Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
Terrified for more reasons than one, Skylar pulled the strap of her handbag higher on her shoulder as she walked back towards the bustling streets of Newtown.
Her platform boots only came up to her ankles and sported cute black bows on the front.
She thought they matched her black mid-thigh dress well.
Made of satin, the skirt of it was loose and flowy, dancing around her thighs with lace wisping against her skin along the bottom edge.
More lace was stitched to the low neckline, while her arms were covered with a different pattern on the delicate fabric from her shoulders to the elastic around her wrists.
She’d thrown her hair into two neat space buns, and she fiddled with the back of it, hoping she’d split it evenly.
When she finally made it to the main street of Newtown, it was bustling with people ready to party on a Friday night. The suburb’s nightlife was always wild, as pubs and nightclubs pumped music with blaring lights out the front.
She unclipped the fake knuckle-duster latch to open her clutch bag and slipped out her phone to check the time.
She was right on time for her date with Oliver.
Nervousness skittered below the surface, and all she wanted to do was cancel it.
I still haven’t removed the summoning circle.
Actually, since last night, when it seemed like Mr Tentacles was fucking knocking on the other side, she’d been too scared to go anywhere near it.
She knew she had to get rid of it at some point, but a huge part of her didn’t want to because it was reassuring. Knowing it was there meant that if she changed her mind, he was a simple spell away.
I feel like the only reason I’m going on this stupid date is so I can forget him. Maybe if she liked Oliver, she’d gain the courage to finally let go. I don’t know why he tried to get my attention so forcefully.
Maybe he finds my sexual energy particularly tasty and wants more. Certain succubi and incubi liked to drain their prey dry. That’s all she was. A meal.
A meal that wanted to be eaten. Completely gobbled up until she splintered and fractured from lust and reality.
No. Stop it!
The ferret bat came up next to her boots, and she waved her foot at it.
“Go away. Go home!” she yelled down at it, only for a few pedestrians to look at her like she’d grown a second head. “I deserve more than being a meal. Now shoo.”
It scuttled back with a hiss into the shadows, and Skylar dived into the crowd to head to the restaurant to run away from it.
It didn’t take her long to find the Thai restaurant she’d chosen, suddenly regretting going with something with a lot of spices when her stomach felt like it was trying to turn itself inside out.
Then again, it smelled so good once she entered the warm and lively establishment that her mouth watered. She walked up to the stand and waited for an employee to greet her.
“Reservation for Skylar,” she said to the approaching waiter, and he inspected the bookings list, then nodded for her to follow.
He led her to a table right next to the glass windows, where she’d be able to look outside for a distraction if necessary.
Her hands went clammy when tall, tattooed, and handsome was already sitting there. He looked up from the table, his brown eyes widened, and he knocked into it when he went to stand. His hand shot out to steady a wine glass that started to fall over.
“Skylar, right?” Oliver greeted with a nervous smile that showed off soft dimples.
His hair was messy, but there was evidence of wax in it as if he’d styled it that way purposefully. He wore black jeans and a button-up black dress shirt, just casual enough to not make her feel out of place, but formal enough to show he cared about his appearance for her.
“Hi, sorry I’m late,” she said, knowing she wasn’t. “Have you been waiting long?”
She took her seat, and it felt like fire on her ass telling her to bolt while she still had the chance to flee.
“Only a few minutes.” His fingers touched and tapped the menu like he didn’t know what to do with them. “I didn’t want to order a drink for you, since I don’t know what you like.”
She laughed – it was really a noise of panic – as she picked up the menu. She almost lifted it to her face to hide but managed to restrain herself.
The air between them was stiff, and regret simmered deeper inside her. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck you, Kaylee, for making me do this.
And fuck Mr Tentacles, too, because she probably would’ve flaked on this date if it wasn’t for him. Or maybe she wouldn’t feel so damn awful and sick about it, like she was doing the wrong thing when she really wasn’t!
It was a date. With a real person. A human. A man. A... a...
What if he wigs out if we get serious and I tell him what I am?
What am I doing here? I’m not mother material.
Why can’t there be a dating site for witches?
I want to go home.
“Are you as nervous as I am?” Oliver eventually said, pulling down the sleeves of his shirt. “I haven’t gone on a date in years. I’m not really sure how to start this.”
“Me neither,” she answered, thankful for his courage to air out the awkwardness.
She rubbed her lips together, moving around her lipstick, and glanced down at the menu. Someone kill me, please.
“Uh... you said your café is in Newtown. Is it far from here?”
Her shoulders lost some of their tension at the introduction of a topic that felt safe. It was also her passion, and something she was extremely proud of.
“It’s down the street. Probably about five minutes away.” She looked out the window in its direction. “It’s close enough to all the pubs and main shops that it’s busy, but it’s far enough away that it’s not overflowing, which is good because it’s meant to be a calm environment for readers.”
Oliver offered her a genuine smile. “Maybe if things go well, you can show it to me afterwards?”
Her own grin curled her lips; she’d take any opportunity to show it off. “Sure. But only if you’re good.”
Surprised by what she’d said, and that she hadn’t meant for it to sound so flirty, she gawked and looked down at the menu with wide eyes. Thankfully he laughed, just as a waiter came and intervened, saving her from putting her foot further into her mouth.
Something gained her attention in the window, and she looked down to the sill on the other side.
Two glowing, beady red eyes looked up at her.
Oh my fucking god. The table vibrated from her magic, subtle enough that only she noticed it. Shit! Shoo, ferret bat!
“Your order, ma’am?” the waiter asked, his tone polite despite the fact that she was rudely not listening.
“Huh?” She turned to him and then looked down at the menu, pretending she hadn’t already eaten here a dozen times and knew exactly what she wanted. “I’ll have the panang curry and a glass of Frangelico and Sprite.”
“Sure. Anything else?” he asked them, and she and Oliver exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
“No. We’re good,” Oliver answered, and the waiter took their menus.
She eyed the creature watching them and then pushed her arm against the window to hide it.
“Y-you have a daughter, right?” she asked with strain, reaching for any topic. “What’s her name?”
“Clare.” Then he fished into his pocket to pull out his phone. “I have some photos of her if you’d like to see.”
Perfect! A distraction that would have his eyes anywhere but looking outside.
She wished that would’ve been enough.
The ferret bat ducked its head up over her arm to see what was going on, and she moved her hand up to cover it. It didn’t relent, ducking under her arm instead to peek inside.
She tried to listen to Oliver as they moved into ‘getting to know each other’ conversation, but it was hard when she was distracted.
She did her best, even opening up a little about her past – how her father had died when she was little and her mother only a few years ago – unsure if she was supposed to share such gloomy things on a first date.
But it was the truth, and he had asked about her family.
To lighten the mood, she quickly delved into the countries she’d travelled to before she opened The Bean Alchemist, to which he explained he’d always wanted to leave Australia but hadn’t had the chance to yet.
The more they spoke, the more at ease she was with him, and the more panicked she grew that he’d notice the creature. She stopped trying to hide it when Oliver kept looking at her arm whenever she moved it.
She begged silently that the otherworldly creature remained invisible to him.