His eyes glinted, and I tried not to stare too intensely.
“You look great,” he said, holding out one of the drinks, a smile playing across his lips.
I laughed, taking it from him as I attempted to play off the compliment. “The wonders of a stain-free shirt and dry shampoo.”
Walking past me toward the counter, he looked around at the boxes stacked into their own little cardboard city lining the walls. He sipped his coffee, put it back on the countertop, and then clasped his hands together. “Okay, where did you want to start?”
The bedroom.
The dried-up particles of my gift crackled deep beneath my skin, perking up at that thought. Tomorrow was the full moon, a chance for my magic to recharge through my gift, and it was begging to be used, to come out toplay. It was so weird to be moon-blessed with an ability that affected every romantic relationship I’d ever had.
I was sleep and sex deprived, and my emotions were playing tricks on me. Tricks involving this beautiful man and the bulge I was trying to be casually unaware of. In my defense, it was hard not to notice in those sin-inducing sweatpants.
“I was thinking the kitchen. I’ve only gotten through about half the stuff I brought.”
Adingcame from my back pocket. “Sorry. Do you mind holding on just a second?”
He nodded over to a few boxes, and I waved him on to go ahead and start unpacking.
Atlas
You sure it’s not just Hazel being, well, Hazel?
She hasn’t responded to a single text in three days.
Atlas
…
I sat there, waiting for the tiny dots of torture to disappear and tell me whatever he was thinking.
Atlas
That is strange for her. I’ll get in touch with my contacts and see what I can find out.
Thank you.
“Sorry about that,” I said, slipping the phone in my back pocket. At least I felt slightly more validated with my concern now. With innumerable resources at his disposal, Atlas could definitely get answers if there were any to get.
“Everything okay?” Lynx asked, eyeing me curiously. He was holding up the unpacking charm instructions Hazel had found and printed off, probably wondering why I hadn’t used them.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” I said, mostly to reassure myself. “Hazel went on a date a few days ago and she’s just probably having an amazing sexathon…” My face heated as the words came out of my mouth. “And whilethatobviously isn’t something to worry about, I just haven’t heard anything from her, which isn’t like her. I’m hoping I’m being paranoid.”
“I don’t blame you for being worried. I would be too if it was my sister.” He twisted the knob on the stove, lighting the burner beneath the cauldron there. “When was the last time you talked to her?”
“When she was getting ready to go on her date. She was picked up around eight, and I never saw her after that. Our location sharing app won’t load either.”
“Do you know who the date was with?”
“No. I’ve been a little distracted.” I waved at Aspen in his bouncer. “Which I know makes me sound like a shit sister… I think she said it was a former client.”
I tried not to let the guilt gnaw at me too deeply that I didn’t have more answers.
“Well, that doesn’t narrow it down too much, considering she’s the only realtor for the neighborhood,” he said, brow furrowed. Then he ran a hand through his sandy-blond hair.
“The more time that’s passed without a response, the more concerned I get.”
“I’m so sorry, Oakley,” Lynx said, walking over and placing a hand on my shoulder. The weight in my chest lifted a bit, and I wondered if it was his sincerity or somethingmorecausing the instant relief. “If you want, I can get in touch with my contact at the Artemis Police Department later for you? I know some of the folks that work there.”
