Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Phineas and Pierre continued to chat. Pearl could tell by Phineas’ body language that he was relaxing with Pierre, maybe even trusting him. Actually, Pearl was pretty much at ease around Pierre Lafontaine, too.
She was a good judge of character. Her unicorn was drawn to good and kind people and there was nothing warning her about Pierre.
He seemed to be the real deal and his story was kind of amazing. She could see how it might not be believable, but he was willing to do a genetic test, and she’d go to the hospital and get that arranged for the brothers.
When he brought out the beignets, well, she completely forgot about all the genetic tests and any misgivings, because the powdered sugared pastries were to die for. But the café au lait this late at night ensured she wasn’t going to get much sleep. Still, she couldn’t stop indulging.
Finally, Phineas and Pierre said good night. It was almost midnight, and she was pretty sure there would be a lot of texts from her mother or possibly Finn wondering where she was.
She didn’t have a curfew, but they liked to keep tabs on her.
“Sorry for keeping you out late,” Phineas said as they walked hand and hand up the darkened street toward her car.
“It’s okay. I’m glad you and Pierre were getting on so well and honestly, his food is delicious. Just don’t tell Magnus I said that. Or my mom, for that matter.”
Phineas laughed. “It was good. That vegetarian boudin was amazing.”
“It was. Tabasco is a bit hot for me.”
“Not me. It had a nice kick.”
“Well, apparently you’re a Louisiana gill man,” Pearl teased. “Too bad you didn’t have that accent. I like accents.”
“Oh?” His eyes widened and he cleared his throat. “How is zis for zee French accent?”
Pearl winced. “Not good. Maybe just stick with your normal voice.”
Phineas laughed. “Noted.”
“So, when are you going to ask me out?” she asked coyly.
“You’ve changed,” Phineas teased.
“What do you mean?”
“You never used to pester me about things.”
Pearl chuckled. “I became more confident. I’m not going to sit back and hope things will happen.”
They stopped in the street, facing each other as they held hands. He brushed his knuckles down her face. “I like this take-charge Pearl.”
“You do?”
“I do, because I wasn’t sure if I was good enough for you.”
“You’ve always been good enough for me, Phineas.” Her heart was racing and she really wanted to kiss him again. When he kissed her earlier, it made her blood sing. Her unicorn part loved that. She wanted to be with him so much, and she knew that Phineas would always protect her.
He was her safety net. Sure, her brother had been like a dad to her since her father died tragically, but Phineas was her rock.
And she knew that deep in her heart.
There was no one else she wanted to be with.
Only him.
“I would very much like to kiss you again,” Phineas whispered, his voice deep with a promise that sent of zing of pleasure through her body.
“I would like that too.”
Phineas cupped her face and tenderly kissed her, just like before, which made her melt against him.
The kiss was soft at first, but then deepened into something more, something she desperately wanted but had always been afraid to reach out for.
It made her blood sing as his arms moved from her face, down over her shoulders before wrapping around her, pulling her flush against his hard, muscled body.
For being a cold-blooded monster, he felt incredibly hot under her fingers as she touched any bare area of his skin. He was being so gentle with her, which was good, because she’d never been with anyone else ever, but there was also a part of her that wanted more.
She could feel his hard cock in his pants, pressed against the top of her thigh, and her body trembled with need. Instinctively, she rolled her hips against it and heard him moan.
Slow it down.
Reluctantly, she broke off the kiss, and he rested his forehead against hers. She placed her hand on his chest, his heart fluttering under her touch.
“Is this a dream?” he asked, his breath warm against her skin.
“If it is, I don’t want to wake up.”
He kissed her hand. “I would like to make you dinner and have you come to my place tomorrow night if you’re free?”
“I’m free. What time?”
“Six.”
She nodded. “That sounds good. I’m glad you finally asked me out, Phineas.”
“I’m glad I did too. Thanks for the nudge.”
“Well, if one of us didn’t make the move, we’d still be just friends.”
“What if this doesn’t work out?” Phineas asked. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t, and I don’t think this won’t work out. Do you?”
Phineas grinned, his yellow eyes soft. “I think this will work out.”
“I get what you mean. We’ve been friends for so long and…I don’t want to lose you either, but I also know what my heart wants, and that’s you.” Pearl kissed him again, touching his face. “Let’s get you back home. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
“Me too.”
Pearl: We have a date set!
Mer: Oh. My. Gosh! Finally. When?
Pearl: Tonight.
Mer: He moves slow for years, but fast with the actual date. Good! What’re you going to wear?
Pearl: IDK.
Mer: Want to go shopping?
Pearl: Yes.
Mer: K. Meet me at Nifty Thrifty in an hour. I can’t wait to hear all about it.
That was the text Pearl had immediately sent to Mercedes when she woke up this morning after she’d slept in.
Even her mom wasn’t puttering around in the kitchen like she usually did, she had to tell someone, and of course it was very satisfying to tell her bestie all about it, because she was still buzzing with electricity.
Pearl got ready as fast as she could, gulped down a coffee because she was too excited-slash-nervous to eat, and then walked to the center of town. Mercedes was waiting outside of Nifty Thrifty, practically buzzing too. There was smoke curling out of her ears.
