Page 32 of Novice Girlfriend

I wouldn’t forgive them if that was part of the goal, but it was good free promo. They should do it anyways since we hadn’t charged them and for everything they’d gotten from me—done to me.

The brush station was amazing and would have people there to go over the options and to collect the hair samples right there. We’d gone back and forth on that. People would push back that it was overkill and yeah, it was, but it was the only way to make sure people weren’t buying brushes for those blacklisted.

And we weren’t hiding that was the reason. They didn’t like it?

Fuck off. Others would follow the rules and get their brushes. But it was also a bonding experience between family. A chance for parents to support their children becoming closer with their magic and familiars as they came in and had that experience.

All of that mattered to our magic.

I agreed with all of it except I wanted to change out the fleece. I knew it might be more overhead, but I wrote a note that Tracey was talking about a warehouse on the new land and that could be the answer. Also, something for content on our social media and chances to show different combinations for the blankets.

We were going to donate a bunch of them anyways.

I was done with the apple by then and stood to throw it out but then froze as I stretched. I frowned and then slowly moved the other way like when I normally got up and stretched out my back. I stepped away from the desk so I didn’t bang my head and reached down so the backs of my hands touched the floor.

And it was all easy. Easier than normal. Easier than it should be after the day I’d had. A really long run. Nina getting physical with me. Sitting for hours working.

The stress I was under.

I also felt completely rested as if I’d just woken up, but also in a way I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt before because of my traumas. Never feeling safe in the Shaw house.

The stress I was under.

That was a reoccurring theme for sure.

There was only one reason and I was very sure the core was still in my hand. I didn’t throw it out but set it on the kitchenette counter, wondering how to handle this.

“Derek, this is being pushy again,” Quinn worried from outside my suite. “I don’t want Bevin to hate me. We’re friends again.”

“I won’t be mad, Quinn,” I said as I headed for the door. “I’m sure he texted and I wasn’t paying attention because I was working.”

“I did, actually,” Wyatt said from the door. “And I brought dessert.” Worry was in his eyes when I opened the door. “I talked to Tracey. How are you?”

I gave a half shrug and gestured for him to come in, smiling as Quinn jumped to my shoulder. “You brought me fluffy comfort too, huh?”

“Seemed like you needed it after what you said,” he muttered and came inside. He opened his mouth but then frowned and glanced around. “Is Winter here?”

“No, why?” I hedged.

He seemed to shake off what he was thinking and walked towards the kitchenette. “I don’t actually know how to answer that without possibly sounding offensive.”

“Free pass since I messed up earlier?” I offered with a snicker.

He chuckled and set down the nice takeout bag that probably came from a fancy place from the writing on it. “I thought maybe you had a spa night with Winter. You looked exhausted earlier and now you’re glowing.” He cleared his throat, probably hearing how that sounded. “I assumed face mask or something like that.”

I was already heading to the bathroom to see what he was talking about and about fell over when I looked in the mirror. I didn’t simply feel refreshed, I looked it.

No, I looked like I’d had a full day of spa services and whatever people did to have that trending Korean glass skin look or whatever. My skin was healthy and I took care of it—had the money where I could, but this was unreal. It was flawless, and even a few freckles were gone as if sunspots weren’t allowed to mark my perfect skin.

I came back out to tell him what happened and almost tripped over my feet when he was holding one of the apples.

“I forgot to ask you about these,” he said, twirling it in his hand. He did a double take when he saw me. “Seriously, what did you use? You’re always gorgeous, but you look like you had a weekend spa trip or something. I need to get whatever you’re using. I’m so run down.”

I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. He and Quinn both looked at me like I’d lost it and were glancing at each other, but finally I just walked over to him and brought the apple closer to his mouth.

I slowly stopped laughing when I realized how intimate it was that I was basically trying to feed him and heat filled his eyes. I swallowed loudly and hurried to focus. “You’re holding the answer. That’s why I was laughing.” Just to double down on what I was saying, I pointed to the apple core on the other side of the counter.

He slowly blinked several times and then blew out a long breath before looking up.