Chapter 15
Jared
Spending last night with Garrett and Huxley helped me realise I can truly envision a life for myself in Crystal Lake long term.
The walk home forced me to admit I’ve got some hard work to do on myself for that life to be possible.
Acknowledging I need help and admitting that to someone else are two very different things.
I’m not ready to say it out loud yet. While I allow that to percolate in the back of my mind, I decide to focus on a step I am ready to take.
There’s one thing missing from the life I’m building here—love. Now I’m on a mission to fix that.
The cheery turquoise and pink interior of Sweet Dreams, along with the smell of fresh coffee and sugary treats, instantly lifts my mood.
Patiently, I stand in line behind a gargoyle couple and their son.
The young child’s tail swishes in excitement as he eagerly peers inside the long glass display case of cakes.
All of them are in their shifted forms, but, aside from that, they’re no different to any family I’ve seen out in the human world.
In fact, watching them reminds me of myself and my adoptive parents.
Perhaps it should surprise me how quickly I’ve become used to the various supernatural characteristics the residents of Crystal Lake proudly display.
While it was a shock at first, it didn’t take long to realise there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Like with humans, the outward appearance of the people here is the least important thing about them.
The gargoyle family pays and takes their drinks, heading over to one of the cute white bistro tables to wait for their cakes to be brought out.
“You’re friends with Selene, right?” I ask the perky blonde woman behind the counter when I step forward to order.
Light-brown eyes narrow in my direction. “Who’s asking?”
“Sorry, I’m Jared.” I offer my hand for her to shake, and she accepts with a perfunctory up-down.
“I’m new in town, and Selene’s been a huge help getting me settled in.
” Not the whole truth, but Hux made it clear some folks might be understandably upset if they found out I came to town as a human looking for a scoop.
“I’m planning to stop by Threads of Magic with a thank you, but I don’t actually know what she likes.
Since you’re friends, I was hoping you could help me out? ” I ask hopefully.
“Thoughtful, I approve.” She nods to herself. “OK, I’ll help, because Selene deserves to be spoiled—you didn’t hear it from me, but she always works too hard in the run-up to the Halloween festival—but you have to do something for me first.”
“Seems fair. What can I help you with?”
“You used to live among humans, right?” Shit, not where I thought this was going.
Does she know that this time last week I thought I was a human?
Did Selene tell her? I force my tight shoulders to relax.
If Selene chose to share my secret with her friend, she’d only have done so because this…
witch—I’m still getting the hang of using my magic to distinguish between the different types of supe—is trustworthy.
“Yes,” I reply warily.
She claps her hands gleefully. “Oh my goodness, OK, have you heard of a flavour called pumpkin spice?”
Is she for real? “Yeah, why?”
“Perfect, you can be my taste tester.” She darts through a door I’m guessing leads to the kitchen and comes back with a muffin the size of my hand.
I’ve learned that supes have faster metabolisms, so they need to eat more than humans.
It’s something to do with magic—the more powerful the supe, the more energy they need.
It’s why the portion sizes in town are larger than I’m used to.
Since my power surge, I’ve already noticed my body’s need for more fuel.
Hux says it’s normal and, once I ditch the amulet, I can expect a more noticeable increase in appetite.
“Here.” Selene’s friend thrusts the giant treat towards me. “Let me know if it tastes right. Please” she adds in an amusing afterthought. She’s like a little kid forgetting their manners because they’re excited.
Now’s probably a bad time to tell her I don’t actually like pumpkin spice flavoured things. Meh. Just because I won’t enjoy it doesn’t mean I can’t still help her out. I tear off a small piece and pop it in my mouth.
“You nailed it,” I say, desperately trying to keep my facial expression under control as I swallow and try not to gag. It’s pumpkin spice flavoured alright.
“Really?”
“Oh yeah. It’s just like what I had back home.” One time. Because it was the last muffin left at a breakfast meeting, and I was starving. I still left half of it. Seriously, what’s wrong with blueberry or chocolate chip?
“Then why aren’t you eating it?” She asks suspiciously.
For fuck’s sake. I can’t upset Selene’s friend. Maybe if I hold my breath while chewing it, it won’t taste so strong? Hastily, I munch another bite.
“So good,” I tell her. “But I’ll wait to finish the rest with Selene if that’s alright with you?” My stomach churns at the thought. Please, God, let it be alright.
