The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(21)

“She okay?” Parker looked concerned. He sat beside Evie and reached for two menus from the menu holder. He handed Evie one. “I spoke to her yesterday, and she didn’t mention not feeling well.”

“She’s all right. Just those damn allergies.”

“Oh good,” Evie said. “We will visit her tomorrow. I’ll make her some soup.”

“She’d love that.” Elliot handed her a root beer float, her favorite.

“Thank you,” she said. “You remembered.”

Leaning on the counter top, Elliot put a straw in each glass. “How could I forget? You and Parker used to come in here in your school uniforms every day after school and order the same thing.”

Evie’s smile widened. Those memories were her favorite. She didn’t know how she would have survived growing up in Scarlett Hall without Parker’s friendship and the kindness of her family.

“Good memory,” Evie said, taking a sip of the cold drink before her.

Elliot looked from Parker to Evie, his face becoming serious. “How are you holding up? I keep hearing so much about the whole Prince trial and his death today that I could barely focus on putting out orders for worrying about you. Tell me you’re ignoring all of that gossip going around.”

“I’m fine,” Evie said. She sat up straight. “It is just gossip after all. I just ignore it.”

“Good girl,” Elliot said.

Parker rubbed her back again, relaxing her. “She’s been pretty strong through it all.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Elliot nodded. “So, what are you two having for dinner tonight?”

“We’re actually getting take out. We want to go to Nightmoon Creek for a bit to watch the sunset.”

“Now doesn’t that sound nice?” Elliot looked from Parker to Evie. “You know he gets his romantic side from me, right?”

Evie laughed. “I believe it. Sue’s a lucky woman, and I’m a lucky girl.”

He winked at her again. “Let me guess, a double cheeseburger with bacon and mushrooms and fries for Parker, and my famous fried chicken sandwich with tomato and avocado for the pretty lady.”

“Sounds about right,” Evie said. “I’ll take an order of sweet potato fries too.”

Her stomach grumbled. She couldn’t wait to get their food and leave. To eat her dinner in peace with the man she loved would be the perfect ending to her night.

Elliot tapped the counter twice. “Coming right up.”

Evie watched him head to the window into the kitchen and dictate their order to Parker’s Aunt Sally, the diner’s cook.

“It’s packed in here tonight,” Parker said as he looked around.

“I noticed.” Evie focused her eyes on her root beer float. “That’s why I can’t wait to get out of here.”

“Who cares what anyone here thinks? Let them look at you. Let them talk. They’re just jealous and have boring lives.”

“I know. I’m trying to ignore it all.”

“Let’s think about something else,” he said, turning her bar stool toward him. He took her hands in his. “What is Evie Scarlett going to be at the Halloween party this year?”

Evie scrunched her nose. “Do I have to go?”

“We go every year, don’t we?”

She shrugged, thinking about how she really wished she didn’t have to be in town for Halloween this year. Parker had no idea what it was like for the wizards and shifters of Woodland Creek.

The entire month was a nonstop excuse to play tricks on each other. She was grateful that her family had been spared so far. Of course, one could say her father’s murder could have been the ultimate prank since it happened the first day of October.

How crazy would that be? Evie didn’t put it past the Prince family. They were bold enough to pull something like that. Avalon’s face flashed in her mind. She wondered if what tricks he had up his sleeve.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I haven’t put too much thought into it.”

“Well, I’m going as King Leonidas from 300. Airbrushed abs and all.”

Evie burst out laughing. She covered her mouth, realizing that she laughed a little too loudly. “You’re hilarious. You don’t even need to airbrush your abs, goofball.”

She poked him in the stomach, feeling the hard muscles beneath his long-sleeved black shirt.

“Oh yeah,” he said, grinning. “You’re right.”

Evie gazed into his eyes, unable to stop smiling. Parker could do the impossible. He could make her forget her troubles whenever she was with him.

“You should go as my queen,” he said.

Evie didn’t reply. She just smiled at him and returned to finishing her drink. She envied Parker for being human. Humans could live such carefree lives.

She had other plans.

Plans to escape the dangers of Woodland Creek.





THE SUNSET SENT an eerie orange and red haze across Woodland Creek’s sky. Someone played their guitar around a campfire at the other end of the campgrounds.

Evie and Parker sat on a blanket on the soft grass before a fire pit. They ate burgers and fries from Drake’s Diner. They watched as the sun set over Nightmoon Creek’s still waters.