Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
LIORA
It was my first shift at The Tipsy Thistle, and I’d hit the ground running.
Despite Graham claiming that business had slowed, I certainly couldn’t see a difference.
There was a busy lunch rush where I’d just done my best to keep up and do as I was told, and now I was taking a break to tuck into my own late lunch in the lull before happy hour started.
I was buzzing though, just buzzing, as excitement consumed me. A few locals had remembered me, and were cheerful about me working for Graham, and I realized that maybe I’d given the rumor Avery started far too much weight in my own life.
Maybe I was giving a lot of other people’s opinions too much weight in my life.
It was definitely something I needed to think about, more seriously, as I had to admit I was itching to get back to my astrology readings.
It would take time to build up any local business, but I still had a functioning website and enough of a following that I could re-open my bookings anytime.
Particularly as we were approaching a new year.
It was always a wonderful time for people to get a reading and plan ahead for any significant changes in the year ahead.
“I’ll take it that’s a yes?”
I blinked at Graham, who must have spoken to me while I was daydreaming about my business.
“I’m sorry, I missed that.”
“I asked if the food suits.” Graham gestured with the towel he was using to wipe down the bar.
“Och, aye. It’s grand, thanks.” It was simple enough—coronation chicken sandwich and vegetable soup—but the servings were hearty and I could use the sustenance to get me through the dinner shift. “People seem really chuffed with the food here.”
“Aye, I’ve got a new lad in the kitchen. He’s been a real treat to work with. Shows up on time, cooks hearty simple meals that are fan favorites, and so far has been able to manage the workload. Though I may need to get a sous chef on board during busier times.”
“Is there anything I can do to help there?” I was eager to please Graham, hoping at the very least, to keep employment as long as possible.
“Do you have kitchen experience?” Graham lifted an eyebrow at me.
“Sadly, none. Actually, now that I think about it, best to keep me out of the kitchen.” Graham and I both laughed as the outer door opened and a woman walked in.
“Agnes!” I exclaimed, jumping out of my seat. I hadn’t seen Agnes in years, but we followed each other on socials and occasionally dropped each other a message. “You look great.”
“Do I?” Agnes glanced down at her jumper dress, the fabric wrapped softly around her trim body. A necklace with a book charm on it hung around her neck, and small sparkly hoops hung at her ears. “Thank you, I’ve got a date later.”
Graham slammed the stock notebook he’d been writing in and glowered at Agnes.
“Is that right?”
“Aye, that’s right.” Agnes shot Graham an unreadable look and took the stool next to me. “Mind if I crash your lunch?”
“Nae bother.” I glanced to where Graham continued to glower at Agnes and tried to gauge the energy bouncing off the two of them. “Just enjoying a bite after my first lunch shift.”
“Are you working here then? Och, that’s grand. I’ll see more of you then. I heard you were back in town, and I’ve been meaning to reach out. It’s been a busy week.”
“Sounds like it,” Graham muttered, rounding the bar to go wipe tables across the room. Agnes cast him a look, again, her eyes shuttered, and then turned back to me.
“It’s been busy for me as well. Just needed to get settled a bit. It’s only been less than a week since I’ve been back.” I spooned up some veggie soup and swallowed, enjoying the light hint of heat in the added spice, and thought about the last few days.
Nothing had happened since I’d taken the oath.
It had been four days, and I’d only managed to see my sister once, as she was so busy with work, but in that time I hadn’t quite been able to admit to her that I’d screwed up a spell.
Instead, I’d focused on the good news of me finding a job and joining the Order but had stayed away from any magickal screwups.
I didn’t like when Zara furrowed her brow and concern settled on her face whenever she spoke about my latest mishaps.
Better to just keep everything on positive news for now.
But still, I was waiting to see what would happen when it came to the Order and these supposed magickal challenges.
Yet nothing had happened.
Crickets.
Nada.
I was still a little too nervous about trying another spell, at least at Torin’s house, but maybe that would be the key to unlocking whatever level of power I had.
I was taking my time going through the books I’d taken from Zara’s flat, but so far nothing I’d read had given me any further inclination about my powers.
Sure, the books themselves were chock-full of recipes and magickal spells, but that didn’t necessarily lead me any further down the road to understanding what my particular magick was.