“Aw, I’m glad Sel has a sweet ma—” her eyes go wide. “Man. A sweet man like you in her life.”
“Thanks?” Seems like someone’s had too much sugar today.
“Right. Well then. Thank you for trying the muffin. I want to serve them at this year’s Halloween festival. I hear humans really like the flavour, but I was nervous I wouldn’t get it right.”
“No problem. So, what does Selene like?”
“Oh, I’ve got you, don’t worry.”
She busies herself behind the counter preparing one, two… is that four drinks? Then she fills a pastel box with the shop’s logo on the lid with an assortment of treats.
“Here you go.” She presents me with the box and a full drinks tray. “The cappuccino and dark chocolate and cherry cupcake are for Selene.”
“And the rest?”
“A black coffee for you. The other two are for her sister and niece. They’re all working at the shop today, and I thought you might want the brownie points.”
“Thank you.” Hopefully it’s a good sign that I’ve already won over one of Selene’s friends.
“No problem. I’m Dove, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you. How much do I owe you?”
The bell above the door to Threads of Magic chimes, announcing my arrival.
Selene looks up from her spot amidst several open boxes, the long skirt of her burgundy dress pooled around her. “Jared?” She almost drops the box-cutter she’s holding.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s fine.” She waves off my concern, standing. “I was in the zone, that’s all. What brings you by?”
“I come bearing treats.”
“I see that. Here, let me help you.” She takes the drink tray from me.
“Where do you want them?”
“Um, in the back office, I think. Follow me.”
We pick our way around the boxes and weave through the shop to a door marked ‘employees only’. The narrow corridor is lined with a couple of doors, and Selene knocks on one of them but enters without waiting for an answer.
“Hey,” a woman who must be Selene’s older sister looks up from what looks like a stack of invoices and receipts. “Oh, who’s this?” Shrewd hazel eyes look me over.
“This is Jared. He’s brought us treats, so be nice. Jared, meet my sister Gwyneth.”
Gwyneth instantly perks up. “Ooh, in that case, I approve.”
“Dove helped me out with the order,” I admit.
“You know Dove?” Is it just me, or is that jealousy I hear?
“We just met today. I taste-tested her pumpkin spice recipe, and she helped me out in return.”
Selene grimaces. “How was it? I know humans enjoy the flavour, but I’d rather stick to chocolate.”
I laugh. “So would this human—we don’t all have the same taste—but she did a good job. I’m sure they’ll be a hit with the tourists who come for the Halloween festival.”
“So, Jared, what brings you by—aside from the much-appreciated delivery?” Gwyneth asks.
“I was hoping to make a proper plan for that dinner I owe you,” I tell Selene.
Pink blooms on her cheeks like cherry blossoms. It’s adorable. She’s about to answer when her niece bursts into the office.
“Do I smell coffee?”
“You could smell it from the stockroom?” Selene asks, impressed.
“You can’t hide the good stuff from this nose.” She taps her nose playfully. “Oh, fainting dude,” she says, finally spotting me.
“Manners,” her mum chastises, standing. “Come on my little bloodhound, let’s give these two a moment.” They take their treats and head out to the shop floor.
I look hopefully at Selene. “So, dinner? When are you free?”
She bites her lip. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but this is our busiest time of year. We just got a huge delivery, and there’s so much to do before the festival.”
“Then put me to work,” I offer.
“Seriously? You want to organise stock with me?”
“Not really.” Her face falls, and I rush to continue, “But I do want to spend time with you. If that means organising stock, then so be it—I’ll take what I can get.
” I shrug. “Besides, you have to eat at some point, right? If I help, then you’ll be done sooner, and we can grab food after—if you want that is. ”
She shakes her head in disbelief. “OK then. Let’s get to work.”
We make it out of the shop by seven and head to a little diner on the edge of the town square. It’s got a 1950s America vibe—Selene says the owner is a vampire who lived in the States for a few decades.
“Stop laughing,” Selene scolds me through barely contained giggles of her own.
“Sorry.” I raise my hands in surrender, and she throws a balled-up napkin at my head. “I didn’t expect a shop run by actual witches to need so many black cat plushies, that’s all.”
“I told you—they’re for the humans. We can’t have any of our usual stock out during the festival, so every year we get in things you’d expect to find in a human costume shop around Halloween. The locals love it too—they get a real kick out of dressing up in the human-designed Halloween costumes.”