Page 47 of Cider
“Faster!” My voice rang around us as we sped through the woods toward the rink.
His fingers tightened around me as the wind rushed over and around us. It was a soft, cool caress against my skin. My elation as we flew was something that I would remember for years to come.
Chapter 24
Ididn’t have time to be nervous the rest of the day. As soon as I opened the door, customers streamed in. I ran out of my mixtures, I spent a lot of time going back and forth between the front and back making the drinks.
It was actually a little irritating. I’d gotten a new drink idea while flying through the air with Jack that I wanted to start playing around with. I was even going to name the frosty beverage after him.
I wasn’t going to gripe too much. Being busy meant that I was making money with my little store.
Throughout the day, I worked to remember the wall in my mind.
About half way through the day, Neve, a journalist for one of the newspapers in town popped in.
“Hey, Cider.” She settled into one of the chairs. “Could I get an original nonalcoholic?” She placed her tablet on the table and rubbed her temples. “I’ve been trying to get an interview with Darcorp’s manager for the past week. There’s been rumors that they’ve been ganging up on a smaller store in the rink. Have you heard anything?”
I finished making her drink, placed it in front of her, and sat down across from her, with my own drink.
“Where’d you hear these rumors?” I took a sip. Man, I made really good drinks.
“Through the grapevine.” Neve sighed into her cup. “A journalist can’t reveal her sources.”
I snorted. I wasn’t sure what to tell her. It was probably a good idea to keep everything a secret, at least until Samuel was taken care of.
“I haven’t heard anything, but I can keep a look out for you.” There. Safe and generic lie.
She narrowed her eyes at me as she continued to sip her drink. “Are you sure? Samuel has been seen coming and going from here over the past few weeks. What should I think of that?”
Tch. My fox admired her cunning all the while our tail twitched in agitation.
“He seems to have taken a liking to my drinks, as has everyone else.” Not that I’d ever let him have any, but Neve didn’t have to know that.
She finished her drink, brushing her hair over her right shoulder. “I don’t believe that, there’s a story here, I know it.” Neve pushed the empty cup to the middle of the table with some cash. “When you hear something,” her smirk was all knowing, “let me have first dibs on it, yeah?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I had to hand it to her. “But, if I hear anything, you’ll be the first one to know.”
“That’s all I ask. Toodles!” Her fingers wiggled in a wave as she left the store.
I shook my head, grabbed the cups, and went into the back to wash the dirty dishes from the day.
It slowed down significantly after that. I had time to clean everything, make fresh batches, and even time to start testing the drink that Jack had inspired.
I was having a hard time deciding on the sweetness when an hour to closing rolled around. Billy and Titus arrived, both were having some kind of debate about some kind of sport.
“We’ll be right back here during your conversation. When he comes in, we’ll let you have your conversation and then come out.” Titus kissed the side of my neck. “I promise no maiming.”
Igor walked in with Lys, Jack was right behind. Everyone was on time. My mates helped put the chairs up off the floor onto the tables except for one. Igor looked a little off. Her hair was everywhere and she had bags under her eyes.
“Reporting for duty, captain.” She saluted cockily.
Apparently, we weren’t going to talk about what was wrong.
Later, then.
“Do you have an idea of what you’re going to say to him?” Lys grabbed one of my cleaning rags and started to wipe down the back counter on autopilot.
“Not really. I figured on just being blunt. Tell him to get out of Silver Springs.” I looked up at Jack as he hugged me from behind.
