“An honest one.”
“Okay…” I stared at my half-eaten bag of popcorn before crinkling the top to close it. “My life is fine. I get by.”
“Youget by. Interesting. What brings you joy?”
“Reading, mostly,” I answered. “I also like my job at the café. Making coffee and pastries is fun.”
“Walk with me.” Lupin motioned with his head for me to follow. My legs moved on impulse. So much for not trusting him. Dumb body. He led me over to the register before he went behind it and grabbed something from the glass case. He slid the item toward me over the counter. “Here.”
“A rock?” I picked it up. It had a flat, smooth surface and was emerald green with thin streaks of other colors: dark blue, yellow, red, purple, and mixed shades of pale green and brown.
“It’s a wishing stone,” Lupin said, leaning against the counter. “It knows the deepest desires of your heart. So allow me to ask you… what do you wish for the most?”
“Being in bed with a bunch of hot dudes wouldn’t be too bad.”
His lips twitched.
Saint sighed.
“Hey, you asked.” I shrugged and set the stone back down. My fingers wouldn’t release it though. Instead, I played with it by slowly spinning it on the countertop. “Being an omnipotent badass would suffice too. Like an overpowered main character who can just snap his fingers and demolish an enemy army. Hero of the kingdom of Lustville. Heartthrob for all the pretty boys to swoon over.”
Saint pinched the bridge of his nose. “Must we continue this, Lupin? He clearly isn’t taking this seriously.”
Lupin, however, was amused. “Would any of that truly make you happy?”
“Sure. Why not?” No sense in telling him about my crappy dating history. The only time men swooned over me was when I took too much melatonin before bed and had wild sex dreams where all the dudes wanted my dick. One time, it was like King Midas with his golden touch, but the shiny treasure was in my pants.
“Power, money, and sex,” Lupin said. “These are what most people first wish for, thinking it will bring them happiness and fill some void inside them. For some, it does make them happy. Yet, I feel like your desire runs deeper. What is ityoutruly want?”
A sarcastic reply was on the tip of my tongue, but someplace inside of me responded to his words. I squeezed the stone. “To feel like I belong.”
“You don’t feel that way now?”
“No.” My throat threatened to close up, and I swallowed a few times. “I never have.” I slid the stone back toward him.
He shook his head. “The stone chose you. Keep it.”
“Huh?” I withdrew my hand, leaving the stone on the counter. “Look, I’m sure you think you’re helping or whatever, but I really don’t have the money. I could barely afford the bag of popcorn. It’s a pretty rock, but I’m going to have to pass.”
“No money required. Consider this as my gift to you.” A smile shone in his eyes, shadowed by something much more mysterious. “For your birthday.”
“How did you know it’s my birthday? Did you swipe my ID or something?” I checked my pockets, finding my wallet right where I left it. This night was getting weirder and weirder.
Lupin pushed back his sleeve to glance at his watch. “Perfect timing.” Some kind of tattoo, like black symbols, disappeared up his sleeve. “The shop is now closed. Be safe walking home, Evan.”
And then, I was standing on the sidewalk in front of the building.
How the hell did I get out there so fast? I turned to look at the shop. My confusion only deepened. The sign was gone.
For Leasewas written on the storefront window.
I stumbled backward, anxiety prickling at my chest and pulse pounding. Around me, the food trucks and vendors were packing up. Some had already left. The sun had long since set, and the moon hung in the sky. I must’ve been in there for hours, but it felt like only minutes. With my thoughts spiraling, I stepped off the curb and into the street. The lights from the rides turned off, and men worked on taking them down.
Trying and failing to come up with a reasonable explanation for it all, I left Main Street and returned home. Once there, I collapsed on my bed, not even bothering to take off my shoes. I pulled the blanket over my head and tried to forget about my confusing night.
Something jabbed me in the belly, and I wiggled around before pulling the stone from my hoodie pocket. I had left it on the countertop. So how did it get in my pocket?
“Curious and curiouser.” I glided my thumb along the smooth surface. A wishing stone, Lupin had called it. A chance to have my heart’s deepest desire granted.
