Chapter Thirty-Three
Oh hell, I was definitely fucking Rylan McKenzie tonight.
“Perimenopause!”
Remy patted my shoulder as I shoved a big bite of carrot cake in my mouth. Shout out to Rylan whose odd insight that I’d need cake sent some my way this morning.
“It’s very common for women in their thirties to start—”
“Menopause?! I’m thirty-five!” To say that I was taking the news of my body betraying me poorly was an understatement.
“I know many women who started in their thirties, darling.” Imogene finished painting her nails orange while eyeing the cauldron. “Though, their hot flashes didn’t actually flash. That is fairly inconvenient.” She fanned her hands back and forth. I set my fork down and stirred the pink liquid.
Hmm... maybe it was a little too pink. I pinched two more vanilla beans and crumbled them into the mix. They dissolved instantly and the pink turned more of a softer hue.
“That smells good. What’s this one for?” Remy asked as she dipped her fork in to the slice of cake I willingly shared. Hopefully she knows how much I care by that simple act.
“It’s for a friend of mine,” Imogene said. “She’s got the fellas coming to her room, but her drive is a little low.”
“Ah, yes. The partnership,” Remy said partnership with finger quotes.
I rolled my eyes. How this troublemaker of a white-haired woman in front of us got away with dealing my herbal remedies out to half the school without the staff knowing was beyond me.
Plus, I’m pretty sure she had the armor on her side, but I couldn’t prove it.
We had a sixty forty split deal between us, which wasn’t a bad profit. I enjoyed making goods that helped people. Including making an aphrodisiac tonic for Imogene’s friend who wanted to get it on.
I’d gotten pretty good at making teas for headaches, cookies for upset stomachs, and tonics for achy joints over the past weeks.
“Maybe you can do this when you finish school,” Remy said, and it wasn’t the first time she brought it up. Imogene nodded enthusiastically as I ladled the mixture into a glass bottle.
“Oh yes, darling. That is a fabulous idea. If that McKenzie boy doesn’t buy you a shop first, I would be happy to invest.” Without looking my way, Imogene lifted her silver and pink gemmed wand up to her nails and placed shimmering sparkles on each like a topcoat.
“I’m not taking y’all’s money.” While I didn’t know for certain that both my friends were rich, there were signs. Remy being… well… Remy the overwhelmingly accomplished person that she was. How could she not be?
And Imogene looked like fuck you money. She wore wild colors and acted like she had enough not to care what other’s think.
She also said her two ex-husbands married her for her money. So, there’s that.
“You don’t have to. Pretty sure if Rylan gets word of this conversation, you’ll have the storefront of your dreams by midnight.” Remy said and I groaned.
Since that night in his room, the billionaire has been very gifty.
There were the flowers that appeared first thing in the morning. Purple asters.
I’d grown them in a little pot back home but didn’t know much about them besides keeping them alive. Remy proceeded to tell me meaning of aster is star in Greek. He sent me a bouquet of stars.
Then the miniature costume chest full of accessories for Edith came.
She dove in snout first, her colors flashing as she snuggled into the box.
Her joyous squeals even had Jemison flying over to examine the contents in the box.
I wondered if the creatures spoke to each other, because Edith gave the owl a blue beaded bracelet to which earned her a hoot before the owl flew back to her side of the room.
His crow Russel had been leaving me gifts at the window too. Bottle caps, rocks, a French fry, and a pencil with a star eraser.
I was being spoiled by the man and his bird.
Then Rylan sent copious amounts of mini carrot cakes, sending me into serious feels for him.
“When does that boy get back?” Imogene asked, and I refocused on the present by sealing the bottle with a cork.
I touched the glass sides to check the temperature, and it was already cool enough to touch. “Tonight.” I said and handed it to her. “As always, your friend should talk to a doctor, or someone better than me—”
“Yes, yes. I know the drill. How much should she take?” Imogene inspected the five-inch diameter bottle closely, even lifting it to the light to look at the swirling pink liquid inside.
“One teaspoon per er… session.”
Remy chuckled beside me, and I ignored her. This whole ordeal was weird, and probably illegal, but here I was.
“What if she drinks more?”
“Then she’s in for a nonstop night and her fella should drink some to keep up. It’s like that little blue pill but lasts longer and more intense. I wouldn’t suggest it for someone in elder years,” I said, and Imogene scoffed.
“Nothing a little lube wouldn’t help.”
I was more worried about a heart attack or stroke, but vaginal dryness was something to consider too.
“All set. I’m going to finish my cake, and change.” Remy got to work helping me clean up while I shoved the final bites in my mouth. Imogene asked what I was up to, and I blushed. Remy answered for me, since saying the word date felt too real.
“Rylan’s got a dinner date planned for them. His familiar dropped off the invitation this morning.”
Imogene smirked, and before I could say anything else Remy got a word in first.
“I offered to take Jemison and Edith out of the room so they could have some fun tonight.” My face turned hot. The water coming out of the faucet I scrubbed the cauldron under shimmered. Crap. I took a deep breath, and the water went back to normal.
“I told her ‘No thanks.’ We’re just having dinner.”
“I’m sure you can use magic to unlock that chastity belt you’ve got on, darling,” Imogene said, and I choked.
“Oh my God, I do not have a—”
“Did you need to make a waxing appointment? I’m sure there’s a magical solution, but I wouldn’t risk it this close to the date.
What if your nethers got bedazzled on accident?
” Imogene paused, her face all pinched at first then shifted like having a bedazzled crotch wasn’t such a bad idea.
Then she looked at the bottle in her hands.
“Maybe you need this more than my friend.”
The way my hands shot to stop her train of thought made my wrists pop.
“No, no, no. I’m fine. Truly. We’re just taking things slow.” Lie. Slow was over a month ago, and even that was a flimsy statement considering I had his dick in my mouth.
“All right my darlings. I’ll be off. But I expect a full report in the morning.” She pointed an orange nail at me and her thin eyebrow raised.
“Sure.” I agreed, but mostly because I didn’t think we’d actually do anything hot and heavy tonight. Well… unless he got close to me. At least six feet or so.
Oh hell, I was definitely fucking Rylan McKenzie tonight.