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“Dick’s been weird all night,” Andrea said as we heard the sign clang into the Dumpster in the alley. “He’s barely propositioned me or anything. Is this what happens when you agree to date him? He loses interest before you even go out?”
“I still can’t believe you agreed to a date,” I said. “I thought you were getting some sort of sick, retaliatory pleasure from repeatedly rejecting him. I was getting sick, retaliatory pleasure out of your repeatedly rejecting him. Can’t we keep playing?”
“I don’t know,” Andrea said, laughing. “He just kind of grows on you, like …”
“Like fungus,” I suggested.
“Oh, hush. You like him, you know you do. And I do, too. I guess I was just looking for an excuse to like him.” She smiled to herself. “Beneath all his bull and his charm, Dick’s a good guy.”
We turned to the door as the bell jingled. It was Adam, still wearing his soft blue scrubs from the Half-Moon Hollow Veterinary Clinic. I smiled up at him, and he responded with a dazzling grin.
“Wow, so this is where you work?” he marveled, taking in the disheveled surroundings. “This is great, Jane. Really, really great.”
“Well, actually, it’s my shop now. My boss just passed away, and he left it to me,” I said, crossing to him and leaving a confused Andrea standing at the counter.
“That’s great,” he said.
I’d never noticed before how much Adam used the word “great.” Instead of offering him a thesaurus, I said, “This is my friend Andrea.”
Adam didn’t even acknowledge her presence. He was totally focused on me, looking at me the way I’m sure I looked at him all those times in math class. As if he were trying to memorize every word and gesture, so he could replay it in his head later. Now that it was turned around on me, I had to say it was unnerving.
“What brings you down here, Adam?” I asked.
He shrugged and stepped closer to me. “I just wanted to see you again.”
Giving me a confused look, Andrea made quietly for the office door. Whether it was emotional fatigue from Mr. Wainwright’s death or his being in the store where my friends could see him, it seemed wrong for Adam to be there. I couldn’t really be angry with Gabriel for sneaking around and not being honest with me when I hadn’t been exactly upfront about Adam. I could lie to myself and say I didn’t know what Adam was hoping for. But even I could recognize the signals he’d been sending out. And I’d done nothing to discourage him. Out in the open like this, the fairy-tale, adolescent-fantasy haze seemed to be stripped away, and I saw exactly how wrong I’d been. Some instinct had me backing away with every step he took closer to me.
“Have you recovered from your babysitting adventure?” he asked, that warm, familiar smile dimpling his cheeks.
“Yeah. Nevie may never be the same, but every kid needs something to talk about in therapy. So I feel I’ve served some purpose.” I tried to keep my tone even and friendly, even as I was cornered against the counter.
He laughed, but his expression turned serious as he asked, “Have you given any more thought to us spending more time together?”
My heart sank a little. I’d really hoped to avoid this. “I’m still seeing Gabriel.”>“That was thoughtful,” Zeb said.
“That stock includes several illustrated antique marital guides which you will find in a locked box in the storeroom,” Mr. Wainwright whispered to me.
“Oh, ew.” I shuddered.
“He just made a joke, didn’t he?” Mr. Mayhew asked.
“Why don’t you just let him see you?” I asked Mr. Wainwright.
Mr. Wainwright chuckled. “It’s more fun this way.”
“ ‘To Jolene McClaine, I leave the rosewood box in my bedroom. It contains a collection of best-loved recipes I have collected from werewolf friends all over the world.’ “
“That’s very sweet.” Jolene sniffed.
“I thought you could put it to the best use,” Mr. Wainwright said.
“ ‘To Andrea Byrne, I leave my silver claddagh ring.’ “
“Oh, thank you,” Andrea whispered.
“It should have been included in my personal effects when my remains were collected,” Mr. Wainwright said.
“Actually”—I reached under the counter and grabbed the velvet pouch where I’d stashed the ring—”I didn’t think it was smart to send you to the funeral home wearing it.”
