by Quinn, Taryn
“Isn’t it though?” I patted Caleb’s chest. “My brother usually shows up to grab a little PR spotlight. This doesn’t seem like one of your pet projects, X.”
“Just because I don’t mold young minds doesn’t mean I don’t want to support them. Father makes a large annual donation to ensure Crescent Cove has a good school when one of us eventually gives him a grandchild.”
I laughed, the sound hollow and harsh. “You?”
“Maybe you.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh, but I’m not part of that world anymore. You made sure of that, didn’t you?” I stalked up the hill and away from him again.
Just like he’d walked away from me three years ago.
Caleb quickly caught up to me. “Want to tell me what that was about?”
“Nope.” I kept walking.
“Luna.”
I stopped. “We don’t do the heavy stuff, right? Let’s keep it that way, huh?”
At his shocked face, I spun on my heel. The strap of my sandal slipped and I swore. I yanked them off and bent to grab them.
Were there bees around my head? There was certainly something buzzing in my ears. Actually, it felt like everything was humming all the way down to the soles of my feet.
“That’s not fair.”
“We agreed not to talk about deep stuff.” Sort of. Goddess, I just needed to get away from him for a second. I didn’t want to do something stupid like cry in front of him.
“We never said that. We just…don’t.”
He was correct there. Instinctively, we never discussed heavy things. It was easier to talk about surface stuff like movies, our mutual love of steak, and orgasms. Oh, and to enjoy summer like two semi-young people. “And that works for us.”
“Yeah, but you’re upset. I’m not an asshole, Lu.”
I threw down my sandals. I could feel eyes on me, and I still couldn’t stop myself from marching over to Caleb. “Yes, I’m upset. It’s just family stuff. My family isn’t like yours.”
“Obviously not.”
I gritted my teeth. My emotions were fuzzing out of control. Everyone in the park was just a color. Friendly colors, happy colors, some more anxious like the sweet Sister Sarah. But there were no faces. I dragged in a deep breath and tried to calm down.
“Just go. I need a few minutes, all right?”
Why wouldn’t he listen?
“Luna?” His voice gentled. “It’s okay. Relax.”
I waved him off and plopped down on the ground. I closed my eyes and pressed my hands and my feet into the grass to ground myself. I hadn’t had one of these episodes since I was a teenager, when hormones and my gift for reading auras had collided into a bright, beautiful mess.
My parents hadn’t understood what was wrong with me. As a child, I’d been happy and just thought the colors were part of life. That everyone could see them.
I’d learned quickly that wasn’t the truth and to not tell my mother about the strange glowing colors I saw around people. Telling her about my father’s darker auras scared the crap out of her. He wasn’t a happy man, and the energy around him always felt heavy. He rarely slipped into the blues and greens that I saw around most people.
I was different, and they hated it. In fact, they’d been in complete denial about me. So, as a teen, I’d taught myself how to use shields and how to protect myself from all the energy that came at me. I’d gotten so good at building my shields that my gifts had gone away for years.
Until…
My eyes burned. Until everything exploded.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. Some of Caleb’s innate calm actually helped soothe the chaos rioting inside me.
“Lu, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m okay. I just need to calm down.”
“Okay.” He sat next to me quietly for all of two minutes. “Can I do anything?”
The blades of grass under my fingers came into focus. I could feel the pulse of the earth under me as I grounded myself in my body. I pictured all the flying emotions settling like sand after a dust storm. “You’re doing it.”
“I’m not doing anything,” he murmured.
I smiled, but I was afraid to open my eyes. Not that Caleb wasn’t a lovely shade of greenish-blue, but I just wasn’t ready to face the world again yet. “You didn’t leave me. Even when I told you to.”
“I’m stubborn that way. Ask my sister.” He tucked his chin on my shoulder. “Do I need to kick that Xavier dude’s ass?”
“No.” My lips twitched. “I’ll keep that card for future use though.”
“Deal.”