Pearl was almost worried that Mercedes might cause a minor explosion. Mercedes was a witch whose powers were controlled by her emotions, and during times of extreme emotion, explosions sometimes happened.
Though it hadn’t happened in a while.
As soon as Mercedes saw her, she ran right over and gave her a big hug.
“This is sooo exciting,” Mercedes gushed. “I think a lot of us have been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
“What do you mean a lot of us?” Pearl asked.
Mercedes gave her a look that basically said, girl please. “Every knows you two have been pining for each other for what seems like eternity. We all love Phineas and you. We just want you to be happy. Of course, Magnus and Sven are slightly overprotective.”
“I haven’t even told my actual brother about my date. I know he’ll be protective too, even though he totally adores Phineas.”
“I was too excited and I can’t seem to keep anything from Magnus. He’s the worst gossip sometimes.”
Pearl chuckled softly. “Why doesn’t this surprise me?”
“Enough of that. We have to find the perfect outfit to wear on your date with Phineas. Where is he taking you?”
“He’s not taking me anywhere. I’m going to his place for dinner tonight.”
Mercedes arched an eyebrow. “Oh? I remember when I had my date with Magnus, when he cooked me dinner.”
There was something in the way she said cooked me dinner that had Pearl wondering if more than just dinner happened. Was she ready to take that step with Phineas?
Heck yeah.
Was she scared?
Also yes, because she’d never been with anyone else, but she knew this was right. She wanted to be with him, and most of all, she wanted whatever happened between them to be organic and comfortable for both of them.
Without a doubt, she knew he was the one she was going to spend her life with, and even though he questioned his ability to take care of her, she knew she’d always be safe with him.
Mercedes opened the door to the cute, blue secondhand shop. The bell chimed and Victoria, who ran Nifty Thrifty, looked up and smiled.
“Hi! Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Just looking at clothes, Victoria,” Pearl said.
“Great. I just refreshed the stock and there’s some nice summery finds in the racks,” Victoria replied.
“Thanks, Victoria,” Mercedes said.
They made their way over to the women’s clothing. One thing Pearl loved about this thrift store was that everything was neat and tidy. It looked like a shop that sold new stuff, but everything was secondhand.
It was one of her favorite stores in Harmony Glen.
“Oh, how about this?” Mercedes pulled out a black, skintight dress.
Pearl frowned. “Maybe for you, not for me.”
Mercedes glanced at it. “Yeah, I might have to pick this up. Magnus will like it.”
Pearl then found a beautiful, wispy, floral summer dress. It shimmered with delicate lilac buds and lace. It was exactly what she was looking for because she loved the color purple so much. Purple and pearl and flowers.
“You’re such a unicorn,” Mercedes teased, a smile tugging at her lips.
“I suppose I am, but I don’t care. This is gorgeous.” Pearl held it up against her and spun around. “What do you think?”
Mercedes tapped her chin. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“I know I am.”
“Have you told your mom about the date?”
“No. I mean, I will, but she won’t care.”
“It’s a full moon tonight,” Mercedes said under her breath.
Pearl frowned. “Is it?”
Usually, she kept track of the full moon phases. How did she forget this one? She worried her bottom lip and glanced at her phone, but couldn't see anything. “Are you sure?”
“It is. I wasn’t really tracking it, but when you said your date was tonight, I checked. Do you want to reschedule it?”
Pearl sighed. “I don’t want to cancel it.”
“When does the transformation happen?” Mercedes asked, rifling through more clothing.
“Not until the moon is completely risen. I might have to leave early, but Phineas will understand.” Or maybe she’d just stay, because she knew that her unicorn always sought Phineas out, and if she was with him, then she’d be safe.
It was a theory.
And Phineas could always drive her home.
He didn’t have a car, but he could drive.
It was probably responsible to tell Margaid, her brother’s wife, where she’d be.
For whatever reason, her unicorn felt safe with Margaid too.
If she told Finn she had a date tonight and he found out it was a full moon, he’d stop her from going.
Usually, Finn got a bit agitated during a full moon as well.
Glashtyns seem to be affected by the full moon cycles.
It was said that males would come out of the water to steal females by the light of the full moon.
That was an old myth, though. Female glashtyns were very rare, and often unicorns like herself.
Finn at least could maintain some manner of decorum, whereas she went a bit wild during the full moon and couldn’t control her shift.
If she wanted, she could shift into a unicorn now, but she rarely did. Only because it wasn’t safe. Not when her horn was prized for dark magic.
It was why she and Mercedes had become such close friends. Mercedes’ dark witching family wanted to use Mercedes as a vessel for a horrible reincarnation of their restless ancestor, and Pearl was a coveted prize to be chopped up and used in spells.
I’ll be safe with Phineas.
That’s what her unicorn was telling her. But if she said something to her mom or Finn, they wouldn’t let her go, so she’d leave them a note and slip away before they could stop her. She wasn’t being reckless. Deep down she knew she wouldn’t be, because she’d be with Phineas.
It didn’t matter that it was going to be a full moon. She’d be fine tonight because she’d be with the one she loved the most.
She’d be with him.