Chapter Six
Putting His Number on the Corkboard is Self-Care
Bellamy
Ever since I ran out of the coffee shop yesterday, Miles has been steadily sending a thread of text messages, all in hopes that I will respond to them. It started with the first message, you know the one that showed up as I was hiding from him. Yeah that one.
Unknown Number: Hey, this is weird but you seem to be avoiding me. I had to ask around until I found your sister. She gave me your number. Oh shit, this is Miles btw. You know in case you have a bunch of random dudes texting you.
That had been the message I saw him typing on his phone. The entire time that Clarissa was flirting her heart away, he was texting me for the first time. Speaking of, I do need to talk to my sister about not giving my number out to just anyone who asks for it.
My thumb swipes slowly across my screen as a smile spreads across my face.
You have to give it to him, he is persistent.
I’ve received no less than fifteen messages since that first one.
They range from flirting to disorganized ramblings.
All adorable, but I will never admit that to a single soul.
Count yourself lucky that you even know.
Dog Boy : So…does Hex & Harken have a loyalty program? Asking for someone who might be addicted to Trouble Lattes.
Dog Boy : Also, hi again. You know, in case you didn’t gather that from the other messages.
Dog Boy : Do you do curses for hire? Because I’m pretty sure my laundry pile has become sentient.
Dog Boy : I tried to recreate that sparkly coffee thing. My kitchen currently smells like burnt sugar and regret.
Dog Boy : Did you know the bakery sells ghost cupcakes? Like, haunted. They giggle. Not sure if that’s cute or a health code violation.
Okay, that I did know. But, it’s too funny reading through Miles exploring the town. He’s like a bumbling idiot who’s never come across anything magical. Where did he live before this?
Dog Boy : Ghost cupcake update: It winked at me. I think I’m being haunted by frosting.
I actually laughed at that one and Nyx cut his eyes at me. I started checking my surroundings before opening the text thread. I have an image to maintain and I can’t be giggling like a school girl with a crush while stirring my clients’ hex spell. Clearly.
Even though I haven’t responded to a single message, it hasn’t slowed him down one bit. Every few moments my phone will buzz with another incoming message.
Buzz. Buzz.
I look around to make sure that Nyx is asleep on his bed because I don’t need his judgy stares right now. I drop the last ingredient into the cauldron and grab the wooden spoon to stir it while I read whatever Miles has said now.
Swiping my phone open, I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled this much in my life. What is happening to me?
Dog Boy: Did I just see a squirrel spring past with a tiny canvas bag? Like…full-on delivery mode. Is that normal here, or am I finally losing it?
I didn't respond, but yes, that was Chester, one of our mail squirrels. Fuckers are fast and efficent. But, if you don’t have a shiny object for them at least once a month, well…he’ll find out soon enough.
Miles should be flattered because they usually avoid new people, not that we get a lot of them, but still. They have already accepted him as a member of our town and that is a big deal.
A foul odor emits into the air. Oh no. I quickly turn off my screen as I look down at the black goop now bubbling like someone's stomach after a questionable mystery casserole, last year’s apple cider mixed with poor impulse control.
Definitely ruined.
And…of course it didn’t go unnoticed.
Nyx shimmers into existence next to my cauldron with a look of smug disappointment.
He smells of peppermint bark and existential dread, which can only mean he was dream walking in someone’s anxiety-filled nightmare.
“Should I even ask?” he says, staring down at the bubbling black goo now frothing like a bad date between moonshine and a full moon hangover.
“It’s fine,” I mutter.
“It’s hissing.”
“So do you, most mornings.”
He leans over the lip of the cauldron as it continues to pop and hiss in anger. “So…what was this supposed to be?”
I sigh as my shoulders droop. “It was supposed to be a calming charm.”
Nyx snorts. “For who? You or the cauldron?”
I glare at him. “For Ivy because she is close to a full blown panic attack the longer it takes Miles and I to give her the scavenger hunt details.”
He lifts his paw and begins grooming himself as if my easiest hex isn’t a complete failure next to him. “Yeah, I don’t recommend giving her that. Might actually have the opposite intended effect.”
“Clearly.”
Grabbing the handle, I pull the goop of disappointment off the eye of the stove. Modern witches moved from open fires to, you know, the safer option gas stove tops. Less likely to burn the house down with that method.
I’m walking over to the sink to dump the cauldron when Nyx leaps off the countertop over to the table.
