Page 40 of Wishing for a Werewolf
“Oh, god.” Autumn slaps a hand over her mouth to muffle her laugh, her shoulders shaking. “Pixies drinking espresso. As if they needed any help being hyper!”
“Hey!” Blue peels off from the flock to hover in front of our faces, the pixie leader shaking her little finger at us. “Pixies are naturally nocturnal. We need help staying up all day, which is the only time you humans will eat pizza.”
The rest of the flock screams, “Pizza!”
“Sorry.” Autumn pats at the air with her palms. “Anything that helps you make pizza is great.” She sidles past them and heads for the back of the shop.
Behind the counter stands a short human woman with medium brown skin, long straight black hair, and a warm smile. “Welcome to Grounds for Celebration. I’m Devina, the owner. What can I get you?”
“It’s the pumpkin spice latte time of year, wouldn’t you say?” Autumn chuckles.
“They’re a specialty of mine.” Devina smiles and turns to me. “How about you?”
I know less than nothing about coffee and can’t read any of the writing covering the board above her head, so I take the easy way out. Besides, I’m curious about what my fire likes. “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Autumn orders them to go, and Devina bustles behind the counter, working several machines with smooth efficiency. In record time, she sets two steaming paper cups in front of us.
“What do I owe you?” Autumn asks.
“Today’s free. It’s part of the subsidy the town offered me to move here,” Devina says. “They fixed up the shop exactly like I wanted, too, and were unbelievably fast.”
“Unbelievably fast. Yep, that sounds about right.” Autumn’s lips twitch as she shares a look with me, both of us knowing fae magic renovated the building. “Welcome to Ferndale Falls. We’re really glad you’re here. It’s been ages since we had a good coffee shop.”
“I have all kinds of teas, too, and I even blend my chai from scratch using a family recipe instead of buying a pre-made mix.”
“I’ll be sure to get that next time,” Autumn promises. “Ilovea good chai.”
“Enjoy and come back.”
Autumn takes a sip of her drink and moans. “Oh, I’ll be back. This is the best coffee I’ve ever had.”
I take a cautious sip of my own, remembering how the orcs in Faerie always complained that human coffee is too bitter. But instead, a delightful swell of spicy sweetness rolls across my tongue, reminding me again of my fire’s bewitching scent.
Outside, Autumn downs another gulp and grins at me over the rim of her cup. “Drink up. You’re going to need that double shot of espresso to get you through this next bit.”
“What’s next?”
“Only the biggest challenge of your life.” Her quick steps skip over the ground, her entire being radiating joy.
I move closer, longing to bask in her warmth.
Her car door opens with a metallic groan as the redheaded witch throws a knowing smile over her shoulder. “Shopping.”
A groan of relief escapes me as I step into my house and drop numerous plastic bags onto the floor. I long to join them. It doesn’t even matter that the wood is hard and unforgiving. Lying down sounds perfect. Shopping is strangely wearisome for something that doesn’t require much outright physical exertion. In fact, I almost feelmoretired from all the slow walking than I would if I’d spent the time running. Andwhen you add in all the confusion and endless decision making…
“Ha!” Autumn steps through the door, lifting her bags high like hunting trophies and making her bracelets chime as they clink together. She’s beaming, totally in her element, her face glowing with happiness and health. “You’re such a shopping newb.”
“By the goddess, I never want to do that again,” I growl.
“You shouldn’t have to shop for so long next time. This trip was the worst because you had literallynothing. Trust me, I usually don’t shop for linens, clothes, toiletries, dishes, cleaning supplies, and food all in one day.” She sets down her bags and nudges me with her shoulder. “Go get the rest of the stuff from Tank while I put the perishables in the fridge.”
I finally put my full shifter speed to use, hurrying until there’s a mound of bags in the entryway and my heart’s pounding with invigorated life.
Or maybe it’s racing because of the enticing smell of Autumn’s scent filling my home and mixing with mine.
As frustrating as shopping was, it was also amazing to spend all day with my fire, making her laugh over and over as I repeatedly asked what various human contraptions are for. Goddess, I love her laugh, so bright and full of life.
She tosses a load of sheets and towels into the washing machine and shows me how to work it. While it runs, she goes over how to use all the toiletries and places them in the bathrooms. Wolves are simple—if we get dirty, we lick ourselves clean. Humans, though—by the goddess, there areaislesof personal care products.
