Page 11 of Naughty Elf: Alfie
“It’s okay. I don’t want to make you late.”
“We’ll pick something up on the way as long as the line isn’t too busy.”
He races back to the door, grabs his keys from the hook, and ushers me out. “Be good Harold. See you later.” Pisces runs down the stairs and I follow him. He’s fast as fuck, so I trail behind.
He’s already next to an old beater of a car. Probably twenty years old at least, but it starts right up and there aren’t any concerning noises.
Pisces is so focused on the road. He’s white knuckling the steering wheel and in the early morning there is hardly anyone on the road.
“Are you okay?” I ask as we pull into the drive of a donut place I’ve never heard of and he turns to me.
“I don’t like driving. The warehouse is close to my apartment, but the shop is further away and the drive gives me anxiety.”
“I can drive.”
He eyes me as if to size me up. “I might take you up on the offer. Wait, do you have a driver’s license?”
I shrug. “I did in the North Pole, but didn’t really need it.”
“What kind of donuts do you like?”
“Any? All?”
He orders an entire dozen of donuts of all kinds and my mouth waters. He’s stressed, and he’s trying to take care of me. I really need to help take care of him.
“Eat up,” he says when he passes me the long box. He flips the lid open on my lap and grabs a glazed cruller. The glaze sticks to his lips and I want to lick them clean.
We eat donuts in silence as he continues the drive to his shop. I’m not nervous though. Pisces has a calming effect on me where I don’t feel like I need to fill the void of quietness. I want to be like that for him.
When we pull into the shopping complex’s parking lot, the box still has half a dozen donuts. “Looks like we have lunch sorted,” I say.
“I hadn’t even thought of lunch. On days like today, I normally don’t have the time.”
There’s no one in the entire parking lot.
“It’s still early. I needed to be here before the crowds, otherwise I get super overwhelmed because I’m opening at the same time people are trying to come in and the day fries my nerves.”
Finally, Pisces parks and we’re in front of a small storefront with a rainbow flag and a banner that reads Pieces of Pisces with a cute little crystal drawing on either side of the script.
“I love it already.”
“It’s my second home.” He tips his head. “Or third, if you include the warehouse.”
I follow him to the door with our box of donuts. There’s a soft chime when we enter and the scent of incense and candles hits me. He turns off the alarm and flips on the lights. There’s aChristmas tree in the far corner andso manyfairy lights strung around the entire room.
“Welcome to Pieces of Pisces.” The grin on his face warms my heart.
I turn in circles to take in the entire place. So many shelves of crystals. He’s got tumbles and beads and palm stones and towers. There are wind chimes and tapestries and wall banners. Candles and incense. Tarot and oracle cards. Essential oils. Books and books and books. It’s so welcoming, filled with love.
He fidgets by the register. “So, what do you think?”
“I think this is amazing. And is that—” I point towards the back.
“A classroom and then my small kitchen, where I open new stock and take breaks. Oh, and a bathroom.”
“I can work with this,” I say.
His face scrunches. “What do you mean, work with this?”
