right?

The sensation becomes an awareness of sorts and I find myself glancing around the rink, searching along the boards and the bleachers for someone.
Empty
. I skate a little faster and lose myself once again in the music and the feel of the ice beneath my blades. I begin a three turn and just as I pivot myself I see a whirlwind of snow following me, it is as tall as I am and lasts for only a few seconds after I turn. Almost as if it knew that I saw it, it blows away into the air around me. I stop in the middle of the rink and start looking around, my chest heaving, though I am completely unsure of what I am looking for. I start skating again, turning several times to see if it happens again, but there is nothing behind me. I want so bad to tell myself that I imagined it, but I know I didn’t, and like Friday morning’s blue and white light, it kind of freaks me out.

As I skate off the ice, I teeter between whether it would be better to just consider myself crazy or a freak! I resolve myself to going to see Mr. Wentworth on Monday morning. I have to find out what he knows and why he so adamantly told me that it
had
to be lightning.

Unwilling to walk through the dark back to my dad’s office, I decide to take my skates with me and head outside.

I turn the key and shake the door a bit to ensure that it’s locked before turning in the direction of my car.

“You know, it wasn’t easy finding you.” Logan calls out as he stands against the front of his SUV. His arms are stretched behind him as he leans on the grill, the muscles along his forearms are tense and his biceps firm.

Geez, this guy definitely works out.

“I see you don’t confine your stalking to libraries. That’s good, why limit yourself?”

Logan laughs as he pushes off his car and walks toward me. “Could be worse, I could be sneaking into your house, or watching you sleep or something.”

I giggle at his reference to a popular book series.

The full moon illuminates the parking lot allowing me to catch a glimmer in his eyes. “Did you know that there are like four ice rinks in Stamford? I had to pick the ones that were closest to Cove since you said you live there and drive by each one to see if maybe I saw your car. And lo and behold-“ He swings an arm to my car just as I stop in front of him.

“Logan, I have to be honest. Since we just met, I’m not sure if I should be really creeped out by the fact that you went through all that trouble, or really flattered.” I move around him to walk to the back of the jeep so I can put my skates away.

“Well, I wanted to talk to you and I didn’t get your number before you left, so all I had to get a hold of you was what you said regarding your plans for today.”

I drop my skates into the trunk and slam it shut before walking to the driver’s side door where he is standing. He doesn’t seem like a creeper. In fact, I’d venture to say he’s pretty hot. Though I wouldn’t tell him, don’t want him getting a big head. A gust of wind blows through and his wavy hair is blown about, though since it’s not too long, it doesn’t mess it up. His chiseled jaw is darkened with stubble and he keeps moving it subtly like he is wanting to say something else, but doesn’t.

I think again about what I said to him earlier and my latest attempts to step out of my comfort zone with Ana. Maybe it’s time to try again, I feel my chest tighten. “So, Polo, what did you want to talk about?” I lean against the back door with my arms folded across my chest.
Not bad, Katelyn, good start.

He smiles as he shoves his hands in his jean pockets pulling them down a bit. “How about we talk over coffee?”

I raise an eyebrow and hesitate, though most of me has already answered yes. “Sure. I know just the place.” I reach over to my door handle and look over my shoulder. “Follow me?”

“Sounds good.” He runs his fingers through his hair and smiles as he turns away, heading back to his car.

I pull into the parking lot of a local mom and pop coffee shop I discovered about a year ago that sits on the waters of Westcott Cove. A faded wooden sign with a picture of an old coffee grinder with the words, The Grind etched across the top hangs from old chains painted in rust. The OPEN sign in the window is flickering and I can see that there are only a few couples inside.

“What do you think, Polo?” I question as I close the door and press the button to lock the car.

He walks around his car and makes his way to me. “It looks pretty cool.” His eyes wander all over the front of the building and I see his brow furrow.

“Trust me?” I step in front of him stopping him from going any further.

“Yeah.” He smiles. “Not sure why,” He squints, “but yeah.”

I raise my eyebrow and smirk before turning on my heel. As we approach the entrance, I reach for the door handle but he quickens his step and gets to it before me, holding it open. “Thanks.” I feel a blush creep up and hope he doesn’t see it. The only guy that ever holds doors open for me is my dad and on occasion a random stranger.

“Wow.”

I smile at his reaction as he looks around, taking in the sofas, loveseats, and coffee tables on the right with small bookshelves in between, before turning his attention to the left where there are several small round tables with two to four chairs surrounding them. The walls are painted in warm browns and reds with murals of rolling hills and coffee fields. Out of the speakers I hear the voice of a sultry female jazz singer and I make a mental note to ask the girl behind the counter what CD they are playing. The outside of the building really didn’t do the inside much justice, but I selfishly liked it that way, because it kept it from being some crowded hot spot.

“So, what do you think?” I cock my head to the side with a sly grin.

