Page 40 of Flirty Fall Fling

“Fuck,” I whisper, climbing out of bed. I glance at the calendar on the wall. “On the autumn equinox.”

We made rules with our mouths pressed against each other. I swallow hard, almost pissed at myself for not being more careful. Any agreements made on the equinox are binding.

Flora always kept to herself and wouldn’t sign so much as a delivery slip on that day. I used to think she was being dramatic. She swore people made too many careless actions on that day, so she’d always close the shop to set her own intentions.

I pace back and forth in front of my bed, knowing I made promises to Jameson Cross on one of the most significant days of the season. The universe knew exactly what it was doing. After what happened, my body should be wrecked. Instead, there’s a hum and excitement under my skin. A mixture of dread and giddiness lives inside me, but only one of them is allowed to stay.

I get ready for work, and then I go downstairs to the kitchen. Before I make it through the threshold, I smell coffee and burned toast. Josie sits at the island with Charlie on her lap, reading the book I gave her. Winter is leaning against the counter, typing on her phone. They both turn to me and smile when I walk in. Winter pours me a cup of coffee and hands it to me without me asking.

“She lives,” Winter says. “How was the party?”

“Great,” I say, taking a sip so they can’t read my face. The coffee tastes like utter shit, but I still swallow it down.

Josie closes the book. “Why do you look so guilty?”

“Me? Guilty. Pfft,” I say. “I think it’s this coffee.”

“If it is, I blame the grounds,” Winter says, pulling a canister from the cabinet.

“Wait, give me that,” I tell her, moving close. I read the label, and my eyes widen. “This is infused.”

“With what?” Winter readjusts her ponytail. She looks like she’s getting ready to go for a run.

“It’s special coffee.” I point at the label. “Infused.”

“Shit, I knew I felt different,” Josie says, pointing to Winter. “You got me high! It’s not even eight!”

“I didn’t know!” They both burst into laughter. “Your aunt was spicy, Blaire.”

“She really was, but it’s too early for all that.” I immediately pour the cup she gave me down the drain. “We really need to go grocery shopping this week.”

“And maybe go through the cabinets and pantry?” Josie suggests.

“Great idea.”

“Anything else happen at the party?” Winter asks.

“Hmm. A man in a Zorro mask cornered me and wanted to talk about crypto.”

Josie snorts. “Please tell me you hexed him.”

“Not this time, but I should’ve. Crypto bros are the worst. He probably drove a Cybertruck.”

“Ew,” we say in unison.

Winter stares at me. She reads people like I read grounds, and right now, I’m a cup she can’t tip toward the candlelight.

“You seem different today.”

“I don’t feel different.” I shrug, pretending like I’m fine. It’s a bald-faced lie.

Josie snuggles Charlie, and then he jumps down and moves to his food bowl. He turns to me and lets out a meow.

“Aw, are you hungry?”

“I already fed him,” Josie explains. “He’s playing you.”

“Maybe I should give him just a little? Could be the path to his heart.”