I leaned my head against his. “I’m sorry I freaked.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really. Is that okay?” The warm, spicy scent of him mixed with fabric softener smoothed the rest of the edges away.
“I care about you, Lu. I hope you know that.” He covered my hand in the grass. “But if you don’t want to talk about what happened, that’s okay by me.”
I relaxed a bit more. “It’s not a huge deal.”
It was to me, but I wasn’t prepared to open that trap door just yet. I wasn’t only protecting myself. I also didn’t want to put more on his shoulders than a casual relationship warranted.
Even if we were feeling less casual with every passing moment.
He snapped a blade of grass between his fingers. “Sure about that?”
Swallowing hard, I made myself look at him. Really look. If I’d seen any judgment or trepidation there, I would’ve closed down. But there was just concern—and affection. “My family just doesn’t understand me.”
“Do any of our families ever really get us?”
I laughed. If only he knew. “I like being the black sheep.”
“Rainbow sheep? I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen you in black.”
I punched him in the shoulder. “Jerk.”
He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. “Think we can get up now? Pretty sure everyone’s staring at us.”
“Let them stare,” I said and kissed him a little deeper.
Twelve
The rest of the picnic was uneventful. Sure, I received a couple odd looks and overheard the occasional hushed “witchy” comment I assumed was directed at me, but overall, the balance of the day was pleasant.
Especially the way it ended with Caleb and I parking down by the lake for some stargazing.
And other things.
Best of all, my brother never made another appearance. I didn’t know where he’d gotten off to so quickly, but I was grateful for the reprieve.
Even more grateful that I hadn’t had to visit Caleb’s work again since.
I knew I would again eventually if this thing between us continued. But I didn’t mind having some time to regroup.
It had been a few weeks now. Caleb had started school and we’d settled into a new routine. Gone were the afternoons of him visiting me at the shop, but we made up for it by spending evenings together. Almost every evening. And we weren’t even naked all the time.
Just most of it.
But in between, we did what other couples did. We watched reruns on TV and went for walks or bike rides. We even occasionally attempted couples’ yoga, which had been a laugh and a half. For all Caleb’s stamina in the sack, his flexibility was sorely lacking. But he’d tried.
Several nights ago, he’d come home late after a meeting with a parent. He’d strolled in with takeout for dinner and a bouquet of fresh daisies.
And I’d given him a vibrating cock ring for dessert, which was actually a present for both of us.
I released a long, slow breath as I rubbed the twinge in my lower back. Maybe I needed to up those yoga sessions, because whew, I was out of shape.
But I knew that wasn’t true. I did something physical nearly every day—athletic sex life notwithstanding. Plus, with my couple of jobs and busy social life, I always stayed active.
Yet somehow all of a sudden, I couldn’t see
m to move furniture or rearrange displays at Kinleigh’s without getting out of breath or wanting to curl up in the corner on a hassock to take a nap.
“Need some help? Let me get that for you.”
I looked up at August, Caleb’s older brother. He had on a rather impressive toolbelt and sawdust in his hair. He’d just been building a custom crib in his workshop, but he’d taken a break to come down to the shop to kiss his wife and cuddle his baby. They were so adorable together, all three of them.
For unknown reasons, I’d teared up at baby Vivian giggling happily in her swing. Something about a child’s laughter made me so emotional. I mean, not before ever, but today? Everything was hitting me weird. I was even tearing up looking at the hand-painted roses on this end table I absolutely could not lift without my back screaming.
I smiled at August. “Oh, thank you. I just couldn’t do it for some reason. Did you see this? The blooms are so intricate. I can’t believe what craftsmanship the artisan put into this piece.” Sniffling, I traced my purple nail along the delicate yellow folds of the flower on the drawer.
“Uh, thanks. The artisan was me.” August laughed self-consciously and brushed dust off the shoulders of his shirt. “Where do you want me to put it?”
