Chapter 5
Rowan
CRAZY TRAIN BY OZZY OSBOURNE
Morning sunlight cuts through the blinds and lands right on my face like it has a personal vendetta with my soul. My phone is still beside my pillow, and when I pick it up and check it, the last message to Finn glows at the top of the screen. Good thing you like trouble.
I smile before I can stop myself, then groan into the pillow.
Trouble. That man is trouble for me too, and I have no self-control when it comes to Finn.
I say the dumbest things, let my guard down, and I need to stop flirting with him.
It’s not going to end well. He’s my best friend and I need him to stay that way.
Just the thought of having a relationship complicates everything.
This is why I’m trying my best to date and move on from the idea that Finn could even like me back like that.
By the time I make it down to the shop, the scent of coffee and old paper has replaced sleep, wrapping around me like a familiar hug as the door swings open to my side of the shop.
The ocean hums softly down the street, the breeze salty as I push the front door wide, letting the morning air spill inside.
I do it every day. It feels like breathing life into the place, like clearing out yesterday so something new can bloom.
Willa waves to me from the cafe on her side of the bookshop, and I know we’ll catch up once her morning rush is over. She’s always busy first thing in the morning, and this is my time to have quiet time in the shop before I open. Say a few spells, gather a few new ideas, and get ready for the day.
I get coffee going in my vintage percolator in the back of my shop, light a candle, and try not to think about how often Finn has been on my mind lately.
He’s everywhere I look. The shelf he built for me last month or the door he fixed without me asking, even the memory of him brushing dirt off my cheek. My cheek warms when I think about it.
The phone buzzes on the counter, and it’s Ivy telling me she’s on her way. I forgot we were having coffee this morning to talk about what’s been going on with the yoga studio.
She bursts through the door five minutes later, sunshine and chaos wrapped in a pink floral kimono. “You’re glowing,” she says, dropping her bag onto a chair.
“I’m not properly caffeinated yet so that’s impossible,” I answer, grumpily. “And you’re the one glowing. It must be all that good lovin’ you’ve been getting from Remy.”
She laughs. “That’s accurate. I won’t even pretend to deny that. But we’re talking about you. Have you heard more about the stupid permit stuff?”
“No.”
She gives me a look. “You absolutely pissed off Mayor Sammy. Gladys overheard him telling someone at the diner that he is going to do his best to shut you down in every way that he can.”
I roll my eyes, pretending to check the register. “That’s a strange threat coming from a man who lives in a flammable house.”
Ivy grins, leaning on the counter. “You probably couldn’t get away with burning down his house, but it would be fun to watch. He’s been pulling this crap repeatedly for the past year, and you aren’t the only one tired of his dirty politics. People are starting to talk.”
“That sucks. But what can I do?”
“Well, Remy had some good ideas. He said to tell you he isn’t giving you ‘official’ legal advice, because he’s not a practicing attorney.
But he said he looked into it, and you don’t even need the permit.
He said just go ahead and open your studio under the umbrella of Salt & Root.
Keep it one business, instead of separating it, and then there’s nothing the city can do as long as you have the appropriate insurance on your end,” Ivy says with a big smile.
“That’s awesome. Pass on my thanks,” I tell her, feeling relieved.
The door opens again, and Donna sweeps in, lipstick perfect, her silver hair shining, like she just walked out of a magazine shoot. “Good morning, my sweet little witches. I bring wisdom and gossip.”
“I’ll take both,” I say, giving her a quick hug as she kisses my cheek.
I’ve always loved Remy and Finn’s mom. Our moms were best friends when Donna moved here with her sons. So, we’ve known them for pretty much as long as I can remember.
She lowers her voice. “Mayor Sammy is planning a meeting this morning. He’s furious about the goat situation and you pushing back. I think you should pop in and watch.”
I smile, pleased. “Good. Maybe steam will shoot out his ears like in an old cartoon.”
Donna gasps. “Rowan Maren, remember the last time you said something, and it actually happened. You’re like the perfect manifester. I would love to see that. Also, I can’t believe you called him out on his affair with Marilyn. How did you know about that?”
I shrug my shoulders and sigh. “I just figured it out. And judging by the look on his face, he confirmed it. How hard is it to just have his assistant approve it and give me the form? It didn’t have to be this way.
Ivy just told me that Remy said I don’t even need it.
They’ve just been wasting my time anyway.
Joke’s on them. I’m going to forge ahead with setting up my classes and move on. ”
Ivy cackles. “Remy says he’s still bringing the goats back at two. I can’t wait. I’ve been begging you to do goat yoga for so long. This is so much fun. I can’t believe we get to do it again. He’s even grabbing Junie early from school so she can participate.”
“Well, we can do it one more time and tell everyone that after today, we’re moving them to the new studio, but no goats in the new studio,” I say with a laugh, sipping my coffee. “Right now, I’m finishing labeling these and mentally preparing for more bullshit from Sammy.”
