Page 4 of Paper and Passion
Can I be anymore of a disaster?
Her arms go around me, catching my weight. She barely sways before righting us.
And she doesn’t let go.
Her hands spread across my back. Her tentacles extend, forming waves around us. The tip of one grazes my cheek as another wraps around my hair and lifts it off my neck.
“Hello, pretty girl,” she whispers. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Oh!” That’s right, she came in because of the job, and here I am, swooning over her. “I’m so sorry.”
I step back out of her arms, and she lets me go, even though it feels all wrong. Her tentacles linger, dragging over my shoulders before returning to rest against her head, limp and motionless. I feel suddenly cold and a little lost, like I don’t know what to do with my body now that she’s not holding me.
“Um, can I help you?” I ask, locking my hands together in front of myself and trying to sound professional.
She eyes me cautiously before stating simply. “I’d like the job.”
“Are you sure?” This woman doesn’t look like someone who needs to work. And if she worked, it would be some kind of high-powered position, like a CEO or CFO or something. Not a lowly part-time employee at a cursed stationery store.
She looks me up and down, not hiding the interest in her eyes. “Very sure.”
“Um. Okay, well, there are a few things you should know first about?—”
The vibrations start. My ears pop. The woman looks at the floor with a curiousexpression. But then everything in the storeroom sways. Boxes tumble to the floor. Papers fly into the air. The sound of something breaking comes from the main part of the shop.
Shit! Sheet-y decided to walk.
Chapter 4
Adrian
When we first got to town, Alex and I decided to split up. She wanted to do some window shopping, and I was starving, so I went in search of food. What I found was Kyle’s.
It’s a dive-bar, but it’s clean, and most of the tables are full. So they must be doing something right.
The lunch crowd looks pretty normal at first glance, but no one bats an eye at my tentacles, and when I look closer, I spot some fur and claws, and there’s a couple in the back that are awfully pale.
Maybe Alex is right about Ghostlight Falls. Maybe we really can make a life here. But I still feel nervous. This is the first time I’ve been in public without my wig in a hundred andfifty years. That time, I was chased by an angry mob of fishermen with harpoons.
The last human to see my tentacles in private was Sarah, and she promptly passed out, then ran for the door.
I know Alex thinks we’re gonna find our mate here, but I can’t help being skeptical. Maybe I’m just jaded after so many attempts and so much heartache.
Alex really liked Sarah, and she seemed to like us. My wife was devastated when she reacted the way she did to seeing the real us. Personally, I was only half-in on that relationship, but I wanted Alex to be happy, and Sarah seemed to make her happy. Until she broke her heart.
That was only six months ago, so I’m surprised Alex is ready to try again. I really hope she doesn’t jump into something just because she’s nearing her heat. I’d rather wait another decade and find the perfect person to complete us than rush a bond just so we can have children.
“What’ll it be?” A young guy with a green mohawk says without looking at me. He’s doodling something on the order pad.
I hold my breath, waiting for him to glance up and see the tentacles where my hair should be.
When he does finally look, he doesn’t react at all. His eyes immediately return to his drawing. “Well?”
“Oh, um, I’ll take an order of fish and chips, please.” I hand him the menu. He takes it and grunts something inaudible, then walks away. Alright.
While I wait, I pull out my phone to read the romance book I downloaded earlier today. It’s good, but I find it hard to focus. Every time someone new walks in, I look up, my heart bumping against my ribs with a hope I try to keep tempered. When they look at me, I expect to see shock, horror, or even curiosity, but most just give me a bored look and move on.
Yeah, I’m starting to think Ghostlight Falls might be just the place for us.
