Chapter 26 That’s Comforting. I Guess?
Claire
December Twentieth
“Slow down,” Everett says, the two of us hurrying down the sidewalk toward the coffee and tea shop.
“Sorry, I’m just eager to get the crystal and get home,” I say. “I barely slept last night because the anticipation was killing me.”
“I get it,” he assures me. “We’re going to get it, and then we’re going to go home.”
I stop moving a few feet from the door, then spin around to face him.
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“It’ll work.”
“But if it doesn’t?”
“Then we’ll figure out another way to get back.” He pulls me into him. “Breathe, Sugar. It’s going to be okay.”
“You promise.”
“I promise” I peer up at him, and his soft eyes assure me that he’s right. “Besides, what’s the worst thing that could happen if it didn’t work?”
I take a step back.
“Let’s see. We could lose the careers we love, never see our families again, and be forced to live out our remaining days here until we both die.”
He snorts. “That was very specific, but that’s not going to happen.”
“You don’t really know that.”
Reaching out, he places both hands on my shoulders, easing the tension there. “Take a deep breath and think positive. We’re almost there. It’s going to be fine. And if we do get stuck here, then at least we’re together.”
That’s comforting. I guess?
I inhale deeply, then exhale a long breath as he smoothes his hands down my arms.
“Come on,” he says.
We begin moving again, and he grabs for my hand, squeezing it gently before letting go.
Pulling the door of Citrine Brews open, we’re greeted with rich notes of coffee and the sounds of an espresso grinder drowning out the music coming through the speakers.
“Morning,” Joe calls from behind the bar. “Want an early taste of my eggnog latte?”
“Careful, dear,” Cami warns, walking over to greet us. “Stella has ears everywhere. Can’t have her thinking you’re trying to cheat.”
“We’re just here for our usuals,” Everett says. “She’s right. It’s important to Stella that the competition stays fair, and although it sounds tempting, we’re gonna have to wait until it’s time to judge it.”
“You got it,” Joe says as he begins to work behind the counter. “I know you can’t discuss anything. I think Stella knew what she was doing when she made you two the judges.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“You both mean a lot to everyone here,” he explains. “And I know out of everybody, you two will judge it the most fairly.”
“Thank you,” I say as blush crawls up my neck and my stomach turns with uneasiness.
Everyone seems to know us so well, and I hate that we don’t know them at all.
I feel guilty, which is silly because these relationships don’t really exist. These people aren’t really real, and after tonight, we’ll never see them again.
Pulling out my phone, I run my thumb over the little red thirty that tops my messaging app, signaling a heap of text messages from The Naughty List group chat I’ve ignored.
“I’m looking forward to helping you with practice on Monday,” Joe says to Everett as he pours espresso into a cup. “I’ll head over once I’m done here. It starts at four?”
“Uh…yeah…that sounds right,” Everett says, glancing at me and widening his eyes.
“The Polar Bears are looking really good this year,” he says. “You coaching them has made all the difference. You’re a natural.”
“Thanks, man.”
“You know jade is believed to bring good luck,” Cami says, walking over. A small green stone is in her hand. “Could help the team bring home the championship this year.”
Everett chuckles. “Funny that you mention that. Claire was reconsidering those crystals of yours. Right, babe?”
“That’s right.”
Cami’s whole face lights up.
“Ginger said you two were snooping around for magic books yesterday. Honey, if you had questions, you just had to ask.”
“I knew Cami would convince you two one of these days,” Joe chuckles, continuing to work.
“Come, come. Which ones were you considering getting?”
Walking over with her, I peruse her collection again. The apatite immediately catches my eye, but I want to be sure it’s the right one. Maybe there’s another that could work with it to ensure we get home.
“These pink ones are pretty,” I say, pointing at a basket full of long, cylindrical pink gems. “What do they do?”
“Oh, rose quartz.” She hums, glancing toward her husband. “They’re the heart stone.”
“Heart stone?”
She walks over to where I stand, picking one of them up.
“They help you attract love.” She turns the stone in her hand and lowers her voice. “How do you think I got Joe to fall in love with me?” She giggles.
“Hmm.”
“Doesn’t seem like you need any help in that department,” she says, her voice still hushed.
“No?”
“Baby girl, I’ve never seen a man look at a woman the way your husband looks at you.” She offers me a soft smile and hands the stone to me. “You two are incredibly lucky to have found one another.”
I peer over my shoulder to where Everett stands. He sure likes to talk about falling in love with me, but I know neither of us are there.
“Do they work together?” I ask, placing the pink crystal back into the basket.
“What do you mean?”
“Can you pair two of them together to make their effects stronger?”
“Some of them. Which one were you considering getting?”
“The apatite crystal.”
“Hmmm,” she hums. “What are you looking for a pairing to do?”
“Just make the effects stronger.”
Her eyes squint. “Okay, well then…um…clear quartz can amplify its energy, so, in a way, that would make it stronger.”
“That sounds good,” I say, my eyes shifting back to Everett. “I’ll take one of each and maybe the jade too. We could all use a little good luck.”
She giggles. “I’m just thrilled you’re interested in them. Any other questions?”
“What’s the best time to try them out?” I ask.
“The moon is believed to charge them, so I often like to hold them at night and meditate then. Apatite works well under your pillow.”
“At night?” My heart sinks, and I roll my neck. We’re going to have to wait until tonight.
Fuck.
“That’s what I would suggest. What is it that you’re trying—”
“Did you find what you needed?” Everett asks, interrupting her question. “Drinks are ready, so I was going to pay.”
I nod. “Yep.” Cami helps us back to the register with the three stones.
Taking my paper cup, my free hand taps against my thigh as I watch Cami package each stone carefully and Everett pays for everything.
“Thank you,” I say as she hands me the bag.
“Of course. We’ll see you two soon,” Joe says.
Everett leads me from their shop and out the door.
“To the house?” he asks as the door closes behind us.
“She said we shouldn’t use them until tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Yeah, something about putting the apatite under our pillow.”
“Okay.” He sips from his cup. “That’s okay.”
“I was just hoping we could be done already.”
“That makes sense though. We woke up here, so I’m sure we have to wake up in New York too.”
Sipping my drink, the brown sugar and oatmilk swirl across my tongue, putting me a little more at ease. “Since we have the day, would it be silly if I went and danced for a little while?”
“Not at all. I might actually go skate for a bit if you’re going to do that.”
I drum my fingers on the side of my cup. Just one more day. I can do this one more day.
“Why don’t we walk back to the house and get changed.”
I nod, and we begin to walk back down the street in silence.
“What if we made tonight a little special?” he asks after a few moments.
“What do you mean?”
“We can both do what we need to do to clear our minds, and then I can come meet you in a little while. Maybe we can grab some dinner at Stella’s tonight before we head back?”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Maybe we can do take out instead? I don’t know if I’ll have the energy for Ruth.”
“Sounds like a date.”
There’s an awkward pause, and then he reaches out and grabs my hand. He doesn’t let go, and I find myself not wanting him to. I’m finding his touch seems to ground me in a way nothing else does.