Page 47 of Emerald Moon
“She is?Like, she told you that?”
“She may have mentioned it once or twice when we met to discuss new items for the cases out front.She’s ready for Violet Moon to have some new offerings and your macarons would be perfect.”
Jo’s stomach churned.They shook their head again.“It’d be weird.”
“At first, but it would feel pretty normal soon enough.And you wouldn't have to make the same quantities that Billie and I make.It could be like Alpha Parisa’s bread — something we sell until it’s sold out.Makes it a hot commodity!”
They couldn’t picture their macarons out front, let alone selling out, but Emmaline seemed so excited about the possibility.“Maybe.”
“We won’t force you, of course, if you’re not ready, but sometimes you’ve got to get out of your own head and push yourself forward.”
fifteen
“Shouldn’tyouhavepackedlast night?”Wil pointed out when she saw Jo scrambling to find enough matching pairs of socks.
“It’s only three days, including today.I don’t need to pack that soon for something so short.”They held up a pair of purple socks they’d dug up from a clean pile on the floor in victory.“And I’m almost done.”
What they didn’t say was that the early afternoon had been a fight to get out of bed.Wil understood without them having to say a word about it.Everything was like moving through thick mud.It was times like these that Jo wished caffeine worked on werewolves without them having to drink a whole truck load of coffee.Jo had already been down the street to visit the vampires to get an iced coffee, and they were making their way through an entire pot of cold brew they’d made in anticipation of the depression slog.
“Don’t forget the dress.”Wil motioned towards Jo’s closet where the top part of a hanger could be seen over the edge of the door.
“Wish I could,” Jo grumbled, climbing over their clothes piles to get to the closet door.They struggled to get it down, but managed to slide it off the corner of the hanger until it fell into their arms.
“It’ll be nice to see your sister,” Wil said.
“I know.”
“I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”
Jo stared at the dress, their anxiety creeping back in.“I hope so.”
“Jo, it’s going to be alright.”
They made a noncommittal grunt in response.
“Maybe not before.Maybe not during.But when you get back here, we’ll all be looking forward to seeing you again.”
Jo tossed the dress onto their open suitcase on the bed.“And I’m going to make the most of it while I’m there, truly.I’m excited to see June — it’s been ages since we’ve talked properly.I’d be lying if I said that didn’t make me nervous, too.We used to be so close.What if we’re not anymore?I’ve held out hope that it’s just because she’s so busy, but what if she really doesn’t want to talk to me anymore?And then there’s dealing with my mom, which is already making my stomach sick.Or maybe that’s all the sugary coffee.”They let out a weak laugh.
“Cass is going to be there,” Wil reminded them.
Jo nodded.“And her being there is going to help a lot.I know.If only so I don’t get so spineless around my family.Being near them makes me crazy nervous.What if people are awful?I’m not close with my extended family.I don’t know what to expect with them.”
“You can always wolf out and run away.”
Jo glanced over to find Wil grinning.“I know you’re joking, but I’m going to keep that in my back pocket as an option.No one will mess with a werewolf.”
“You could make a big scene and then just run out.”
“What would I do?”
“I don’t know.Kiss Cass in front of everyone and then roundhouse kick the cake or something.”
“My legs would never reach that high.”
“They can if you jump.”Wil stifled a laugh.
“How high do you think I can jump?”
