Page 32 of Cursed Sight
“I need a cupcake.”
“Shouldn’t you be at work?” Serena asked, following him into the shop.
“Ethan?” Amanda Jo asked, raising her head from behind the display case.
He smiled. “Hi, Amanda Jo. Please tell me you have—”
“My Devil’s Delightfully Sinful?” She chuckled and ducked. “You know I have it. This is my best seller.”
“And rightfully so. Grab us two, please.” He chuckled. “Have you tried it?” he asked Serena.
Amanda Jo carried the two cupcakes to the checkout counter. “Do you want a container?”
Ethan looked around the quiet shop and spotted the free table. “No, we’ll eat them here,” he said and handed his credit card to her.
Amanda Jo’s finger tapped away at the monitor, ringing up their cupcakes, and pointed from him to Serena with his card in hand. “You two make a really cute couple,” she said and swiped the card.
Ethan did not miss Serena’s slight jerk at Amanda Jo’s words as he took his card back. “Thanks, I think so too.” He winked at Amanda Jo and scooped up their treats.
It did not escape his notice that Serena had not tried to correct Amanda Jo. Instead, she followed him to the table without a word as he heard Amanda Jo disappear into the back. He set the cupcakes onto napkins and put away his card before sitting.
“I’m not really sure I can fit any more cake inside me,” Serena said, eyeing her treat.
He chuckled. “I’m sure, but I promise you, you won’t regret eating this. Amanda Jo has a gift with all her desserts, but this one…”
After lifting the piece of heaven to his mouth, he took a generous bite and sighed. The encounter on the sidewalk was fresh on his mind, and he tried to focus on each detail he could remember as the chocolate burst on his tongue. He was not sure what had exactly happened, but he knew his intuition was always on point. The women had been in danger, and if anything happened to any of them, many people would be devastated.
Serena took a bite, chocolate smearing the corner of her mouth, tempting him to lick it off. Her eyes rounded in surprise, and she nodded her head. “Oh my God, this is so good,” she mumbled around another bite.
“Told you so.” Ethan let the chocolate comfort him in the way no person or thing could.
Neither spoke as they savored each bite. He pushed to his feet, as Serena leaned back with a hand over her flat stomach, and gathered their trash. In the corner of the shop was a water station where he pulled two small plastic cups out of a box and filled them.
“Thank you,” Serena said and offered him a sweet, satisfied smile.
He noted the chocolate smear had not been wiped. Ethan ran a thumb along the smudge, and a tiny gasp echoed in his ears as she froze. “You forgot a spot,” he whispered before sucking his thumb into his mouth.
“Thanks,” Serena said through a heavy breath before she chugged her water. The word was nearly inaudible.
“I know what I saw,” Ethan stated. Pushing aside the tension between them, he watched his high priestess come forth.
“I’m not saying you’re lying. It just doesn’t make sense. He’s dead.”
Ethan nodded. “I agree. It makes absolutely no sense. Do we know if he even had—”
“How was it, guys?” Amanda Jo asked, pushing through the traffic door.
“Amazing like always. Thanks again!” Ethan said, pushing to his feet. Her interruption reminded him that their conversation was a private matter.
Serena pushed her chair toward the table. “You truly are gifted.”
“Any more compliments, and I may grow another head,” Amanda Jo joked.
“And a beautiful one it would be,” Ethan teased with a wink.
Amanda Jo shook her head. “Hold on tight to this one. He’s quite the catch.”
Serena’s eyes met his as he moved to her side and threaded their fingers together. “That he is,” she replied, her gaze wandering his face.
