Chapter 9
Maya
I woke to the smell of coffee and bacon, and for a moment I just lay there, soaking in the warmth of Geoff’s bed and the feeling of complete contentment.
I hadn’t gone back to the apartment since the day we went to the general store.
Instead, I’d stayed with Geoff in his cabin for a few more days.
One week ago today, my life changed forever.
A week of living in this cabin, of falling asleep in his arms and waking up to his smile, of existing in a bubble where nothing else mattered.
But reality was knocking. Loudly.
My phone had been buzzing all morning with reminders.
My new job started in five days, and I had orientation paperwork to fill out.
The apartment was sitting empty while I was paying rent.
Heidi had sent dozens of texts asking when I was actually going to unpack.
My mom had called twice, wanting to ‘check in,’ which was her code for ‘interrogate you about your life choices.’
I’d always known the bubble Geoff and I built for ourselves was going to pop. Might as well be today. Rip the bandage off, so to speak.
“Morning,” Geoff said, appearing in the doorway with a mug of coffee. He was shirtless, wearing only sweatpants, and I took a moment to appreciate the view. Even though I’d spent the past week seeing him like this, I still wasn’t used to it. “You’re thinking loud again.”
“I know.” My phone buzzed again. Heidi.
Call me. Now.
I texted back.
Little busy. Can’t talk.
I have an idea.
I glanced up at Geoff. “Want to hold that thought? Heidi’s not gonna let whatever this is go.” I pointed to my phone.
“Take your time.” He handed me the coffee. “I’ll take a shower, and you can have your girl time.”
I smiled gratefully up at him. “I love you.”
He bent down to kiss me. “Love you too.”
As soon as I heard the shower turn on, I texted Heidi back.
Ok. Free to talk. But FYI, Yeti’s have super senses, including hearing.
Her response was immediate.
Ok. Text it is. Here’s my plan.
A few minutes later, a grin settled on my face. I could do this. Everything would work out. It had to.
Geoff sauntered back into the bedroom, rubbing a towel over his head. “All good? Heidi okay?”
“She is. She met someone.”
“Ah.” Geoff’s ears twitched.
“We need to go into town. Actually go into town this time, not just grab groceries and run.” I handed Geoff my mug. “Want a sip? I need to furnish the apartment. Buy some furniture. Adult things.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, his weight making the soft mattress dip. “No thanks on the coffee. As for town, you sure? We could put it off another day.”
“We’ve been putting it off for a week. I start work in five days. I need to at least pretend to have my life together.”
“Your life is together.”
“My life is currently two suitcases and a lot of borrowed clothes.”
“I like you in my clothes.”
“I know you do.” I set the coffee on the nightstand and pulled him down for a kiss. “But I should probably buy some of my own. You know, normal girlfriend things.”
“Girlfriend things,” he repeated, smiling against my lips. “I like when you say that.”
“What, girlfriend?”
“Yeah. Makes it real.”
“It is real, you ridiculous Yeti.” I kissed him again because I could, because he was mine and I was his and somehow against all odds this was actually happening. “Now come on. Town awaits. Try not to threaten to throw anyone through any windows this time.”
“I make no promises.”
An hour later, we were back in his truck heading down the mountain. I’d dressed carefully this time in my own jeans, a nice sweater, boots that actually fit. Armor for facing the town’s judgment again. Geoff kept glancing at me like he could read my anxiety, his hand finding mine on the console.
“We don’t have to do this today,” he said for the third time.
“Yes, we do. I can’t hide in your cabin forever. I already stayed a bit longer than we planned.”
“You absolutely could. I have supplies.”
“Geoff.”
“I’m saying, it’s an option.”
Despite my nerves, I smiled. This was our routine. He wanted to protect me from everything, and I needed to prove I could handle it on my own. We’d had this dynamic for three years online. It was just more intense in person.
Calamity Creek looked different in full daylight without the pressure of paperwork and gossip.
Charming, like something from a postcard.
The main street was bustling with weekend shoppers, a mix of humans and monsters going about their business.
A satyr browsed the bookstore window, a group of teenage werewolves laughed outside the coffee shop, an elderly vampire couple walked hand-in-hand.
Integration in action. It should have been comforting.
“Where first?” Geoff asked, parking on the main street.
“Clothes, I guess? Then a furniture store?” I looked at the storefronts, trying to orient myself. “Is there a department store or something? I know there are no big-box stores here.”