“It’s very nice and cozy.” He drops his gaze to me and his eyes meet mine. “It’s perfect.”

I feel the heat rise in me again and I turn away to avoid him seeing the blush.
Second time tonight? What is it about this guy? It’s definitely not going to be as easy to stay away from him as with most other people
.

We walk over to the counter where a cheerful redhead beams a smile at us.

“Hi Katelyn!” Her gaze quickly shifts a few times to Logan and I realize she is trying to keep from downright staring at him. “Your usual?”

“Yep, large Chai Latte, strong with whip cream and cinnamon.” I look at Logan who is still looking at the menu. “Logan?”

“Oh, sorry. Um, actually that Chai Latte sounds really good. I’ll have one too.”

I put my purse on the counter so I can get my wallet and Logan shoves it to the side.

“Dude!” I look at him as I try to get in front of the register, but he’s already handed a ten to Michelle.

“I could have bought my own tea.” I huff.

“As I am sure you have and will also do again some other time. Tonight, I pay. I was the one that asked you to have coffee with me wasn’t I?”

I sigh. “Yes, you did.”

“Man, I’m starting to think the guys in Stamford aren’t very chivalrous if you aren’t used to having a guy pay for at least your coffee.”

I laugh out loud and cover my mouth quickly with my hand. “Well, some of them are, but I don’t date much so I wouldn’t know, outside what I see in school.” I shrug my shoulders and quickly change the subject from dating. “We can go take a seat. Michelle will bring over the chai when it’s done.”

We make our way over to a loveseat in a far corner. It’s a dark wine color with big cushions and antique gold buttons along the front of the arm rest. As we sit, there is an awkward silence hanging around us. Well, at least I thought it was awkward. By the look on his face, he might just be mulling over what he is going to say. He looks cute when he does that.

Damnit Kate, don’t do that. You can’t let him get close. Just friends. Just. Friends.

He sits and hikes one leg onto the sofa so that he is angled toward me with one knee on the sofa, his black boot hanging off the edge. He props his elbow onto the cushion sinking in a bit more than I think he anticipated. “So.” He starts as he adjusts his elbow.

“So.” I respond as I ease myself into the same position, with the exception of the elbow.

“You must come here a lot if you have a usual, huh?”

“Yeah, I prefer it to the trendier coffee shops. Besides, Michelle and the owners are really nice.” I try to calm the butterflies in my stomach that begin to take residency.

As if on cue, Michelle walks up with two large matte black mugs each etched with a different design of a coffee cup on the side. I watch the steam rising from the cups as the butterflies continue to eat at me and take a few deep breaths as it suddenly gets thicker and rises higher.

Oh come on, not here, not now.

I shift my gaze to Logan who is looking at me and then back to the cups. Thank God, the steam is back to normal.
Phew!
I take another deep breath and try to calm myself. Though it doesn’t work as much as I would like.

“Two Chai lattes, strong, with whip cream and cinnamon.” Her eyes continue to flicker to Logan, though I am not sure he’s noticed. “Anything else I can get you guys?”

I look at Logan and he softly shakes his head.

“We’re good hun, thank you.” I can’t help myself and laugh quietly as she walks away.

“What is it?” He sits up.

“You didn’t see that?”

“See what?”

“Are you serious? She was practically begging you to pay attention to her.” I reach for my tea and feel the heat of the mug as I wrap my fingers around the handle.

Logan shakes his head as he reaches for his mug also.

“Are you going to tell me that you’re so used to it happening that you don’t even see it anymore?”

He takes a cautious sip and puts the mug back down. “What do you mean by that?”

“Come on. Are you going to tell me that girls don’t fall over themselves around you? And that on top of that, you don’t see it?” I lean forward putting my mug down on the coffee table after almost burning my lips on the hot liquid inside.

“I don’t know, I just don’t pay attention to that.”

“Let me get this straight, Polo. You’re good looking, I’m taking a wild stab here, but judging by your car and manner of dress, you aren’t hurting for cash, you’re really nice, and you don’t take advantage of or even notice the girls that fall over themselves for you?”

“So you’re saying, you think I’m good looking and nice?” He smiles smugly as he grabs his tea and takes another sip.

“I’m saying, that if that’s true, you are a different specimen indeed from any guy I have met around here, and I grew up around here!”

“Guess I’m just full of surprises Spunky.”

“Spunky? We’re back to that nickname?”

“Well, I’m still Polo aren’t I?”

I look down at the t-shirt he is wearing and it has polo scrawled across the front. He follows my gaze and throws his head back in defeat.

“Yep, you’re still Polo.” I smirk confidently.

“Well, you still have spunk, so why can’t you be Spunky?”

I wrinkle my nose and purse my lips, “I don’t know, just feels kind of little kid-ish.”

He looks me over and thinks for a minute. “Okay, no Spunky.”

“Should I expect another?”

“Probably.” He smiles over his mug and my stomach knots.

