Page 37 of Oohs, Ahhhs, and Orbs

Taking my time, I told myself that I was just going to walk to the coffee shop to pick up a muffin. I tried not to let my jealousy cloud my judgment as I walked straight past the coffee shop and headed to the park that was another few blocks down, but I could absolutely admit that I was letting my curiosity get the better of me.

Within just a few minutes, I could see the park up ahead. I didn’t want to hide my actions like I was doing something wrong, but I also didn’t want to interrupt whatever it was that Logan and Kristy were doing. I desperately needed to see for myself who Sammy was, so I crossed the road to enter the park. I found a bench to sit down on near the entrance.

It didn’t take long for me to figure out precisely who Sammy was and what Logan was doing. I watched him pull back his arm and throw a tennis ball. The bright orange coat of a golden retriever ruffled in the breeze as she raced across the grass to retrieve the ball. I watched with a smile on my face as Sammy slid past the ball with her tongue hanging out. Then, she quickly changed directions. As she ran back toward the ball, she scooped it up in her mouth without stopping and made a beeline straight for Logan.

When I glanced back at him, it was clear to see the love he had for this dog. I sat for a few minutes longer, watching as Logan threw the ball several more times. In between each throw, he knelt on the ground and gave her scratches behind the ears and pets on her tummy when she’d roll over. As Kristy stood back with her arms crossed over her chest, Sammy ate up the attention, and the bond was visible even as far away as I sat. Itmade me dislike Kristy a little bit more, knowing that she was keeping this dog from Logan.

I stood up to leave, having found all the information I needed. I gave them one last glance, then Logan turned his head and smiled directly at me. At that moment, as our gazes connected across the park, I knew that he’d known I was there all along. Of course he did, I thought to myself ruefully. My mate was a detective; what else did I expect from him? I smiled back, gave him a small wave, then turned around to leave.

The next time I came up to the coffee shop, I stopped, heading inside. The bell rang over the door as I entered, and I took a deep breath of the delicious scent of coffee brewing along with the baked goods that were stored behind the glass cabinets.

“Hey, Bridgette. Would you like your usual?” the barista greeted me as I walked up to the counter.

“No coffee for me, thanks. I already had a cup, and I don’t want the jitters today.” I smiled back. “But I would love some of your chocolate chip muffins.”

“All right, coming right up!”

I placed the cash down on the counter and waited, knowing that it wouldn’t take long. Within the next minute, she had my muffins bagged and ready for me. I took the paper bag from her and waved off my change. “Keep it. I’ll see you on Monday,” I called out as I walked toward the door.

My stomach was rumbling by the time I reached the shop and unlocked the red door after sliding my hand over the glossy surface. I locked the door behind me since I wasn’t going to open the shop that day. I stood there for a moment and took a look around. Seeing the usual suspects in places that they shouldn’t have been, I shook my head but decided to leave it alone for the moment.

“Hey, Mildred,” I called as I passed, then walked up to the register. No matter how much I considered it or searchedaround, I had yet to figure out why the wards had gone off the other night. It didn’t make any sense to me since no one had broken in, and it didn’t look like anything had been taken out. But the raging curiosity just wasn’t leaving me alone. Shaking my head with the same confusion I’d had since that night, I walked past the sleeping familiar on his cat tower and through to the back room, then up the stairs to my empty apartment.

I grabbed a napkin from the kitchen and then sat down on the couch. Reaching into the bag I placed on the coffee table, I pulled out one of the muffins, took a big bite, and moaned at the delicious, sweet goodness. I eyed the stack of books that were sitting on the coffee table in front of me, next to the pastry bag. I had gone through most of them the day before. Though I confirmed that the symbol I had believed meant power was, in fact, the correct symbol, I had not found anything about the other symbols, including which god the killer had been making the sacrifice to. Honestly, it didn’t even matter which god it would’ve been since the outcome was the same. The killer was stealing power from the witches, taking all their magic to make themselves stronger. But we really needed to know who was doing it and then figure out how to stop them.

As I finished my muffin, I got lost in the pages of the book that I was reading. Footsteps coming up the stairs had me looking up.

“Hey,” I said quietly and then frowned. “How did you get in the back door?”

He gave me a chastising look. “You didn’t lock it.”

I cringed and cocked my head to study him. He looked relaxed. “I’m sorry I spied on you.”

He shook his head. “Don’t be. I should’ve said where I was going.” He came to sit next to me on the couch. I noticed that he had a messenger bag with him and realized that was likely howhe carried his folders while he was on his bike. He set the leather bag down, and I pointed out the white paper bag full of muffins.

“I got breakfast.”

“Great, I’m starved,” he replied and pulled out a muffin. He began peeling the paper away. “We got Sammy a year ago, right before I found out that she was cheating on me. In the divorce, she cried to the judge. She said that she needed Samantha. She said that it was going to be hard losing her husband and that taking her dog as well would be too much for her to cope with. I don’t know why, but the judge decided to let her keep our dog. Even though she was considered ours, Samantha was really my dog. I had done all the training. All the caring for her. I fed her, walked her, and played with her. Kristy somehow decided that keeping my dog would be the best way to hurt me. She wasn’t wrong.” He took a big bite of his muffin. “This is really good.”

I nodded. All the food at the coffee shop was absolutely delicious. “She’s trying to get your attention, you know?” I said softly.

He nodded as he swallowed. “I know. I don’t know if she will ever give Sammy back, but it was nice spending time with her today,” he said sadly.

I nodded. “I understand that.”

He looked at me as he pulled the stack of folders out of his messenger bag. “You have questions?” I shook my head and then paused and nodded. “I know you do,” he smiled.

I sighed. “I don’t want to be that person. I have no reason to be jealous. I know that you have a history that came before me, and you owe me no explanations.”

“Maybe not, little witch,” he reached for my hand and held it, giving it a little squeeze of reassurance. “But I’m willing to give them to you if you just ask.”

I looked down at my lap, not seeing the book that was resting there, and blinked my eyes a couple of times. Moisture hadgrown there without me realizing it. In a soft voice, I asked, “Do you still love her?”

I felt him gently take my chin and turn my head to face him. He swiped his thumb over my cheek. “I don’t,” he said decisively. “Whatever feelings I once had for that woman, she killed the moment she cheated. You have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to Kristy. I can’t force you to believe me,” he said as he studied my face. “What I’m telling you—what I need you to understand—is that when I commit to a person, I commit wholeheartedly. I don’t believe in cheating. You know as well as I do that faith is a powerful thing. You were given to me by fate, the gods, whatever the case might be, you’re mine, Bridgette.”

I nodded my head as a single tear broke through my lashes and rolled down my cheek. “And you’re mine?” I asked.

Leaning forward until his breath ghosted over my lips. "Abso-fucking-lutely." And then he kissed me hard and deep. When he broke the kiss, he rested his forehead against mine. “I’ll do better with communication. But I need you to do better with trusting me. Okay?”

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