Page 8 of January Blues
Shoving those depressing thoughts aside, I turn to more pleasant topics. Quill. The man lingered in my mind as he had since I’d met him. With all of the stuff happening to me, I hadn’t thought about taking a shot and asking him out. I got the feeling that he was into guys too, so that wasn’t a worry. Being above him in the chain of command was an issue I’d have to look into if I wanted to try dating him.
I hardened as I soaped myself to memories of Quill working in the office. He was a wet dream come to life in the tight pants he wore, cut to perfection over thick thighs and a round ass. He would start the day in a smart button down, tie and waistcoat, looking tailored to perfection, and would end the day minus the tie, collar open at the neck, and sleeves rolled to the elbows.
His hands fascinated me, always looking strong and sure in their movements. I imagined them gripping my cock as I stroked myself. I thought about his hard body against mine as he brought me to the brink. The way he would ask, “need anything else, Mr. Valentine?” even though I’d asked him many times to call me Cody. Each time he said my name, it gave me goosebumps. I pictured him growling into my ear as we came together.
It took me a minute to come down from my orgasm high. I just stood under the water enjoying the feeling of the hot water washing away my troubles. When I shut off the shower, I heard my phone buzzing loudly in the still apartment. It stopped and immediately started again. I answered before it could go to voicemail.
“Cody?”
“Hey?” I pulled the phone away from my ear to check the caller I.D.
“It’s Zinna. Poppy’s had the baby! We would love for you to come to the welcome ceremony this afternoon. Can you come?”
Zinna, Poppy’s wife, was beautiful and fierce, but best of all, she had never looked down her nose at me. I got the impression that she felt protective of me for some reason. She had joined the coven with her brother a few years ago and had never known my family. For her and Poppy, it had been love at first sight. I was so happy that they had finally gotten their healthy baby. Their path hadn’t been a smooth one.
“Congratulations to you both! How’s the baby?” For the first time this week my enthusiasm and joy wasn’t fake.
There was a dreamy sigh. “Perfect. She’s perfect.” I knew they were expecting a girl. It was the most poorly kept secret in the coven. “Sage is such a good girl for her mommies.”
I let out a gasp. “Sage?”
“Shh,” Zinna whispered. “I didn’t tell you that, okay? Our secret.”
Laughing, I mimed zipping my lips, even though she couldn’t see me. “My lips are sealed. Can’t wait to meet her. Is Poppy okay?”
“Poppy is a wonder! You should have seen her, Cody! We burned through a lot of magic to heal her up because I couldn’t stand to see her in pain.” Zinna was so soft when speaking about her wife. “But she deserved it for giving us our miracle.”
“She really is a miracle,” I agreed. The magic used to conceive her had been radical. They had losses before her as they worked to get the spell right. Now here we were, with a new witch for the coven. “Does she—“ I couldn’t quite manage to get the words out.
“Sage is a witch. Her well is deep.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. “Thank the goddess,” I said, more to myself than Zinna.
“We would have loved her anyway,” said Zinna gently.
“I know.” Crying sounded from her side of the line.
“Come soon. We can’t wait to see you!” Zinna ended the call.
The call had knocked me off balance and I spent an hour just meditating to get back to an even keel. Everything that was happening wasn’t going to put me down that path again. I’d been off the meds for years, and I refused to be medicated again. Even if someone was out to get me, I had more than I’d had when I was eighteen and alone in the world. I had friends, colleagues, a purpose. Once I secured this promotion, I would have more say in the company and could focus more on our charity engagement. It was all part of my plan.
The coven parking lot was full when I pulled in. I drove around carefully, checking for spaces, but none were to be found. With a huff of frustration, I parked down the street, paying for parking for the entire day, just in case. It would be just my luck that I’d end up with a ticket. I mean, if I really needed it, there was always my parents hush money, and the proceeds from the apartment, but I refused to touch that unless necessary. Part of me wanted to give it all to the many charities that I supported, yet I knew that I needed a safety net. It didn’t mean I didn’t donate. My company salary was generous, and I gave a large portion away every month, preferring to live on a budget.
I’d grown up privileged but lonely, even in an unusually large family. There were eight of us in total. Myself and five siblings, then my two parents. I was the oldest and had always felt apart from the rest of them. After me, there had been Alder and Aspen, the twins. Then my only sister, Briar, followed by another set of boy twins, Layton and Linden. It hadn’t escaped my notice that I was the only one that hadn’t been given a plant based name. There had always been a them and me situation. My escape had been the library, my cousins and the human friends I made at the private school I’d attended. I’d longed for a simpler life, and now that I had it, I wasn’t risking buying into a life of excess like my parents. I didn’t need money to be happy.
Inside the coven house, there was chatter from multiple voices. Everyone sounded happy and light as glasses clinked and people took food off platters. Fellow members called greetings to me. Since Basil had left, there was a lighter atmosphere. Everyone was quicker to smile or say a nice word to someone else.
“Cody! You came!” Zinna approached with open arms. I folded her into a hug and squeezed.
“Of course I did. I couldn’t wait to meet the new coven member!” I handed over the large gift bag I’d been holding.
“Oh my goodness, Cody! You didn’t have to get us anything!” Zinna hugged me again. “Come meet her before we make the announcement.”
“I shouldn’t.” I tried to peel away. It was such a big deal to be greeted like someone with a high status in the coven. I always assumed Poppy felt sorry for me, but maybe she really did want to be my family. To fill in for my missing siblings.
“Nonsense, you’re family.” Zinna said, echoing my thoughts. She pulled me by the hand, gift bag in the other, towards a comfy sofa in the room’s corner. Zinna’s brother, Oak, appeared to be standing guard over Poppy, who was holding a little bundle in her arms, looking ecstatic but tired.
“Cody! It’s lovely to see you. Thanks for coming.”
