by Bo Reid
"Do you have an actual name or do I constantly have to say that mouthful?" she asks as she lets go of my hand, offering hers to Malcolm for a shake,
"Malcolm will do just fine," he says with a natural smile, his deep baritone voice vibrating through me.
"Much easier," she says with a confident nod. "Will you be sticking around to witness the crazy today? Or just dropping off my labor?" she asks.
"I was going to see if I could get a coffee, but then I do have to get to work. I'll try to catch you two on the news though," he says.
"Seren can get you a coffee started, make him the special for the day, he can be our first victim," she says with a sly smile.
"Sounds good," I nod then pull Malcolm along behind me to the coffee bar.
Malcom
I watch as Karma and Jinx work effortlessly together behind the bar getting things ready for the day and making me a coffee. Karma created a special to celebrate today; it's called Good Karma, clearly a play on the name of the coffeehouse; which is named after her. It's also a play on the pay-it-forward chain that has been going on this week. Clever marketing.
Someone remind me to ask Serendipity about their names, I call her Jinx, but that's their last name. I wonder if it's just them with the unusual names, or if more members of the family have unique names; and if there is any special meaning behind the names. "Enjoy your Good Karma, Not-Floyd-Mayweather," Jinx says as she passes me the to-go cup with a smile on her face.
"Are you going to need a ride home tonight?" I ask quietly in case Serendipity doesn't want Karma to overhear.
"Thanks, but I think I'll end up staying here till closing just to make sure someone doesn't have a mental breakdown," she says, nodding her head towards Karma.
"Sounds like a plan, you want to stop by after you're home and go over your schedule for the shop?" I ask, taking a sip of coffee, and it's pretty fucking good.
"I think I'll be in late tonight, what about tomorrow?" she asks.
"See you tomorrow then," I say, tipping my cup towards her as a goodbye salute, then turning and walking back towards the back door to avoid the crowd.
News Report
Karma Koffee is a small coffee shop on the corner of ninth and Tobacco, and earlier this week a movement was started at the small shop now referred to as The Pay It Forward Chain. As it turns out the drive-through window, and now even the patrons making orders inside the coffee house have been paying for the customer next in line since Monday.
The owner, Karma Jinx, told our reporters this morning that not a single patron has turned down the opportunity to further the chain. A facebook page was started earlier by a customer of the shop, and it went viral. It is our understanding that new customers have been visiting the shop this week specifically to participate in the pay it forward chain. Ms. Jinx has announced that she will be donating a portion of every cup of coffee that is paid for as a part of this chain to help homeless shelters in the city. She has also said that anyone that cannot pay for a cup of coffee is welcome in her shop anytime and will never be turned away without something warm to drink.
This has been Channel 7 News reporting on The Pay It Forward Chain at Karma Koffee; we cannot wait to follow up on this story and see how far this movement can go.
Friday the 13th
I sit in my apartment early Friday afternoon in shock, complete and utter shock. My rent is paid, there is food in my fridge, and my cabinets are fully stocked for the first time in weeks. I paid all my overdue bills and even got my water turned back on before I came home. To top it all off, I have money to spare, money that I can save.
I take a deep breath and sink further into my couch; I fucking did it.
I made it.
I was supposed to meet up with Malcolm tonight at his place to go over my new job, that's right, my new steady, scheduled job. Instead, I jump up and start to scrub my apartment top to bottom, because I'm making him dinner tonight as a small thank you.
I'm not sure I will ever be able to properly thank him for all he did for me this week, but this can be the start.
It's ten after six when I hear the knock at my door, I dry my hands off on a dishtowel then rehang it on the stove. Nearly skipping across the room, I open the door and see none other then Not-Floyd-Mayweather on the other side.
"You know not showing up to your very first work meeting is not the best way to start us off," he remarks.
"True, but I knew you'd find me," I shrug.
"Well, are we doing this or what?" he asks, shoving his hands into his pocket and rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.
I step back and open my door, motioning for him to come inside.
"It's not nearly as fancy as yours but, come in," I tell him.
"I thought you were coming to my place?" he asks as he steps inside.
"I was but, you have already done more than enough for me, and I wanted to start this off by thanking you with dinner," I tell him motioning to the spread on my countertop.
"You didn't have to do this," he says.
"I wanted to."
"Well, thank you," he says, "don't take this the wrong way, but last time I checked you didn't have any money. So how did you do this?" he asks.