“Fiona’s,” he said, pointing to a shop with a purple awning. “She carries everything, and she’s nice. Doesn’t gossip like the rest of the town.”
We headed into Fiona’s, which turned out to be a treasure trove of clothing, accessories, and home goods crammed into a surprisingly large space. The owner, a fae with kind eyes and silver-streaked hair, looked up from the register and smiled.
“Geoff! Twice in one week, this must be a record.” Her eyes shifted to me with genuine warmth. “And you must be Maya. Welcome, dear. I’m Fiona.”
“Thank you,” I said, surprised by the lack of judgment in her tone.
“Don’t look so shocked. Not everyone in town is a nosy busybody.” She shot Geoff a knowing look. “Though I heard all about the drama at the general store. People need to learn to keep their mouths shut.”
“No arguments from me,” Geoff muttered.
"Now then, what can I help you find?" Fiona asked, coming around the counter. “Starting a new wardrobe? Moving in?”
“Both, kind of. I moved here for work, but most of my stuff is still in shipping. I need, well, everything.”
“Excellent! I love a challenge.” Fiona started pulling items from racks with the efficiency of someone who knew her inventory by heart. “What’s your style? Professional, casual, both?”
For the next hour, Fiona helped me build a wardrobe while Geoff trailed behind us like an oversized puppy, occasionally offering opinions that ranged from helpful: “that color looks great on you”, to ridiculous “you should get the one with the dragons on it”.
“I’m not buying a shirt with dragons on it because it reminds you of a video game,” I said, holding up the offending garment. “I’m trying to look professional.”
“Professional dragon enthusiast?”
“That's not a thing.”
“Well, it should be a thing.”
Fiona laughed, watching us with obvious amusement. “You two are adorable. How long have you been together?”
“Three years,” Geoff and I said simultaneously.
She raised an eyebrow. “Really? I heard you just met.”
“We met online,” I explained. “Gaming. We’ve been friends for three years, but we met in person recently.”
“Ah.” Something shifted in her expression, understanding, maybe even approval. “So you actually know each other. That’s different from what people are saying.”
“What are people saying?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
Fiona hesitated, glancing at Geoff. “You know. Small town gossip. That it’s very sudden, that maybe it's just excitement from the rescue, that sort of thing.” She squeezed my hand gently. “But if you’ve known each other for three years, that’s a real foundation. Don’t let the gossips get to you.”
“Trying not to,” I said as my eyes darted around the store.
“Don’t try. Let them go. Or try harder. You seem good for him.
” She gestured at Geoff, who was examining a display of candles with intense focus, trying to give us privacy.
“I’ve known that boy since he moved here years ago.
Never seen him like this. You’ve got him coming into town voluntarily, smiling at people.
He looks happy. And that’s because of you. ”
Warmth spread through my chest. “He makes me happy too.”
“Good. Then everyone else can mind their own business.” She rang up my purchases, which made a substantial pile that made me wince at the total, but Geoff handed over his card before I could protest. “Consider it a housewarming gift,” he said when I tried to argue.
“You already gave me a place to stay for a week.”
“And now I’m buying you clothes. I’m an excellent boyfriend.”
“I’m an expensive girlfriend.”
“You’re worth it.”
Fiona made a sound that was definitely “aww” and handed us the bags. “Come back anytime. And Maya? Don’t be a stranger. I run a book club on Thursday nights. We’re a mix of humans and monsters, very casual. You should come.”
“I’d like that,” I said, meaning it. “Thank you.”
As we left the shop, I noticed people noticing us. A group of women outside the coffee shop stopped talking to watch us pass. A harpy landing on a streetlamp did a double-take. Even the werewolf teenagers paused their conversation to stare.
“Does everyone in this town know everyone else’s business?” I muttered.
“Unfortunately, yes. It’s part of small-town living.” Geoff’s hand found the small of my back, a possessive gesture that probably wasn’t helping the gossip situation but felt too good to protest. “You get used to it.”
“Do you? Get used to it?”
“No,” he admitted. “But I’ve gotten better at ignoring it.”
We were passing the gaming store when someone called out. “Geoff! Man, is that you?”
A guy emerged from the shop, a Bigfoot, and I guessed his age was somewhere around early thirties. He had a rumpled look of someone who spent too much time indoors. He had a familiar energy that made me think “gamer” even before I saw the store’s logo on his shirts.
“Everest,” Geoff said, with warmth in his voice. “Good to see you. How's business?”