Page 37 of Pocket Full Of Posies

“How he feels about me?”

“Mhm.” Tobias nods his head, his long snowy white hair falling over one shoulder at the movement. “He’s quite taken with you, smitten even.”

“Is that so? He’ssmittenwith me? I think your age is showing Tobias.” I tease him only because talking about Kai’s feelings for me makes my heart beat like a hailstorm on a tin roof.

“Maybe, but it’s true. His colors change when he’s looking at you. Lots of pinks and purples.”

From the many times I asked Tobias what all the colors in a person’s aura means, I know pinks are affection and adoration, and purples are, well they’re sexual attraction and horniness. Knowing that Tobias knows me and Kai are sexually attracted to one another is beyond embarrassing.

“But there was also golden honey yellow. He’s always happy when he’s around you. You make him happy, and he makes you happy.”

“I suppose he does,” I admit.

“Don’t let Sage’s overprotective nature make you think you can’t feel for Kai the way you do. He just wants you to be happy, and if Kai makes you happy, he’s happy. We just want to make sure Kai is being honorable, which we would do with any male who showed interest in you.”

His voice is honest and pure, true as always. Tobias is one of the most honest and considerate people I know, and he’s never lied to me. Even with the hard topics he always manages to be candid without being cruel.

“Thank Tobias.”

I finish potting the plant in my hands and set it to the side with the others, brushing my dirty hands off on my pants. Looking around the greenhouse I remember something Calliope said to me when she came by to pick up the tea forSticky Buns.

“You know, I think I’ll go visit Calliope atSticky Bunstoday.”

My declaration shocks Tobias almost as much as it shocks me. I don’t think I’ve ever decided to go into town for no reason and without external motivation. Like my brother plotting in order to get me to do a grocery run.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

Not ten minutes later I’m perched on my sunshine yellow bicycle pedaling down the street towardsSticky Buns. Generally, I walk everywhere but with the colder temperature, getting there a few minutes faster—and keeping my feet off the chilly ground longer—is worth hopping on my rarely used bike.

Parking outsideSticky Buns,I prop my bike against the brick wall. I don’t bother with a lock, no one steals bikes in Snowberry. With the sheriff being a shifter, he can sniff it out in less than an hour. Plus, everyone in town is super friendly and polite. I’m starting to think all the speciesism I thought others believed is all in my head. It’s hard to break old habits but I’m trying. Because I’m realizing I may be wrong.

Stealing my nerves, I lift my chin and walk into the bakery.When I walk into a public place, I always assume every eye there is going to turn and stare and judge, everyone going completely silent and waiting for me to move, then internally commenting and questioning why someone like me would be there. What really happens is; I walk in and only the two people nearest the door glance at me for a half second before returning to their own drinks and pastries, the light upbeat music playing over the speakers doesn’t screech to a halt but keeps playing. No one glares or does anything. Perhaps if I just lifted my eyes and looked around when I went out, I would realize that more people smile as I pass than frown, and no one cares that I’m here. Because I’m just another customer. Just another person drawn into the sugary goodness ofSticky Buns.

When I get close enough to the counters lining the back half of the space, Calliope spots me from where she’s sliding a full tray of cookies into the display case, a smudge of flour on her cheek and all over her apron.

Her hair is pulled back into two low pigtails, the length curled at the ends with a matching white bow barrette on each. When she sees me, she pushes up her glasses with one finger, smudging the lens with the same white flour on her cheek.

“Daisy! You’re here.”

Calliope rounds the counter and greets me with a giant hug that transfers some flour onto my overalls. We laugh and she tries to brush it off, apologizing between smiling giggles.

“I wasn’t sure you would ever take me up on my offer, but I’m really glad you did. Come on, pick something out and I’ll get us some tea and we can sit.”

“Is that okay with your boss? You won’t get in trouble?” The last thing I want to do is get her in trouble with her work.

“Not at all. She lets me take my breaks whenever I want. Plus, I can always threaten to quit, which she would never let me do because she loves my baking too much. She said she would kill to keep me in her kitchen. I think I’ll be fine.”

I didn’t realize she had become such an asset to the bakery. Not surprising, she is the most talented baker I’ve ever met. Which isn’t saying much as I haven’t met many, but still, she is the best.

Calliope drags me to the counter, and I point out a few cookies and a cupcake decorated with fall-colored leaves and thick creamy frosting. Sitting at the table she indicates, I wait quietly, looking around the shop and people within. Becca and her mate Julian sit at a table near the window staring into one another’s eyes like they’re about to start making out at any moment. Fynn is sitting alone in the furthest corner reading a book and nursing a cup of tea. Lifting his eyes as Calliope passes, he watches her make her way over to me. He only drops his gaze when he realizes I’ve caught him watching her.

The plate Calliope sets on the table is filled with cookies and my cupcake, two cups of steeping tea next to them.

“Thank you. These look delicious.”

“Wait till you taste them.”

I nibble on the edge of a warm gooey chocolate chip cookie and watch Calliope prepare her tea. Now that I’m here I don’t know what to do. Do I ask how her day is going? Do I tell her about mine? Should I compliment her cookies? Wait, I already did that. Ummm…

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