Chapter 50
“Thanks so much for joining me, Cigs,” Julian says. “I know this isn’t an ideal hangout situation, but I’m glad you said yes nonetheless.”
I smile. “Don’t mention it. If anything, I should be the one thanking you.
After that brainstorming session with my team this morning, I can barely see straight.
I needed to get out of the HQ and look at something that isn’t social media or Lure related.
I swear, the words “discount” and “sale” are going to haunt my dreams for at least a month. ”
Julian chuckles. “I’m glad you find antique shopping relaxing.”
“Honestly, though, it’s a million times better, not to mention interesting, than staring at my computer until things start to obscure, and I just can’t take it anymore.”
When Julian had asked if I’d like to go to an antique store in Downtown with him during our lunch break, I’d said yes immediately. Because A) I’ve never been to one of those, and B) I needed to step away from work before I started pulling my own hair from my scalp.
I look at Mave from over my shoulder, who’s walking merely a couple of steps behind me. Our eyes meet, and I flash my teeth at him in a too-wide smile. He returns it with a genuine smile of his own, but doesn’t forget to shake his head at me because he knows I’m a complete pain in his ass.
Downtown is as busy as one would expect. With active shops on either side, the road in the middle is jammed with traffic. It’d rained an hour ago, so some people still have their raincoats on, while others carry their umbrellas in hand.
The three of us continue to walk on the busy pavement, and Julian has Maps opened up on his phone, and is guiding Mave and I to the store he’d found online.
“How much further?” I ask Julian, and sidestep a puddle to avoid staining my black pumps and crimson jumpsuit.
He frowns at his phone, then points ahead. “Should be here somewhere.”
“What’s the store called again?” Mave asks.
“Aurora’s
Antiques,” Julian replies.
“Niiiiice,” I can’t help but muse.
He laughs. “Well, they claim to have the most unique artifacts and such, so I wanted to check them out.” He then clicks his tongue.
“Landon, my fiancé, has the weirdest of interests. Like, if you look at him in passing, he’ll seem like a completely simple, sunshiny kinda guy.
But when you see the things he likes to collect, you’ll change your goddamn mind.
I remember giving him one of those weird, rubber-made Frankenstein hands on his birthday the year we started dating, and he’s still got it.
He uses it as a paperweight in our condo office, and every time I see it just sitting there on the table, I swear it fucking moves an inch closer to the edge. ”
I chuckle. “Well, nothing wrong with that. I do love a combo of sweet and crazy myself.” My cheeks heat immediately after I say that, and Julian, of course, notices.
“You little minx; you’ve been holding out on me!” He shoves my shoulder in a playful manner. “Tell me everything!”
I grin. “Not a chance, but I will say that he’s sweet when he wants to be, and abso-fucking-lutely freaky when he’s in the mood. He’s just…I dunno, amazing.”
Someone coughs behind me.
I turn and scowl at Mave, to which he slides his hands in his pant pockets and pretends to look up and around him.
“I’m guessing big guy here doesn’t approve,” Julian remarks.
I roll my eyes. “He doesn’t approve of anything.”
“Excuse you,” Mave butts in.
“Careful where you’re walking, Maverick,” I taunt. “I don’t want you falling on your ass and breaking your fragile hipbone or something.”
Julian laughs, and Mave mumbles something I can’t quite make out.
We walk past a few more stores, and then finally reach Aurora’s
Antiques at the very end of the street. It’s a wood-finished store with a massive glass casing next to its entrance, which showcases a bunch of watches, globes, and vintage mirrors.
Julian pushes open the door and enters the shop, and I follow after him. An overwhelming smell of moth balls and polish permeates the stocked space, making me scrunch my nose against it.
The carpeted floor mutes our footsteps as we walk further into the store, and when I look around, all I see are chairs, more watches, globes, and mirrors, along with clay busts, miniature statues, rusted swords and armors, and Ouija boards.
“That deer head mounted on the wall is judging me,” Mave says, startling me a little.
I blink and glance at the object he’s talking about, only to suck in a breath at how real it looks. It’s as if an actual deer shoved its head into the wall, and was paused by time to remain as is.
“It doesn’t like your scent,” Julian quips.
“Did you just quote Gruthum from The Last Kingdom?” Mave asks him.
I stop and face him. “Wait, you’ve seen that Viking show?” I question.
Mave opens his mouth to answer, but stops when a booming yet elegant voice rings through the store.
“Welcome to Aurora’s
Antiques. My name is Toyah; how may I assist you today?”
