Page 76 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

Jack’s got Jasper in a headlock, and they roughhouse to the ground. I pile the bacon onto a plate and step over their writhing bodies to set it on the kitchen table.

They look up at me from their spot on the ground. Jasper beams like a kid in the candy store.

“Good thing you’re here, sis. I got a huge to-do list for you, and I was gonna tackle most of it myself, but with the test tomorrow, I’m not sure I’ll have time.”

I look at my parents, but my mother wears a neutral smile. No, she’s waiting for me to just stand up for myself and tell the Jays I’m not their secretary. And I should, I really should. But today is not the day. Doesn’t mean I can’t lay some groundwork, though.

“Give it to me, and I’ll tackle what I can,” I say grudgingly. My level of resentment at having to do so much for my brothers is gonna bubble over if I can’t offload some of this shit. I’ve got my own problems, not least of which is managing the fallout when we tell Jasper about Hadrian and me.

I shoot Jasper a warning look. “I’m hellsa busy today with a coffee date with Lemon and some folks from monster HQ and a shift at the Bodice. So I’ve got to help in between all of that. I’m not promising to do it all, alright?”

He winks at me. “Heard, sis. I color-coded the list by priority.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted to smack my brother quite this hard.

Reaching into his back pocket, he withdraws a handwritten to-do list and slips it into my shirt pocket. “Thanks, Bloob. You’re the best.”

“I’m heading out,” I grumble, spinning and turning for the door even as my mother encourages me to come back. I’m not hungry anymore, though.

I fume the entire way back to downtown, although I’m cooled off a bit by the time I get there. Parking in front of BrewHaHa Beans, I sigh as I glance in the mirror. Tiny stress lines frame the edges of my eyes, and the elevens between my brows seem like they’re permanently etched. Sighing, I run a hand through my blue waves and debate whether I even look presentable for this morning’s coffee thing.

Resting my forehead against the steering wheel, I reminisce about last night. Everything felt right in Hadrian’s arms. But in the light of day, we’re hiding again, and I’m honestly tired of it. Part of me thinks it would be better to just call Jasper now and spill the beans. He’s a grown-ass man. He can deal with it.

Except he’s still a little bit of a man-child, and I truly don’t think he’ll handle it well at all. Which is why Hadrian and I had decided not to tell him until after his test, even though it’s stressing us both out.

Groaning at the sheer inefficiency of this entire scenario, I exit the truck and head into BrewHaHa. But when I get inside, the minotaur female behind the counter smiles at me.

“Bluebell Tucker. Got a message from Lemon for ya.” She winks at me as she clears her throat. “Bitch, bring us some lattes. They should be waiting for you. Come down to the Keeper’s place.” She shakes her head. “That Lemon sure has shaken things up around here, hasn’t she?”

“You can say that again,” I mutter.

She pushes a tray of lattes over the counter toward me. “There you go, sweetie. I knew you’d be on time, so I premade ‘em.”

Thanking her, I grab the tray and head out of the coffee shop, debating if I should stop into Skylight Bakery and grab a bunch of scones too. Then again, if Lemon wanted scones, she’d have sent me over there as well. It only takes me about five minutes to walk the length of Main Street and round the corner to the decrepit Keeper’s mansion on the left.

Except today, my mouth drops open at seeing the mansion’s front entryway gleaming with health.

Lemon stands just inside the gate, making grabby hands at the tray of lattes. “You got my message, perfect! I was entertaining the headquarters people. Also look how amazing she looks! I just had her painted by a friend of mine from back home, and she allowed it.”

“How do you do it, Lemon?” I look at her as she slides her free arm around my waist.

She shrugs and guides me up the brick walkway toward the open front doors. “I just can’t water myself down, ya know? I kinda tried when I first got here, but unfortunately, it’s just not possible.” Flipping her hair, she winks at me, dragging her crimson eyes down my body. “Also, you look delicious today, Bloob. How are things going with our favorite skyball hottie?”

“Well,” I mutter. “Jace knows, my parents know, I’m guessing Bryony and her sister know, although they haven’t splashed us across the Gulch Gossip front page yet. Petra, his surprise little sister, also knows, and, oh, I went to the Punishers’ family breakfast yesterday with them, where he introduced me as his best friend.”

But proceeded to kiss me in front of everyone, including Petra.

Bluebell’s eyes spring wide. “Best friend, huh? How’d you feel about that?”

I sigh. “Like it’s what we agreed to until after Jasper’s test, but I literally cannot wait to just let the cat out of the bag? Secret hottie boyfriends sound fun and all, but the practical application in a nosy small town is just a big pain in my asshole.”

She barks out a laugh. “You’ve got a way with words, Bluebell Tucker. Which is why I need you here on this panel with the folks from Hearth HQ.”

Moving her hand from my waist, she sails through the mansion’s open front doors. My mouth drops open in shock yet again at seeing the entryway tile beautifully restored. The walls are now covered in stunning black beetle wallpaper and a shiny chandelier dances down from the ceiling, casting shards of bright, warm light on us.

“Holy shit, Lem,” I mutter as I stare at the stunning home. “This place has been decrepit for, like, fifty years.”

The house groans angrily, and I lift both hands, nearly spilling the lattes. “Sorry, beautiful girl. You’d just never let anyone in, and I’m aghast at how stunning you look. Absolutely radiant.”