The Coffee House Witch & The First Date (The Cobblestone Coven #5)

Chapter 1

ONE

Being a witch was all about freedom and being in charge of one's choices...

but that didn't mean there weren't traditions and customs that needed to be followed.

Like asking someone to become a lifelong partner.

The informal conversation we had wasn't enough to establish our relationship.

No, in this instance, it was only traditional to prepare a proper proposal.

I fiddled with my hair, dragging my fingers through it to flatten the unruly waves.

My stomach and knees felt weak in a way that I could only attribute to extreme stress even when everything was ready and set.

My gift was waiting on the kitchen table in a small box, I'd rehearsed my speech, and I was dressed in one of my nicest dresses.

I was even wearing my lucky burgundy boots.

Voices drifted up from the stairwell and I tensed even more, knowing that I was moments away from having to pop the question.

"You can do this," I encouraged myself, drawing a few deep breaths to calm my nerves.

The kitchen door opened and Gran came through first with a bag of groceries in one hand while carrying Betty in the other. They were followed by the individual I'd been waiting for all day and my stomach got even tighter.

Gran let out an exhausted sigh. "Those stairs, they're going to be the death of me someday."

I cleared my throat. "As much as I sympathise, could I have some privacy?"

Her gaze went to the box on the table and her eyes widened. "Oh, of course. Sorry, I didn't realise you were popping the question right now." She dropped the bag and hurried out of the kitchen.

Now it was just me and... the royal orange cat who had come in with them.

"Hi," I squeaked out. "It's good to see you."

Balthazar gave me a dismissive look. "Why?"

I swallowed hard and picked up the wooden box from the table, wishing I'd made myself flash cards with my speech because my mind had gone blank. After all that practising and preparing, I was going to have to improvise.

"Balthazar, I have to ask you an important question," I said, kneeling down so I was on eye level with the grumpy cat.

"I know we haven't known each other very long but I really like having you around.

It always brings me a lot of joy when you join us for breakfast and I worry about you when you're gone. "

He gave me a look as if he'd just bitten into a rotten mouse but didn't say anything so I kept going.

"I know that some people might think we're an odd fit but I think we can make each other happy.

I'm not asking you to forget about Viktor, I know he'll always be important to you so I'm asking if we can remember him together.

" I opened the box, revealing a red bow tie.

"Balthazar, will you become my familiar? "

The cat wobbled his whiskers and chose that moment to clean his front paw, acting as if he hadn't heard me. I shouldn't have expected anything less from this cat that liked to test the limits of my patience.

And yet, I waited, hoping that everything we'd been through together had forged a bond strong enough that he wouldn't just deny me.

After what felt like forever, Balthazar finally looked at the new bow tie and me. The pupils in his yellow eyes were thin slits but he didn't seem on edge or uncomfortable. Instead, he licked his paw a little more.

"You're a strange witch," he said eventually. "You have no money and a sad job and you stick your nose into affairs that aren't your own."

I could only nod. Nothing he said was a lie.

Balthazar continued, his tone softening somewhat. "But I guess you're reliable. You've not missed a single day of feeding me tuna and you bought me a nice bed."

"And I'll buy you lots of tasty treats in the future!" I promised, not sure if a familiar proposal usually involved bargaining.

He cocked his head. "And you'll install a cat doorbell at the coffee house?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "I'll even install one outside my window so you don't need to bat at it like, you know, street cat."

"Will you take me on adventures?" he asked, a sad tone entering his voice.

I set the box with the bow tie down, taking the opportunity to pat his head. Gently. "I'll do my best. I'm not sure what the future will look like but I want it to be filled with fun and excitement and joy."

"Hmm." He wobbled his snout and looked away, clearly avoiding my gaze. "The bow tie looks a bit shabby but I guess I accept."

If cats could blush, I was sure he would be beet red.

Grinning from ear to ear, I pulled him into a hug. If we were even closer, I would've kissed the top of his head but we weren't there yet. That kind of physical intimacy might have to wait until after the ceremony.

Balthazar let out a protesty meow. "Is this hug over yet?"

I released him, resisting the urge to pat him. "Sorry, I'm just so happy you said yes."

"I guess I'll allow it this once," he responded haughtily. "But don't make it a habit."

He did a very good job at pretending to be all cold and detached but he looked quite pleased with himself and he did just agree to be my familiar.

This was a big deal. A milestone, really.

I couldn't wait to tell the important people in my life about this development, although it seemed two of them didn't need to be informed.

"I know you're eavesdropping, you can come in now!" I called out to the door, not surprised when it opened immediately and Gran and Betty came in with excited grins that likely matched my own.

"I'm so happy for you two," Gran enthused, her eyes shimmering with warmth and love. She touched my shoulder and Balthazar's head affectionately. "Welcome to the family, Balthazar. I believe this calls for a celebration!"

Betty touched snouts with Balthazar in what I assumed was the cat version of giving her approval.

At least, I hoped it was that. She'd been the only cat in our family for a long time and while Balthazar had been a regular guest at the coffee house, welcoming him into the Greendale family might change the dynamic.

Then again, the two cats seemed to get on well and Balthazar was never rude towards her. If anything, it was more likely that they would join forces and gang up on me with their demands.

"When will you be holding the ceremony?" Gran asked as she sat down at the table.

"We still need to discuss that," I said, glancing at Balthazar who was pretending I didn't exist. Oh well. He could pretend all he wanted because I wasn't going to take it to heart.

He stuck up his tail. "You better not try to throw a huge party. I don't care for that sort of thing."

"Do you just want to go to coven hall and register our familiar contract there?

We can go tomorrow," I said, curious about what he'd done when he became Viktor's familiar.

Had they already thrown a huge familiar ceremony and that was why Balthazar didn't want one now?

Or was he simply not as excited about becoming my familiar as I was?

The thought put a little bit of a damper on my mood.

Maybe I was the only one who really wanted this bond. Perhaps Balthazar was just going along with it because he didn't have better offers. What if I was his rebound guardian? Was there even such a thing?

Balthazar turned his back to me. "Going to coven hall is lame."

Aha, now that was an interesting statement from Mister Grump. So he didn't want a big party but the most basic formalities weren't enough for him either. That sounded like he did want some sort of celebration or ceremony, just not too much fanfare.

I took my chance and scratched the base of his tail, causing him to jolt up and glare at me.

"We can talk about how and when we want to make the familiar bond official," I said, happy to give him time to come to terms with this. It was a big step for both of us and I would hate if he came to regret binding himself to me.

I could wait. I wasn't very good at it but I would because the familiar bond wasn't something to take lightly. No bond was.