“Over there would be perfect.” I pointed to the opposite side of the new fringe circular rug I’d just arranged in the seating area. “I figured it was something that came in on consignment. I should’ve known it was yours. Gotta say I’m amazed you still have time to make stuff for the shop with all your custom orders for Ladybug Treasures.”
“You know what? I think I’m going to move this one somewhere else entirely.” August hefted the end table and carried it across the store to set it down near the front door.
I frowned, hands on my hips, as a pair of women came in. One of them clasped her hands over it, clearly in love.
I’d seen it first. Not that I needed it for my place. I had an apartment full of stuff already.
When August slapped a big sold sign on the end table, tears prickled once again. I couldn’t say I was surprised it’d sold so quickly. It was just the right size to tuck near a sofa. Like mine. It would look so great in that spot next to Sir Anthony, my ficus.
Discreetly, I whisked my fingers under my eyes. I’d find another piece.
I whirled to pick up a pair of candlesticks to put on the carved coffee table with feet shaped into high heels. Odd, but charming.
“I thought you should have it.”
I glanced up, still misty, as August approached. “What?”
“You clearly loved the end table. So, consider it a bonus for doing good work.” August grinned. “I’m only partly giving it to you because you’ve made my brother a lot more bearable to be around lately. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.”
I couldn’t help teasing him. “He makes sure I do.”
His ears tinged red like Caleb’s did sometimes. “Okay, moving on.”
I laughed and moved forward to give him a big hug. “Thanks. I adore it and I know exactly where I’ll put it. Oh, and he makes me happy too.”
“That’s good to hear. If that changes, let me know. I’ll put a snake in his bed.” August smiled widely. “He’s hated them since we were kids. I put this toy black mamba under his pillow once when he was six and—”
“He jumped so hard he fell off the bed and peed his pants,” Ivy finished, coming around the divider that blocked off this section from the vintage clothing area.
“No way.” I cupped a hand over my mouth to hold back the laughter. “You’re kidding.”
“He really hates them,” August confirmed. “He won’t go camping because he lives in fear of coming across one in the underbrush. I think one got into his shoe the summer he went to Camp Happy Face.”
“Camp Happy Face?” I giggled.
This information would be good to have for later bribery purposes.
“Yep. So, naturally, Aug had to make his life hell at every opportunity.” Ivy came up to her older brother, and he drew her into his side just as I’d seen Caleb do with her.
And if a hint of envy swam through my belly, who could blame me? I’d been close to my older brother too once upon a time.
So long ago.
“Well, it’s my actual job. I was put on this planet to torment my siblings.”
“You are exceptionally talented at it. And at trying to scare off my boyfriend.”
“Uh oh, do you have a boyfriend now? Does your husband know?”
Ivy shook her head. “Jerk.”
She had on the retro sixties’ style denim jacket we’d just gotten in on consignment this morning. It fit her so well, nipping in perfectly at her trim waist. I’d meant to try on the jacket myself, but I’d gotten sidetracked.
Surprise. That was me to a T lately. I couldn’t focus on anything. The auras I saw were way more intense. And there was that whole napping preoccupation. I hadn’t succumbed yet, but I didn’t know how much longer I could be strong.
Maybe I could sneak across the street for an extra long break. Extra caffeine definitely wasn’t getting the job done.
I forced back a yawn and smiled at Ivy. “You look amazing in that. Are you going to get it?”
“You don’t think it’s too tight?” Ivy headed over to a cheval glass mirror and twisted around to see how she looked from the side.
“Absolutely not. What size is it?”
“Eight.”
“It fits like a dream on you.” I couldn’t resist running a hand down the distressed sleeve.
Working at Kinleigh’s was dangerous for my wallet. I liked too much of what she sold. Her funky, eclectic aesthetic was right up my alley.
“I bet it would on you too. Here, try it on.” She was already shrugging it off.
August cleared his throat. “This is my cue to go.”
He split in a hurry, just as Caleb did when I started talking about clothes.
