I slipped into Charlie’s domain, glad that he wasn’t there. Salem’s cage was empty, so he was either working with his other dad today—the thought of the cat becoming a mascot for Gramps and Uncle Teague’s company was still funny to me—or out with Charlie somewhere. That meant I had no way of knowing when my best friend would be back, so I grabbed the trash and quickly retreated back to my cart.
Phew. This turmoil was something Charlie would see immediately, and he was the one person I couldn’t talk to about it. Hell, I couldn’t talk toanyoneabout this.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath and didn’t even feel bad about it.
I was done with my workday as soon as I took all the accumulated trash out, and I needed to get away from Black Dog for a while.
Forty-five minutes later, I was sitting at a bistro table in Sugar Rush with a pain au chocolat in my hand. Because I was family, Aunt Regan had gotten me a cup of coffee as well, even though they didn’t serve drinks for customers. That was why there were only two of those tables by the wall with four chairs total. Itwasn’t a hanging out place unless you wanted a quick treat or to sit while you waited for your order.
“Do you know if Felix is working today?” I asked, nodding toward the windows where we could just see Nostalgia Nook across the street.
“Yeah, but I only know that because Mom went to Plattsburgh with Loreena. Some sort of ladies’ trip with a couple of their friends. They should be back late tonight,” they answered as they filled the display case with more goodies.
“You don’t happen to have any of Felix’s favorites by any chance?” I batted my lashes at them.
They closed the case and tilted their head at me. “Oak Mulligan, do you need a boy to talk to about some boy stuff?”
They made it sound as if I was a teenager who had had their first erection or something. I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.
“If it was something like that, wouldn’t I rather go to Charlie or Uncle Teague?”
“Ah-ha!” Aunt Regan pointed a finger at me. “Then it’s not something you can talk to either of them about!”
Well I’d walked right into that one, hadn’t I?
“Maaaybe….” I sounded like one of Law’s kids.
“I’m too busy today to figure this out and if it’s anything romance related, I’m not your person for that talk, so I’m gonna go box up some eclairs. He loves Gargoyle’s Wings, but I don’t have those at hand.”
I beamed at them. “Awesome. Thank you, Aunt Regan.”
They made a distinct “Aww” face, but said nothing, just bustled into the back to get me the eclairs.
I insisted on paying for the goodies, and they tried to give me a glare, but I glared right back until they caved. It felt like a small victory, if I was completely honest. I didn’t even have to pull the “I’m a grown up with my own money” card, which was a plus.
I walked across the street with my pastry box in hand and smiled when I glanced through the big window and saw Felix behind the counter, nose deep in his eReader.
As the bell tinkled above the door, his gaze snapped up and he smiled.
“Hey, Oak.” Then he saw the pastry box and rolled his eyes. “What is it with you Mulligan men and bribing me with baked goods?” he asked, but he was still smiling so I decided I was good.
“Sometimes there are things we can only talk to you about.” I put the box on the counter and gave him the puppy eyes.
“At least it’s safe to say you’re not coming to me with the same stuff Teague came to me when he had Charlie on the brain.” Felix pulled the box closer and opened it. “Go make me a cup of coffee while you’re on your feet.”
I knew where his pod coffee maker was in the tiny staff room in the back, so I started toward it. “Are you saying he doesn’t have Charlie on the brain anymore?” I called over my shoulder.
Felix snorted. “I’m definitely not saying that, because Loreena didn’t raise a liar.”
I came back with coffees for both of us a while later. “This might not be a good idea; I’m over my caffeine limit already, but oh well.”
“Yolo,” Felix deadpanned, then grabbed an éclair.
“I also might’ve already had a pain au chocolat, but….”
His eyebrows jumped at my confession. “This must be a heavy subject, then?”
I sighed and took a bite of my second treat of a day. Third if I counted the kiss which I definitely counted.
