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Based on the full-face glowing blush on Dela’s face, that comment hit the bullseye.
“Wait a sec,” I say, looking back and forth between them. “There are hell demons here?”
“A few,” the woman who’s sort of sitting with us says, a playful smile curving her full, plum lips. “But the one Dela has a crush on won’t be here today, because he knows she’s not working.”
Dela rolls her eyes, but there’s a noticeable uptick in her expression. “He comes in for the coffee, Shay. Not because of me.”
“You are in such denial.” The woman’s dark curly hair bounces with her light laughter, then she turns her attention to me. “I’m Shay, Dela’s coworker slash self-appointed life coach.”
“Shay’s being gracious. It’d be more accurate to say I forced her into the position because I constantly need help.” Warmth and sincerity fill Dela’s voice, matched by an expression of genuine affection as she smiles at Shay. “I basically made Shay adopt me when I moved to town seven months ago.”
“Girl, I’m only six years older than you.” Shay crosses one high-booted leg over the other. “But I love you like a sister, and because of that, I get to tease you like one, too.”
“You two sound a lot like Rosetta and me. We’re cousins, but we’ve always been more like sisters. I’m Natalie, by the way.” I offer my hand to shake, but Shay salutes me with her takeout cup instead.
“I make a point not to touch people,” she says. “Everyone, not just you. It’s a me thing.” Her green-eyed gaze appraises me. “You and Rosetta being close explains how easily you’re handling all the monster stuff.” She tilts her head toward a naga and a goblin having coffee a couple tables over.
“Oh, I didn’t know anything about the existence of non-humans until yesterday afternoon, when I got here, and met Constantine.” Just saying his name stirs warmth in my chest. Between my legs. After being wrapped up in his arms all night, I woke up alone in bed this morning, my stomach growling at the aroma of the breakfast he was cooking in the kitchen. We kissed good morning—long enough that he had to remake the eggs that shriveled in the frying pan—then ate together like an old married couple. If old married couples have chemistry that feels like magnets being pulled together, that is. If I didn’t have plans to meet Ro, I’m pretty sure Constantine and I would be naked in bed right now, working on those stretching exercises.
“Earth to Nat. You in there?” Ro snaps her fingers in front of my face.
My cheeks heat to inferno temperatures at the realization I’ve been caught daydreaming. “Oh good, you’re finally here,” I say, attempting to shift everyone’s focus to my tardy cousin. Because they’re currently all staring at me.
Ro, Dela, and Shay all sport smiles of various types. Shay’s is pure amusement. Dela’s smile is more of an “awe…” type of warm and friendly smile. Ro’s is a total “gotcha” grin, her lips stretched to maximum width while her eyes twinkle with the torment she’s undoubtedly planning to dish. Hopefully, she’ll wait until we’re alone.
“I don’t have to ask where your mind was,” Ro says, settling on the chair beside me. “The question is, how far did you and Constantine go last night?”
“Ro!”
“Because I drove past him, walking down the street a few blocks down,” she continues, “and he looked like one very happy Minotaur. And he always looks happy, but this was next-level.”
“Can confirm,” Shay says, nodding and raising one hand. “Had a little chat with him in front of the bakery. That man is on cloud nine. Vastly different mood from the last time I talked to him, a few days ago.”
“The day he stopped in here to talk to you?” Dela asks, leaning closer. “When things got kind of tense?”
“Mm-hmm.” Shay nods, then settles her gaze on me. “Brief moment of tension, that’s all. Something was weighing on his mind, and I’m going to take a guess you’re the something, and that everything is working out the way fate intended.”
“There’s that word again,” I semi-mutter. “Does everyone in this town believe in fate?”
All three women nod.
“And everyone’s okay with having fate determine the course of their lives?” I ask, fiddling with the empty paper cup in front of me. “Because to me, fate sounds like lack of free will or the option to choose. Oh sure, you can choose, but going against fate will ruin someone else’s life.”
The women go silent, all traces of smiling, teasing, or good vibes snuffed out by my opinion.
Dela, sweetheart that she is, reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “Sounds like your welcome packet included a lot of big stuff.”
Ro’s snort rips through the tension I unintentionally created. “And now we’re back to my earlier question. Just how big was his stuff, and how welcoming was your packet?”
Raising both hands as if in surrender, Shay rises from her seat. “I’m out. I cannot be having work conversations with Constantine if I know about his sex life. Though, for the record, I’m happy he’s happy, and hope you will be, too.” She points her gloved hand at me before giving us all a wave and walking away.
“Is she germaphobic?” I ask, once the coffee shop’s door closes behind her. “The no touching, sitting away from us, wearing leather gloves inside during the summer…”
Dela’s lips turn down. “Nothing like that. She’s a witch. A seer, specifically. When she touches someone, she sees their future and, well, she doesn’t want to.”
Beside me, even Ro looks serious.
“So, she never touches anybody? You know, even personally,” I whisper, and they shake their heads. “Wow. That’s rough.”