The three of us turn to the woman behind the glass display case.
Her skin is a lush shade of brown, and she’s wearing leather pants, along with a white silk blouse that’s tucked inside said pants.
Her dark hair is wrapped within a beautiful head wrap, while the gold bangles and rings she’s wearing, clink against each other as she steeples her fingers and smiles at us.
Julian walks over to her, so naturally, Mave and I follow.
“Hey there. I’m looking for something small yet unique for my fiancé. It’s his birthday this week,” he says.
The woman nods, then gestures at the case in front of her. “You may have a look at these and see if anything piques your fancy.” She has an English accent – Welsh, most probably.
Mave comes to stand next to me and leans against the case, while Julian and I look at the things on display inside it.
Rings, bracelets, daggers, coins, and other trinkets I can’t possibly identify.
They look old and invaluable, but for all I know, they’re made of brass and don’t hold a single shred of connection to history.
But eh, it’s all about the appeal of these things anyway, and not their authenticity.
All of the items have been kept under a golden light, which makes them appear sparkly and enticing. Well, all except for one. It’s black, square-shaped, with a skull, along with the words ‘DEATH NOTE’ embossed in gold on it. It’s simple, yet it drew my attention the moment I laid eyes on it.
Just like Dorran had the day we met.
“What’s this?” I ask Toyah, then tap my nail against the glass.
“A lighter.” She opens the compartment and pulls the lighter out, then flicks its front panel to the side, bringing a lick of blue flame to life.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, then smile at her. “I’ll take it.”
“It’ll be $150.”
“What?!” Mave straightens, seeming thoroughly appalled. “It’s a goddamn lighter, woman, not a handcrafted vase. You seriously think you can trick us int–”
“Mave.” I place a hand on his forearm and shake it in warning. “Calm down, please.”
He looks down at me. “I am calm, Nettie. You seriously think this trash costs $150? If you really need a lighter, you can find one for $3 at the fucking grocery store. And news flash: that lighter will do exactly what this one does.”
Oh my God.
I glance at Toyah, but thankfully, she seems unfazed by Mave’s outrage. It’s probably because she deals with all kinds of customers on a daily basis, but still, that doesn’t mean I’m not embarrassed by what he said.
I let go of his forearm as I glare at him, then face Toyah again. “I’ll take it,” I repeat myself, then pull my card out of my purse before handing it to her.
Mave looks displeased, but it isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this reaction out of him, and it most definitely won’t be the last.
Julian picks a charm bracelet for Landon, and as he asks Toyah about its origin, I quickly snap a photo of the lighter and send it to Dorran.
Me: If you were an inanimate object…
He takes a bit to reply, and by the time he does, Toyah has handed my card back to me, and Julian has paid for his bracelet.
Dorran: That’s actually pretty accurate. Biblical too, if you wanna look at it in that sense.
Me: I can’t wait to watch you light your cigarette with this. It’s going to do all sorts of things to my insides.
Dorran: You’re so easy to please, Little Swan.
Dorran: Also, you didn’t have to buy me anything.
Me: I’ve got two words for ya: shut up.
Dorran: I could skin you alive for saying that, you know.
Me: And yet you won’t, princeling.
Dorran: You’re way too confident for your own good. But fortunate for you, I’m going to enjoy fucking that assertiveness out of you later.
“Cigs?”
Feeling flushed and a little out of breath after having read Dorran’s text, I look up, and find Julian giving me a knowing smirk. “Let’s go; we’ve gotta head back to the HQ.”
I purse my lips. “Already?”
Mave opens the store’s door for me and jerks his head to the side. “Get out of here before you make another impulsive purchase. Because I swear to God if you do, I’ll lose every piece of my commonsense and do something I probably wouldn’t want to.”
My lips twitch as I fight back a smile. I then slide my phone and lighter into my purse, but not before responding to Dorran’s last message.
Me: I look forward to it.
Me: P.S. I gotta go, but I’ll call you later.
I turn around and give Toyah a wave, then walk out of Aurora’s Antiques.
“Wanna grab a quick bite before we get back to work?” Julian asks once we’ve crossed the street and reached the other side.
“Yes, please,” Mave and I say in unison, making him chuckle.
“I’m thinking extra cheese sandwiches, Greek salad, and some refreshing mojitos. My treat, of course.”
I hum, then wrap an arm around his and follow him through the string of shops. “You’re a heaven-sent, Julian. A true savior.”
“I concur wholeheartedly,” Mave says, making Julian and I laugh.