Possess by J.A. Howell Page B

front that remained vacant in the increasingly colder weather. Nolan turned to me, holding the door as several curls blew back into his face. What a gentleman, when you aren't looking at my ass, I thought smartly.
    The girl behind the counter stared up at me from behind frizzy orange bangs that nearly hid her hazel eyes. She smiled warmly at me, but her lips twisted into a scowl at the sight of Nolan. I had to do a double-take over my shoulder to be sure it was him she was giving such a nasty look to.
    “Can I help you?” Her tone was dry, not even a hint of pleasantness.
    “I’ll just get a grande caramel macchiato.”
    “Same here.” Nolan spoke gruffly behind me then leaned forward placing his card on the counter. “I got it, okay?” He looked to me and I nodded.
    “Hmmph.” The girl snatched the card in her freckled hand and swiped it through the machine, tossing it back towards him. As she turned toward the back counter, I looked over at Nolan, raising my eyebrow in curiosity.
    “Ex-girlfriend or something?” His face was set in a similarly unpleasant frown as he watched the girl make our coffee.
    “Um, no. Some people just don’t like me around here.”
    “Is she going to spit in our coffee?” I found myself watching her as well, hoping she didn’t add anything special to my cup.
    “Doubtful.” He sighed as he moved back towards the counter to grab the two cups she placed in front of us.
    “Thank ya, miss.”
    “Fuck off.” The girl mumbled at him with narrowed eyes before turning away.
    “Did she really just tell you to fuck off?” My voice squeaked up an octave as he handed me my coffee and hastily made for the exit. He only nodded, eyes dull with exasperation as he took a sip.
    “There is a nice little courtyard around the corner that we can sit at. It doesn’t usually get too windy.” He promptly changed the subject as he led me away from the coffee shop. There had not been that many patrons inside, aside from a few college students studying and a disheveled scrawny man furiously tapping away on his laptop. Still, I got the sense Nolan didn’t want to stay there and the feelings from the barista were mutual.
    A few minutes later, we turned down a small winding path laid out in worn stone pavers  between two large apartment buildings. Ivy stretched up the sides of each building, creeping between the bricks and cracks. Behind those apartments were two more similar buildings standing around a square. A large expanse of grass was nestled between the buildings, off in a few corners, there were benches and a gazebo. An impressive raised flowerbed with statues of angels mixed amongst the foliage stood in the center of the grassy square. Nolan led me to one of the benches near the statues and eased himself down, motioning for me to join him.
    “This courtyard is bigger than the one you showed me the other day.” I looked around, watching a few passersby with their dogs yipping at their ankles.
    “It’s generally quiet around this time. It’s university housing and it’s nearing time fer finals so everyone is holed up in their apartments studying.”
    “Oh. It’s pretty.”
    Nolan took another sip and leaned an arm across the back of the bench, pivoting his hips so he was facing me. “Listen, about the other day. I’m sorry fer yellin’ at ya like that. I was completely out of line.”
    “Aggie told me about Brody.”
    His posture stiffened with my words. “She did?”
    “Yeah. Just that he lived there before me, and how he died.”
    “Yeah,” his features softened once again, “a lot happened back then. I don’t like talkin’ about it much, and since ya came out of nowhere and had his address I was worried ya were tryin’ ta find out stuff about it. I probably sounded like an idjit. Anyway. I’m sorry and I hope ya don’t really want ta quit.”
    “You’re forgiven. And Aggie already convinced me not to quit.”
    “Well, glad that’s settled.” He smiled as he took