Chapter 23
Willow
Iopened the café bright and early the next morning, grateful to Dean for fixing the hinges but even more so to Billy and Avery for their part in hosting the pop-up fundraiser.
They’d raised over half of my daily revenue in only a few hours, meaning I didn’t have to hustle my entire ass off to make it up.
Eloise had come by my apartment after the pack meeting.
She’d promised to be my bodyguard for the week, but I had a suspicion that the timing was working out in her favor.
Apparently, Sandra had cornered her at the meeting to pressure her about finding her own mate and taking on her own responsibilities to the pack, i.e.
, settling down and procreating while touting lots of examples of lesbian couples in Maple Hollow with children.
I was happy to offer Eloise an out under the guise of protecting me.
With a full house of still-sleeping guests, I flipped the sign on the door, then wandered back behind the counter to warm up the machines.
I liked being the first up so I could get caffeinated before talking to people.
I was halfway through my maple cinnamon soy latte when Harlow came out of her room, rubbing her eyes.
“One day of sleeping in and I’ve already forgotten the agony of opening shift,” she grumbled as she meandered to the fridge and pulled out the large tub of cold brew that had been steeping overnight. For a second, I thought she might dunk her face in it because she seemed so tired.
While I would’ve normally agreed, being able to open the café felt like I was making a statement. One that said I would not be intimidated or scared to live my life here in Maple Hollow.
I belonged here. This was my town.
A loud yawn came from the top of the stairs as Eloise thudded down each step. “I’m going to need a splash of cream in that vat, but I’ll take it at the corner table,” she shot to Harlow, who was slow to realize she was kidding.
“You didn’t have to get up with us,” I said, booting up the card reader. “Harlow and I have dealt with much worse than a disgruntled werewolf during the morning rush.”
“Are you talking about the banshees that came last May?” Harlow quipped, filling two of our largest glasses with cold brew and a splash of cream. “I still hear them at night sometimes.”
I shook my head, fetched one of the glasses for Eloise, and directed my sister to the sugar packet refills. “Uh, that’s not . . . You know what, I’ll let you figure that one out on your own.”
Eloise took the glass from me and downed half of it in one go. Maybe she would need a whole vat after all.
The door chimed, and Avery slinked inside. She was wearing her signature purple and black lace with a ruffling of tulle. “Morning, all,” said the whimsy goth vampire, her eyes snagging on Eloise before she approached me at the counter.
“Hey, Avery. Your usual?” She nodded, and I went to work. “Pastries should be here soon, but I can set something aside if you’re in a rush?”
“Actually, I thought I’d come in early to hang out with you. I know you don’t have much spare time, and I’m dying to know what you were up to on your day off.” She waggled her brows but took a seat at the closest table. “As you know, there has been some . . . talk.”
“Has Agnes sent you to get the tea?” Harlow asked as she frowned at the brown sugar and stevia packets.
She looked at Harlow. “I’m not a gossipmonger like my mother. I prefer facts and firsthand accounts.”
Relatable. No one likes being compared to their mother.
“I can confirm that Willow and my brother have ended their relationship. The pressure was far too high for the both of them. Isn’t that right, Willow?” Eloise blurted. “I’m only here to keep the peace. You know how wolves can be when they’re heartbroken. Such a sad, pathetic—”
I cleared my throat.
Avery tilted her head coolly. “Have you always been this terrible of a liar? I swear when we were kids, you were better at it. If I were you, I’d work on that.”
Something in the way Avery’s comment landed sounded more accusatory than critical.
I eyed Eloise as I finished making Avery’s coffee. What was Eloise hiding? What exactly did Avery know?
“My day off wasn’t all too exciting,” I said.
Eloise was meant to fetch the daily order in about an hour, but I contemplated canceling. Wouldn’t it be more convincing to not have Full Moon Bakery goods in the case? But then again, if I didn’t have the classic Halloween treats, I’d lose even more business this week. That wasn’t an option.
The doorbell chimed as the first batch of customers filtered in.
“I told you she’d be open today,” Lisa, a swamp monster, said to Maggie, her nymph companion.
“Yup!” Harlow called out, followed with a faux enthusiastic, “The sun’s not up yet, but we sure are open!”
I shot her a look. “Drink your coffee faster.”
Harlow saluted me. She’d need at least another hour to temper her snark.
The monsters bustled up to the register, apologies written on their ghoulish faces.
After Jordyn’s encounter with Katie last year, the swamp monster clan had had to do major damage control to reclaim their image as slightly fishy but harmless environmentalists.
They’d also become some of our more enthusiastic early-morning customers, since most of them worked at the fish market and hatchery.
Lisa ordered her usual kale pumpkin smoothie—with two shots of espresso—and Maggie ordered a winter berry maple matcha. But when they paid, they lingered around the bar, passing looks between one another and eyeing Harlow and me.
“Is everything okay?” I finally asked, passing the matcha across the counter as Harlow finished the dirty smoothie.
“Is it true?” Lisa practically burst with the question she’d been holding in.
Maggie added, “Your secret is safe with us . . . and the trees.”
“Yes,” I said calmly, ignoring the pulsating nerve in my temple.
I’d settled on the script of, “Wyatt and I are still friends and are maintaining our working relationship, but we decided we are too different to make a relationship work.” I just hadn’t expected the questions to start at 5:47 in the morning.
“Wyatt and I have broken off our romantic relationship,” I started, “but we are still—”
“Not that!” Maggie screeched. “That Dean came to your rescue? Everyone in town is saying he fought off were-Wyatt to save the café from his wolfed-out rage. Such a knight in shining armor.”
Eloise pitched an entire giggle fit.
I stuttered through a laugh. “Yup. That’s exactly what happened. He’s a hero, that Dean.”
Harlow came up behind me, handed Lisa her smoothie, and put on a look of faux concern. “It was horrific. Who knows what would have happened if Dean and his rippling muscles and washboard abs hadn’t been here.”
Even with us laying it on thick, the two young women swooned.
“We knew it!” Maggie crowed.
“He’s so brave,” Lisa said between thick sips. “So dreamy.”
“Was he with anyone?” Maggie asked quietly. “He won’t tell us who, but we think he’s dating someone.”
“I heard rumors it was three someones,” Eloise piped up from her table, her second glass already half empty. “He might give Randy a run for his money as the Maple Hollow Don Juan.”
Lisa blushed and gave Eloise a little webbed-finger wave. “El, you’re looking perfectly sleep-kissed this morning.”
Eloise gave her a sexy wink. “Just how you like me. Isn’t that right, love?”
Lisa and Maggie pressed together, stumbling through fits of uproarious giggling as they left the café.
“Well, I guess I won’t have to answer as many awkward questions as I thought.” I laughed and sat next to Avery, who smiled knowingly at me. “Not with Panty-Dropper Barbie over there.”
Eloise flashed a wolfish grin. “Happy to be of service.”