His black fur is glinting in the light from the chandelier above him. He’s a beautiful black fox with a coat that mimics the night sky. His tail flicks back and forth, which is never ever a good thing.
“So…which Dog Boy text had you so distracted that you messed up a hex you could practically do in your sleep?”
I glare at him.“I wasn’t reading a text from him.”
He just stares back at me. He knows.
I stare back. I won’t break. He doesn’t know everything.
Nyx continues to flick his tail in a sweeping motion across the table. Not saying a word, not even blinking. He’s in my soul. I can feel it.
“Fine,” I shout as I plop the cauldron down into the sink. The black goop is now just a sad looking sludge in the bottom of it. That’s going to be a pain in the ass to get out of there.
“He sent a message about seeing one of our squirrel carriers and it was funny.”
Nyx holds out a paw in front of him, moving it from side to side. As if he just had a manicure done and he’s admiring their work. This guy.
“So we were so enthralled we forgot we were making a hex?”
I swirl around, crossing my arms across my chest. “You’re awfully chatty this morning.”
“And you are awfully flirty this morning.”
My mouth drops open as I lean forward slightly. What is he going on about? I read a text message, not flirted.
“It’s not flirting if I never respond.”
He huffs. “It’s also not hexing if you blush while doing it. Or in this case, burn the ingredients into some version of sad pudding and regret.”
I jab my finger at him. “I don’t blush!”
“Sure and I don’t have black fur.”
I yank the hand towel off the ring and throw it over my shoulder. I’ve got a mess to clean up and a fox to ignore.
“You don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Sweetie, your ears turned red. That’s a full body confession.”
Grabbing the towel from my shoulder, I wipe my hands before I slam it down on the countertop. I can’t have Nyx thinking I’m falling for the dog.
I’m storming out of the kitchen when I hear Nyx chuckle before yelling out.
“Where are you going?”
“To establish boundaries. Publicly.”
He shimmers into existence beside my feet, jogging to keep up with my pace.
“Oh, this is going to be good.”
“Yep.”
Two crows squawk as I swing my front door open. Fluttering into the sky as if they weren’t just listening outside my window. Damn gossiping, feathered annoyances. Now it’s going to get around town that I was smiling about a text from the dog. Sigh.
I’m storming down the road as people jump out of the way. I never noticed before just how much people avoid being in my line of sight. Not until Miles asked why the town was so worried.
I’ve never done anything truly harmful to anyone.
Really my hexes are more like inconveniences rather than anything else.
Changing drink orders, swapping pen colors, hiding your keys.
You know prank-style-hexes, not like ending-someone’s-life hexes.
The way the town behaves? You would think I’m unaliving people on the daily.
It doesn’t take me long to reach Hex & Harken and the main spot of my revenge. Miles has no idea what he’s started, but he’ll find out soon enough.
The corkboard inside Hex & Harken is really for upcoming events, sign-ups for said events, and maybe “I’m selling this item.” What it’s definitely not for? Petty revenge. But here we are!
There is only one push pin left on the board and of course it’s pink and glittery. Ugh. Clarissa happens to walk by as I’m glaring at the board. Good.
“Clarissa, can I have a sheet of your receipt paper? I am looking for something and I forgot to bring paper with me,” I ask with the nicest tone I can muster. I sound more constipated than sweet.
She sucks in a breath and puts her hand on her chest. The look on her face is comical because her aura is flickering between curiosity and fear. I can’t help but smile at it. Which flicks her aura straight to fear.
She rips off the piece of paper and with trembling hands, holds it out towards me. Gripping the paper, I slide it out of her hand. She just blinks slowly as I smirk and turn back to the corkboard.
I hear her mumble something about not wanting to be part of whatever I’m up to before she disappears into the back.
The cap to the sharpie easily pops off and I get to work. Signing it off with an anonymous signature, of course.
Pulling the glittery pin, I stab it into the paper, dead center of the board. Right where everyone can see it.
There in all its glory it says:
Lonely wolf looking for a mate. He comes with charming smiles, annoying text habits, and a sparkly coffee addiction. You might get rabies or back pats. Text at your own risk. 555-898-3493.
There! Now he can have all the friends he can dream of to text all these random thoughts to. Clearly the guy needs friends and I’m not the friend he needs.
I put my hand on my hip enjoying my handy work when Nyx appears at my feet again. He shakes his head slightly.
“I told you I wasn’t flirting. Now he can have a bunch of people to talk to besides me. I don’t want him texting me anyways.”
He snorts. “Sure, and I’m the Easter Bunny.”