No, no, no. Not until I find out what the hell is up with me.

“So, you haven’t told me what you wanted to talk about.”

He averts his gaze and glances around the coffee shop before looking at me again. “Actually, it wasn’t anything specific, I just wanted to spend time with you and hope you wouldn’t do it again.”

“Do what again?” I take a few sips of my tea, reveling in the warmth as it slides down my throat.

“Try and push me away.” His face becomes more serious and the playful smirk is gone.

“Logan, I-“

“Don’t do it. Don’t do it now just because I mentioned it.” He reaches over and slides his hand beneath mine and pulls it off my lap and onto the center of the seat with his. “I get it,” Logan leans in slightly as his thumb lightly caresses my hand. “You’re a loner, you push people away because maybe a friend screwed you over or for some reason you think that to be likeable you have to be like the popular kids. And though you aren’t like popular kids, it’s not because you are weird or boring. It’s because you’re more. I don’t know what it is about you Kate, but from the moment I met you, I wanted to know you. I wanted to talk to you and hang out with you. Those kids, that idea of ‘cool’, it’s a façade half the time anyway. I like that you’re different.”

You have no idea.

“I like that you’re you, and whether you admit it or not, from what I have experienced, you are fun to be around and are likely a good friend.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Look, I just don’t want you to push me away. Give us a chance to be friends. I know this is crazy and probably a little creepy since we just met.”

“A
little
crazy and creepy?” I repeat, pressing my lips together, hoping I’m not making him feel too bad after all the sweet things he just said about me.

His gaze drops to the floor where his feet are shifting and I see his jaw set.

“But, it’s still kind of nice.” I say, still trying not to make him feel bad.

He lifts his head, his blue eyes set on me and I find it impossible to look away.

“You seem like you’d be a good friend too, Logan.” I can’t help the smile that makes its way across my face despite the battle between my mind and my heart.

“So, is that a yes? You won’t try to push me away?”

“Yes.” I give his hand a squeeze before wrapping it once again around my mug. “I’m not going to try to push you away.” I smile at him over my mug before taking a sip and a satisfied grin lights up his features.

Eddie Veder’s ukulele skills pour over the speakers, as he tells someone he longs to belong to them. The irony isn’t lost on me, especially since I’m well aware that I can never allow myself to belong to anyone with all this crazy stuff going on with me.

“So, what brings you to Stamford?”

He presses his mouth into a thin line and his eyes drop to the mug in his hand. “My mom. She was getting tired of New York and wanted a place where we can live but still not be too far from the City since my Dad has a lot of business there.” He shrugs his shoulders.

“Well, don’t sound too thrilled, you might bust something.” I chuckle and roll my eyes, pulling a smile from him.

“I wasn’t too thrilled, to be honest. At least not until yesterday.” The corners of his lips creep up.

Geez, like it’s his mission to make me blush or something!
“Do you prefer New York though?”

He shrugs his shoulders again. “Meh. It’s not so much the city, it’s more that my dad is always in business mode there and trying to drag me here and there so I know how all his businesses run and all that jazz. But considering he’s been doing that since I turned thirteen, I pretty much know already. He just wants me to do everything his way.”

“And… you want to do it your way.”

He chuckles , “Well, everyone has their own way of doing things, right?”

“I suppose. Are you close to them, your parents?”

The smile is gone again. “I’d rather not talk about them anymore. I much preferred when we were talking about you.”

“Wait, so you can stalk me, and ask me questions and I can’t ask you any?”

“Trust me, you just don’t want to know about all that.” His voice, louder and more serious.

“Well, that sounds familiar.” I try to lighten the mood, but the dark cloud that’s appeared seems pretty heavy.

He laughs and hesitates for a moment, looking down at the half empty cup of tea in his lap.

“No worries, I won’t ask any more… For now.” I raise a corner of my lip.

“Fair enough.” He answers, though he is still avoiding my gaze.

We sit in silence for a bit, enjoying our chais and listen to Gabrielle Aplin’s Panic Cord.

“I like her voice.” I sit back on the sofa, crossing my arms over my stomach and looking at the ceiling. Though I’m not looking at him, I feel Logan’s eyes on me.

He sits in the same position, but moves closer, closing the gap between us. “She’s good. I like Eva Cassidy too. Very soulful.”

I turn my head, glaring at him. He definitely struck me as a pop or alternative kind of guy.

“What? My mom used to listen to her a lot.” He turns his head too and our faces are inches apart.

I get a better look at his light blue eyes and am amazed to find that they are rimmed in a navy. I try to look elsewhere and I only drop my gaze down his nose to his lips. His lips are certainly full and for a moment I wonder what it would be like to kiss him. I instinctively begin to reach my hand over to him but stop myself. 
No, No, Katelyn don’t do this to yourself. If you bring him in close and he finds out about the weird stuff that happens around you, he’ll leave.