Chapter 19
nineteen
Picnic on the Dock, New Warlock on the Block
Imanage to survive the worst three days of my period with Renee doing me a huge solid by bringing some food. I didn’t have to explain what was happening to her, and that was an immense relief. Now, on the other side of the worst bit, I get back into my normal routine.
Yoga, shower, and breakfast take up the first hour and a half of my morning.
The business block is next, working first on emailing local libraries and asking for their connections on book donations while listening to some Tortured Poets.
Next, I contact a few of the Big Five overstock warehouses where I know less popular books go to die.
So many paperbacks have their covers stripped off before they’re sent back so the bookstore can write it off on their taxes. It’s sad, but given enough time, I could make a bunch of unique and beautiful books to feature.
I get a call around eleven for the electrician. Fortunately, I hadn’t blown the whole breaker, just fried the outlet because it wasn’t rated for my powerful heat pad. But the whole apartment needs to have updates if I want a fridge and modern stove, so Bastian, Oscar, and I scram.
I pick up a veggie tray and some premade egg salad sandwiches at the market before we head to the hotel Renee runs. They own a dock where they fix and rent boats. She thought it would be fun to have lunch on the water, but I didn’t feel awesome about taking Oscar out in his kennel. If it fell in…
Yeah, not thinking about that.
Drew meets us at the picnic style benches just beside the docks. He places a kiss on Renee’s crown and produces a Tupperware of meat slices.
“This okay?” he asks, looking at me.
“Yeah, it’s fine. Seriously,” I say, covering my lips as I talk through a mouthful of ranched-up broccoli.
“In fact, what is it?” I ask.
Renee’s eyes round. “You’re not going to…are you?”
“No, not me.” I wave the idea away. “If it’s turkey or ham, Oscar would love a little piece. He’s not a fan of chicken or beef though.”
Drew’s face lights up as he says, “Turkey. Can I give it to him?”
“Go for it.” I chuckle as I lift Oscar’s cage onto the table.
Oscar rams his face against the bars, mouth open in a needy wail as he expects the treat. We all laugh, and even Bastian huffs what could be a laugh.
We chat about the ramp progress and the next projects I want to take on. My heart swells with gratitude for Renee and Drew, and the luck that the universe bestowed upon me for taking a huge chance.
This is where I’m supposed to be.
This is my future.
Bastian’s hand falls to my leg under the table and I look up at him. He smiles and I smile back.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he murmurs.
“Me too,” I whisper back.
“You two are so cute,” Renee says, cupping her cheeks as she stares at us in wonder. “How long have you been dating?”
“Uuuuh—”
“This is our second date,” Bastian says.
Drew’s eyes narrow. “Do y’all just not go out or did you just meet?”
“We just recently met,” I say.
“And you’re already living together?” he probes and my heart rate skyrockets.
“Babe, cut it out,” Renee cuts in. “You’re making them uncomfortable. And who cares if they moved fast. They’re obviously happy.”
“We’re not really moving anywhere…I mean that, um, it’s just that we’re kinda more like friends?” My mouth is dry, but it doesn’t stop it from running away without my brain. “What I mean is that we live together, but it’s not really like that. He’s really hot and I’m just his friend.”
Renee’s eyebrows shoot straight up and she looks at Bastian, then follows the line of his arm down to where it rests on my leg under the table.
My cheeks burn. “Yeah, so, yep. That’s what’s going on.”
“Uh huh,” she says. “Okay.”
A man appears from around the corner of the hotel, walking toward us.
“Shit,” Renee says as she dusts off her hands and gets up from the table. “Be right back.”
She jogs toward him. “Hi there! Need to check in?”
Bastian’s grip tightens on my leg, his claws pricking my thigh. I yelp in surprise and he releases me immediately.
“I must go,” he whispers.
His brow is pinched, eyes narrowed on the man approaching Renee.
“What is it?” I ask.
Bastian licks his lips, sparing a quick glance at Drew. “I must go.”
I give Drew an apologetic wince. “Sorry, but we’re gonna take off. I’ll say bye to Renee on the way out.”
