Page 16 of Oohs, Ahhhs, and Orbs

“I know we have joked about it a lot, but do you want that?” I wanted my friend to be happy. She had been so focused on her academics and wanting to become a lawyer that she hadn’t so much as flirted with a guy or girl since middle school. I knew she had a crush on her professor, but I wouldn’t allow him to take advantage of her if she wasn’t a willing participant.

It took her a long minute to speak as she seemed to be carefully mulling over her words. Finally, she said, “I think I really do.”

“Good. Then I am happy for you and will stand by any decision you make. And if he fucks up, you have a witch for a best friend who won’t hesitate to give him warts or something to make him look hideous.”

Shayla laughed. “You don’t believe in harming others, remember?”

I nodded. That was true. I stood by the law that to cause harm, bad karma would return to the person threefold. It had been taught to me by my grandmother since I first learned how to light a candle with my magic. It didn’t necessarily mean that the exact thing would happen to the caster, but negative energy was harmful in such a way that it could affect the mind, body, and spirit. “True. But I could make hair grow on his butt, or make his dick shrink.”

She laughed even harder, nearly spilling what was left of her tea. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

I shrugged. “I’ll think about it. I’m sure there’s something. Maybe I could curse his pillow to always be warm and lumpy.”

Shayla was nearly doubled over in laughter when Mortimer jumped onto the counter and started yowling angrily.

“What the hell, dude,” Shayla said, as she held her chest and took deep breaths. “What’s your problem?”

I scooped him up and scratched behind his ears with one hand as I carried him over to his cat tower in the corner. “I have no idea what’s gotten into him lately. The last few days, he’s been acting agitated. Almost like something is pissing him off. I can’t figure out what it is, though.”

I opened the container of treats and shook out a few for him. He yowled, but then started munching with his yellow eyes narrowed at me. “I wish I knew what you were trying to say, buddy. If Grandmother were here, she’d know.” I sighed, then turned to walk toward the front door. It was time to close the shop for the day. Most days, I would stay open a little longer just for something to do, unless I was just too tired or hungry. But Logan would be coming to pick me up in about an hour, and I still needed to freshen my makeup and braid my hair.

Shayla picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. “I’m going to head out so you can get ready for your date.” She walked over to where I was flipping the sign around to close. “Call me when you get home. Unless you aren’t alone. Then call me in the morning and tell me all about it.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me, making me blush. She pulled me into a hug, squeezing me extra tight. “Have fun on your date and enjoy the ride.”

I shoved her away as she giggled at the double meaning of her own words. “Yeah, yeah. Go home and think about all the rides you’ll be taking once this semester is over. Love you!”

“Love you too, Bridge!”

I locked the door behind her and took a look around the shop. Oohs, Ahhhs, and Orbs, was brightly lit from the late afternoon sun shining through the window, making the gemstones around the open space glitter brilliantly. It was beautiful. It made my heart happy being in the space with all my fantasy figurines and witchy items. I thought about how one day I might be able to pass it on to my own daughter, if I ever had one, and that made me think about Logan again.

With my heart racing in anticipation, I slowly walked through the shop, adjusting things here and there, humming to myself, doing my best to calm my emotions. I knew it was perfectly natural to be nervous about a first date, but this wasn’t just my first date; it was my first date with my fated mate. After tonight, nothing in my world would ever be the same again. Good or bad, I was facing the future. All I could do was my part to make it the best future possible.

I took off my apron and hung it on the hook before flipping off the lights. Low, ambient light would continue to filter through the shop, but anyone looking in would see that it was closed. It didn’t take away from the wonder or beauty. If anything, it added to the mysterious possibilities that could be found inside.

I climbed the stairs to the small apartment above and opened the door to my private quarters. There was a kitchen that was one step above being termed a kitchenette, with a bistro sized table against the far wall. Just past the kitchen was my sitting area. I made it as homey and inviting as possible with bright jeweled tones and several decorative pillows. There was always a throw blanket tossed over the settee waiting for me when I settled down with a book. I didn’t own a TV, not because I didn’t enjoy binge watching shows on one of the many streaming services, but because it would have taken up more space than I would have liked.

One thing about my small apartment that I was grateful for was that the bedroom was completely separate from the rest of the space. I could close the world out and hide under a blanket if I needed or just wanted to. With the dark purple blackout curtains on the window, I often did just that. I had to get up early to open the shop on most days, so when I was closed on Sundays and Mondays, I liked to sleep in as much as possible. At least when I didn’t decide to open out of pure boredom.

I walked to the closet that I wished was bigger and dug through it until my hand landed on cool, smooth leather. If I were going to be riding on the back of Logan’s motorcycle at night in the mountains of Tennessee, I would be wearing a leather jacket for warmth.

I tossed the jacket on the bed and went into the bathroom to take a good look at my face. I hadn’t worn much makeup today, going with the bare minimum that wouldn’t get me in too much trouble with my mother. I decided that a touch up with mascara and a little smoky eyeshadow would be needed, along with some lip stain that wouldn’t rub off when we had dinner.

Once I had completed that task, I picked up my brush and started smoothing out any tangles in my hair. With how straight it was, there were usually few snarls to worry about. Then I quickly began to plait it into a French braid. Once I had it secured with a hair tie, I heard my phone ding right before I heard a knock at the back door below.

Slipping my phone out of my pocket, I checked the time before opening the screen to see a text from Logan.

Logan: I’m out back

Me: I’ll be right out. Just give me five minutes

I tossed the phone back down and looked at the heels I was still wearing and thought about how impractical they would beon a motorcycle. I didn’t have a lot of flat shoes, but I did have a pair of low heeled black leather calf boots that would match the jacket I’d picked out.

I quickly pulled on some socks, slipped my feet into the boots, and zipped them up. Then I picked up the jacket and pulled it on, taking a long look at myself in the mirror. As I stared at my reflection, I forced myself to breathe slowly and deeply. I looked good. Not like the usual version of myself, but still really good. Kind of edgier, I supposed, with all the leather. It was a look I could get used to.

I shook out my hands, letting go of the tension that had been building in my muscles as the anticipation had grown over the last few hours. I grabbed a small cross-body bag that was hanging on a hook in the closet and dropped my phone, keys, and wallet inside before zipping it up and sliding it over my head. With one last glance in the mirror, I headed to the door.

It was time.

Chapter

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