31. Nick
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
NICK
Ican’t wipe the goofy ass smile off my face.
I’ve never felt like this in my entire life, and I barely know what to do with myself. All I want to do is keep Izzy wrapped up in my bed for weeks.
Weeks I’ll need to thoroughly explore every single fucking inch of her.
I drop her off at her house that morning—after breakfast—despite what I would rather do. She has an entire festival to plan and is still fielding my calls, and she can’t do that with my tongue inside her.
Or could she?
The image of her in my bed, attempting to send emails while my head is between her legs, threatens to make me turn right back around.
But no. I need to finish the stage today and then catch up on the jobs I’ve been neglecting around town.
No one in Lunamois has ever seen me take a break before, and I’m not sure they know what to do with me not being available 24/7.
They’ll just have to get used to it. I have a life now.
I could think about training a few apprentices. I know of a few younger paranormals who are just out of high school and could use a little direction, just like I did. Lord knows this town has enough work for all of us, and it would free me up to devote every single second of my time to Izzy.
Memories of last night flood my head with each bang of the hammer against the stage. I’m probably more likely to smash my thumb than the nail at this point, but I don’t care. I’m a giddy, love-struck idiot. In fact, I almost do strike my thumb when my phone vibrates.
Clover: Isabella will find out today that there are five of my vendors who need a booth built. Since you’ll be finishing the stage, you can get started on those.
I read Old Lady Clover’s text with a fond chuckle. She’s a kind woman who just so happens to see the future and uses that fact to mess with tourists. No doubt she’s had her fun tormenting Izzy.
Not many people get to see the kind, nurturing woman underneath all the slightly off, but welcoming energy she puts out. In fact, she’s the one who pulled me out of my dark spiral.
After my parents’ death—once my brother, Caleb, announced he was leaving—I hid alone in my house for months. I let the wear and tear of grief pull at me until I barely had anything left.
Until Old Lady Clover showed up one night and told me that good things were coming my way, and I needed to be ready. Mayor Vale’s words from a few weeks ago suddenly play on a loop in my brain.
Clover insisted we hire her.
Clover insisted.
Clover.
I didn’t put the pieces together until now, but maybe, just maybe, Clover played a bit more of a hand in bringing Izzy to me than I had realized.
Nick: Did you know about Isabella?
Clover: A good seer never sees and tells.
I didn’t expect she’d actually tell me the truth, but the evasiveness draws another fond huff from me nonetheless. Of course, she saw Izzy coming.
Nick: Thank you.
Where would I be right now if Clover hadn’t forced me up out of bed and gotten me back to life? If she hadn’t insisted on Cole hiring some out-of-towner?
Without Izzy.
And even if I had somehow stumbled into her world someday, I wouldn’t have been the man she needed. Deserved.
I owe Old Lady Clover a whole lot more than a stage and a few booths, but this will do for now.
I refocus on my work with a new purpose, a new appreciation for how everything in my life has culminated in this moment. I refuse to take anything for granted. And that includes those who have been here for me all along.
Plans take shape in my head. Plans tonight with Izzy, plans for the town celebration, and for a family dinner—after I speak with Izzy about her being my mate.
The future is bright.