Drew looks at Bastian, then at the man talking to Renee, suddenly donning a suspicious glare. Renee is talking loudly, her hands on her hips. I can’t catch what she’s saying, but she’s defensive, for sure.
Drew looks back at me and nods as he gets up. “Sure. Thanks for bringing the food.”
I gather up what’s left of the veggie tray and then groan. “I don’t have a fridge.”
“We’ll keep it for you,” Drew says. “I can’t promise the carrots won’t disappear before you see it next, though. I love carrots.”
I chuckle, despite Bastian’s tense atmosphere. “Finish it if you want. They’re only good for a few days anyway.”
Drew rips off one more chunk of turkey for Oscar and bids us goodbye as he carries the veggie tray toward Renee. Bastian and I walk to the parking lot, moving at a diagonal path from where Renee and the newcomer are talking.
The man has dark, cropped hair, and a military look about him. Cargo pants, thick nylon belt with a K-Bar, ankle high boots, and a camo jacket.
Bastian grabs my free hand. “Don’t make eye contact.”
I suck in a breath and grip him back. “Why not?”
“He’s a warlock.”
“What?”
“He has magic, and I don’t know what it is. Best to not look at him. Don’t give him your name and most certainly don’t let him get any of your blood.”
“—Just moved in down the street is all,” the warlock says. “Wanted to say hello.”
“And you’ve said hello to us, your neighbor,” Drew says.
I spare a sideways glance and lock eyes with the man.
“Yes, I have,” he says, stepping away from the two and heading toward us.
“Cait,” Bastian hisses, squeezing my hand.
I release him and pull out my keys as I increase my pace.
“Hi there,” the man calls, his footsteps grinding faster on the gravel drive.
“Slow down a second,” he says with a disarming laugh.
It’s rude to just run away from people, isn’t it?
What the hell…why would I think that?
“C’mon, I just want to say hi,” the man says and my pace slows.
“Fuck,” Bastian whispers.
I unlock the car and pass Bastian the keys. “Get in, I’ll clear this up.”
I turn on my heel with a bright smile. “Hello.”
The man stops his pursuit, his eyes dropping to Oscar’s kennel, then back up to me. “Hi. I’m new around here and wanted to introduce myself,” he says, his voice sounding less confident than before.
A low growl starts from Oscar.
“Great. Welcome.”
I leave my welcome closed, and tense, waiting for his next move. The car door closes behind me and I breathe a little sigh. He’s in the car, so he’s safe. Drew and Renee are standing nearby, watching and murmuring at one another.
The warlock furrows his brow as he looks at the kennel where Oscar continues to make displeased cat noises.
“You’re new too, right?” he says.
“Not really,” I say.
His jaw flexes and his hand moves to his hip. I take a step back.
“Right then,” he says, hooking his thumb in his belt next to his knife. He points his other hand at the car. “Give me the dragon and things won’t get messy.”
“Give you what?”
He sneers. “We can drop the pretenses. I can smell your aura, girl, I know you’re a witch. And I know what he is, too.”
Drew and Renee walk toward us.
“Hey man, we appreciate you coming to introduce yourself, though you didn’t give a name,” Renee says. “But I think it’s time you head out.”
Surrounded, the warlock goes rigid. His gaze drops to Oscar once more and he bares his teeth in a grimace.
“Alright then,” he says, then looks up at me.
His grimace morphs into a horrible smile that sends spiders dancing across my skin. I try not to shiver, but I do anyway.
“Be seeing you.” He turns away and walks toward the water.
Renee comes to stand beside me, grabbing my arm. “You okay?”
I nod numbly as I watch the man walk into the lake.
“What the fuck?” Drew says as we all watch the warlock disappear below the surface with a bloop.
I swallow hard and look back at the car. Bastian gets out and approaches, taking my other side. He grabs Oscar’s kennel and then holds my hand.
“Um, Cait?” Renee says as we watch the ripples of the man’s disappearance lap against the gravely shore.
My gaze is fixated on the water, mouth hanging open. “Yeah?”
“I’m gonna need you to explain some things.”