I refuse to address him as mayor now. He needs to be replaced by someone who actually cares about this town and their local taxpaying businesses. If he worried more about that, than bullying people, I’d have respect for him. He’s lost that.
Donna exchanges a look with Ivy. “She’s going to need backup for that meeting.”
Damn it. I knew these two were going to conspire against me.
“I’m—”
“—calling Finn,” Ivy finishes. “I’ll call him for you.”
I roll my eyes but grab my phone, anyway. “Don’t do that. He’s probably busy. I’ll fill him in later.”
“He’s not busy,” Donna says, conspiracy laced in her voice like she’s scheming something.
Finn answers on the second ring cheerfully. “Hey, Row.”
Just hearing his voice makes something warm flicker in my belly as I ask him hesitantly, “Are you busy?”
“Why, you need me?”
Need him. Of course, I need him. But his mother is standing next to me, so I’m trying to play it cool.
“I think Sammy’s about to pull something shady in a town meeting he just called this morning. I think he’s hoping I won’t hear about it or be too busy to come.”
A pause, then that familiar calm in his tone. “I’ll go with you.”
“No, you don’t have to.”
Donna and Ivy lean over simultaneously and say, “Yes, she needs you.”
“Hi, Mom, hi Ivy,” he says cheerfully.
“Finn—”
“I’ll be there in twenty.”
He hangs up before I can argue.
Finn and I push through the glass doors of City Hall with a folder full of printouts that are receipts of the crap Sammy’s been pulling. I’m running on very little patience now. Marilyn looks up, clearly already over my existence when she sees me.
“Good morning,” I say sweetly, ignoring her sour look. “I heard you have a town meeting going on.”
“Who told you about it?” she asks as her eyes dart to Sammy’s closed door.
“Cut the crap, Marilyn.”
Her lips press into a line. “He’s very busy.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”
Before she can respond, the door behind her opens and Sammy himself steps out, face red as he mutters into his phone about something. When he sees me, he freezes.
“Oh good,” I say brightly. “You’re here and look like you’re ready for the meeting.”
He scowls. “Ms. Maren, you’re officially on notice.”
“And yet here we are. Rumor has it you’re trying to shut me down.”
He sputters. “Rumor?”
“I have sources,” I say, glancing toward the hallway. That’s when I see Finn leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching the whole scene like it’s his new favorite show. He tips his chin up to Sammy.
Sammy adjusts his tie. “You both can’t just barge in here.”
“I didn’t barge in anywhere. I’m standing here asking your assistant about the town meeting.”
“You’re not invited,” he argues.
“What’s your problem with me, anyway?”
He opens his mouth to argue, but the goat yoga photo on his desk catches my eye. Someone must have sent it to him. It’s me, with goats surrounding me.
“Nice picture,” I say. “Really captures my best side. I’m glad you like it.”
Sammy groans. “Ms. Maren—”
“Let’s go to that meeting you have scheduled.”
Finn bites his lip like he’s holding back a laugh.
Sammy rubs his forehead. “I told you that you aren’t invited.”
I glance into the board room and see Vanessa sitting there, watching us. “It’s a public meeting, is it not? What are you being so secretive about?”
Finn laughs quietly. Sammy glares at him. “You think this is funny, Mr. Bennett?”
Finn straightens, all charm. “I’m begging you. Find something else to focus on, Sammy. You won’t win at whatever game you’re playing at.”
Sammy sighs. “You’ve taken this too far. I have a meeting that you are both not invited to.”
“Of course,” I say. “Wouldn’t want to keep you from important mayoral duties, like ruining small businesses and ignoring actual important matters.”
“Rowan,” Finn calls under his breath. “Let’s go.”
“Watch it,” Sammy huffs and storms off.
Marilyn mutters something about security, but Finn takes my elbow and steers me toward the doors before I can say or do anything.
Outside, sunlight hits us full force. I squint, pulling my hair up. “I knew Vanessa and Marilyn had something to do with this.”
He nods. “Something dirty is going on. He’s not going to get away with this.”
“I’m not going to let him get away with this. He picked the wrong one to mess with.”
“Row, nothing scares me more than the confidence you have when you’re mad. You’re ready to ruin lives, including your own.”
“No, he’s going to get what’s coming to him,” I argue.
“Someone’s gotta stop you from hexing the mayor into a frog.”
I grin. “Would that really be so bad? He’s kind of shaped like one already. And you have to admit, a frog wearing a toupée is hilarious.”
He grins, that slow, devastating one that melts all my good sense. “Come on, Hexy Barbie. I’ll buy you lunch before you get involved in another political scandal.”
I roll my eyes but follow him toward his truck. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“Yeah,” he says, glancing down at me. “So are you.”
My heart stumbles a little. I look away, pretending to be fascinated by a seagull.
As he opens the truck door for me, I think, maybe for the first time, that this man could ruin my carefully crafted independence in the best possible way.