I backed away. “No, really. I can’t keep taking the merchandise from paying customers.” I released a helpless laugh as she blew back her red curls so like her daughter’s and helped me into it. “I suppose trying it on doesn’t hurt, and it is my size—” I broke off, frowning, as I pulled on the jacket.
It didn’t close.
I tugged harder. The sides grew closer together, but not as much as they should have. My breasts strained against the denim as if I was trying to squeeze into a size too small.
My bras had seemed snugger lately. I’d been eating extra snacks on breaks, and before bed, I’d enjoyed a bit more chocolate-covered popcorn than usual. Still, nothing that should have me busting through sizes.
“Oh, this must be odd sizing.” Ivy yanked at the hem, as if that would help. “But man, I’m jealous of your figure. I bet you never had to stuff your bra with socks like I did before I finally developed.”
“No, but I’m not usually this chesty. This is…whoa.” Now that I was looking more closely in the mirror, I realized my V-neck top was almost pornographic if I bent down even a centimeter.
Had it always been that way, and I’d just been oblivious?
“Oh, no.”
I glanced at Ivy. Though she was pale to begin with, her cheeks had gone translucent. “It’s okay. I’m not going to have a meltdown. Just need to cut back on the wine consumption with my bestie Ryan. She isn’t in turmoil anymore now that’s she worked everything out with Preston. She’s in luuuurve. Lucky bish.” I feigned a breezy laugh.
Ivy was nodding so much that she reminded me of one of those bobble-head dolls. “Right. Love is nice. Boobs are nice too. I should buy a push-up bra. After babies, things start heading south, not that you need to know that. Hey, look at these pockets.”
She started unbuttoning the lapel pocket, but I reached up to still her hand with my now freezing fingers. The AC was pumping in here, but it was a warm late September day. Not that I could feel anything other than the ice slicking down my spine.
“I need to sit.”
&nbs
p; “Sure, sure. Here.” Ivy rushed to grab a straight-backed chair and pulled it over to me rather than nudging me toward the chair.
It was a smart move, since the second I sat, a wave of dizziness poured over me. I bent to put my head between my knees.
Caleb’s sister crouched at my side and rubbed my arm, making soft, comforting noises while my rioting stomach decided now was a fine time to act up. A metallic flavor filled my mouth as I hurtled up from the chair and ran across the shop, passing the changing rooms to reach the bathroom in the back.
On the way, I went by our sweet new sales associate, Brynn Bowman, who’d just started an hour ago. Not even. She had the misfortune to be wheeling a rack of discarded clothes from the changing room at that very moment, and I had no choice but to shove the thing out of my way on my flight to the sink.
I couldn’t even chance yelling back an apology. Not if I wanted to keep Kinleigh’s spotless floors clean.
Please, goddess, just let me get to the sink.
The last thing I heard before I flung myself at the bathroom door was Brynn shrieking.
Shit.
I raced into the one-stall bathroom—thank heavens it was empty—and tossed every crumb in my stomach into the tiny basin.
It seemed to go on forever. When I was finally done, I turned on the faucet and let the cold water run over my hands before I soaped them thoroughly.
I looked up in the mirror to see Ivy standing behind me, her big blue eyes miserable.
Because she knew what it meant.
I grabbed a sheaf of paper towels from the dispenser on the wall and wiped my face and dried my hands. “Good thing I have mints in my bag.” My voice was too loud in the echoing space. The low music carrying from the speakers in the main part of the store filtered into the room, somehow a counterpoint to my false cheer.
Ivy certainly wasn’t speaking. Why would she? It wasn’t like there was anything to say.
I tossed out the towels and gave her a bright smile. “Guess I’ll just go grab a water and those mints—” My gaze dropped to the jacket’s pretty embroidered pocket, now stained. “Oh, no. Oh, God. What did I do?” My throat closed off as the words clogged there, my pseudo-happiness draining away.