“And you’re living at Torin’s then?”
I looked at Agnes in surprise but then shook my head with a small laugh.
“Small towns.”
“Aye, get used to it. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. Isn’t that right, Graham?” Agnes raised her voice as Graham came back across the room, his arms full of dirty glasses.
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to, darling. You know all of my business.” Graham deposited the glasses by the cleaning station.
“Do I? What’s that I heard about you helping a pretty lass from Linlithgow the other day?”
“You’ll have to be more specific. There are loads of bonnie lasses coming through here.” Graham held up a glass and Agnes nodded. Filling it with ice, he topped it up with sparkling water and a lime, and then he slid her a bottle of cordial to add flavor.
“The one who you personally showed how to locate her accommodation?” Agnes sniffed and a wide smile split Graham’s face.
“Och, darling. Are you jealous?”
“Not in the slightest.” Agnes rolled her eyes. “I’m just getting Liora up to speed on how small towns work and how quickly news carries.”
“And did the gossips also tell you the lass was my cousin’s girlfriend?”
“Ah, no.” Agnes sniffed. “They may have failed to mention that.”
Amusement fluttered through me as I watched the two, who were clearly besotted with each other, try to pretend like they didn’t care in the slightest what the other was doing.
“So, Torin?” Agnes turned to me, dismissing Graham. “How’s it living with him? Are you two…”
Agnes left the comment dangling, and I shrugged.
Torin was all in on us dating. Or at least, that was how it seemed.
He’d brought home the makings for dinner each night after work, and we’d talked long into the night about everything and anything.
And then he’d give me a lingering kiss that had every nerve ending in my body on fire, before I’d push him away and hightail it for my room.
I was grateful to have the space this weekend because what I needed to do was get my head on straight.
We weren’t dating. At least I didn’t think so.
But he was acting just like a devoted boyfriend, and his kisses were hot enough to make me forget any resolve I had about not jumping into things headfirst. The more we cozied in together, the more I was likely to ignore every red flag fluttering cheerfully around this fake relationship.
We’d also said we were committed to this act until I resolved Torin’s truth telling issue, which meant this was my first test. Did I say we were nothing?
If so, I’d be throwing Torin under the bus because he was convinced we were actually dating.
Or at least he’d convinced himself enough so that it wouldn’t come out as a lie if anyone asked him about it.
Frustration filled me, because the lines were murky now, and I had no idea how to navigate it.
“Um…it’s…”
“Complicated?” Agnes said, shooting a look at Graham.
“The best things usually are, darling,” Graham drawled and there was enough heat in his look to make my face flush. I noticed Agnes’s cheeks pinken too and she visibly swallowed before looking back at me.
“Be that as it may, I won’t pry. Yet.” Agnes smiled at me. “I’ll get the details out of you over wine one night this week. Come by the store? Books and a wee gossip?”
“I’d love that.” I meant it, too. I was craving connection and friendships.
And, as much as I loved Zara, her relationship came with some strings.
Largely that as the older sister, she felt she had to always look out for me, so I didn’t always feel I could talk as freely with her as I liked.
I wanted her friendship and love, but it was often served with a side of censure.
I couldn’t blame her, necessarily. It wasn’t like I always made the best decisions.
But they were my decisions.
I really needed to get better at my self-talk.
“Graham, Liora is the next member of the Order.”
I dropped my spoon back into my soup hard enough to have it splatter outside the bowl and gaped as Agnes casually mentioned the magickal Order I’d been silently freaking out about the last four days.
“Is she? Och, that’s grand then. We’re getting close then, aren’t we?”
“Aye. If we can fill the seats, we’ll finally be able to put the Kelpies back to rest.”
“About damn time.” Graham and Agnes shared a mutual look of relief while I continued to gape at them in surprise.
“Seriously? Is this just a known thing in Loren Brae?” I asked, dropping my voice lower as a few new customers wandered in.
“Hiya, folks. Anywhere that suits you,” Graham called to a couple with their small son, and they wandered toward a table across the room.
“Do you need me to—”
“Nae bother. Enjoy your lunch.” Graham grabbed menus and rounded the bar.