"I got paid from the coffee shop today, plus tips. After the crazy week, we had there; I ended up with enough to pay up all my bills, buy real food, and even have money left over to set aside for some savings. Hopefully working with you, plus filling in at the coffee house in the evenings I'll be able to save up enough to get a new car before Old Betsy completely gives up on life," I explain.
"That's probably wise. So you talked to Karma about coming to work with me?" he asks.
I hand him a plate, and he starts to load it up.
"Yeah, she has had a lot of people interested in working, so she won't be hard up for people. I told her I could close up in the evenings, and even work weekends and holidays if she needs me since you said you're not open at those times."
"You're going to wear yourself out," he says.
"I'll live," I shrug.
We move into the living room and take a seat on my couch, pulling the coffee table closer to set our plates on. I get up and grab two coffee mugs and a bottle of cheap wine, pouring it into the cups and handing one to Malcolm.
"To nice guys," I toast with a smile.
"And hysterical girls," he adds as we clink our mugs together.
I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship, or quite possibly the worst thing I have ever agreed to.
Jinx’ing Your Future
Hey Reaper — I mean Reader,
Did you see that release date? Did you put two and two together? For those of you that are reading this at a later date, aren't familiar with The Graveyard yet, or plain old don't know who I am let me clue you in on a little secret.
This is book one in the new Jinx Family Novella series and was a complete surprise to the Reapers! Yes you heard me, I managed to keep this bad boy on lock right up until my favorite non-holiday-holiday came; Friday the 13th! Don't ask me for teasers, don't ask me whose story comes next, I don't want to hear it about cover revels or blurbs, these babies are staying under lock and key until their Friday comes!
So if you're following along, that means check your calendars and mark off all those little Friday the 13th's you find, and it's time to dub them Jinx Day officially! Because I will be introducing a new member of the Jinx family, and sharing their stories with you every single Friday the 13th, from now until the foreseeable future!
Strap in, hold on tight, and get ready to see what the Jinx's have in store for you guys!
—Bo Reid, The Murder Queen
Writing Human Monsters with Heart
— Jinx’ing Your Future is novella one of The Jinx Family Novella series will have a new surprise book released every Friday the 13th. The characters will overlap, the stories will all tie in together, and these will follow many members of the Jinx family, so to get the whole Jinx family picture, i
t is recommended that you read them in order of publication. If a cover is black it means it is part one of that character's story (like this one) if it is white, it means it is part two of that characters story and you need to read their part one first!
Fun Facts:
The idea behind the Jinx family came from a story that involved a family always having good luck on the “cursed day” rather than bad luck. I loved it so much I decided to make a whole fictional family that supported this idea.
Name Meanings:
Serendipity — The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial away.
Karma — Destiney/Fate
Keshia — Favorite
Jinx — Magic Charm
Acknowledgments
The Hubs, yes deadlines matter, no you can’t keep telling me that I can change them if I want to. Yes I still love you.
Danielle, a special thank you for reading this in tiny installments and for falling madly in love with Not-Floyd-Mayweather.
Katie, I appreciate your hard work, creating a full idea doc for this series so I can pull from it as I go. For finding names that have meanings to relate to the idea behind the Jinx family. And for simply being here.
Further Acknowlegdements
Beta Bitches, thank you for tackling this little side project, for jumping right on board and supporting this venture.
Whip Mistress, Omega Wolf, Bo’s Dirty Girl, Sex on Legs, Smexy Queen of Hybrids, Kelly with the Biscuits & Gravy, The British Kelly, Kitty with Claws, Alpha Wifey, The Big D, The Other D, The British One, No Nickname CA
ARCers, thank you guys for always being excited to read what I send to you, and for taking the time to leave reviews.
YOU, my Reaper, I mean Reader. Without you I wouldn’t be able to do this, so just know that I am beyond thankful to have you here.
The definition of a Reaper: A Group of Loyal Readers. A Cult like following of The Murder Queen.
About the Author
www.BoReidAuthor.com
Bo Reid is addicted to coffee, swearing, sarcasm, and true crime. She loves hiking, traveling, books, and pit bulls. A mom to one sarcastic little boy, and wife to the perfect book husband. She lives with her family in the mountains of California.
Also by Bo Reid
The Reapers
Betrayal
Deception
Bloodlines (coming soon)
The Hart Duet
Broken Hart
Wild Hart (coming soon)
