Page 29 of Cursed Luck
“Like being private, I know. As long as I’ve known you, you have. Remember, we all love you and mean well.”
“Love you too, Debs.”
“Now, go face the firing squad. I’m sure they’ll have the perfect place for you to woo your girl.”
He thanked her for the help once again before ending the call. Once he decided on which of the three to ask for help, he realized he didn’t have Vanessa’s number. He flipped his wrist, saw it was lunchtime, and decided to go by her shop instead.
Edward had never stepped into Vanessa’s shop, but he had heard the family discuss it a few times. His stomach was none too pleased with him sharing his business, so he opted for eating afterward.
As he walked up to the glass windows, his magic rose to the surface. Varying jewelry pieces were on display to draw in customers. Stepping inside, he was greeted with soft music and a floral scent that made him think of Mia.
“Hello,” said a woman he had never seen before, standing behind the counter.
He nodded, questioning whether he was in the right place. Turning to his right, he spotted bracelets he had seen Serena and Brandy wear.
“Edward?”
At the sound of his name, he looked left and found confusion written all over Vanessa’s face.
“Is everything okay? Is Carter okay?” Vanessa asked, a hand flying to the center of her chest.
“Don’t tell me he’s another Broderick,” the other woman snapped.
“He’s okay. Everything’s okay,” Edward said in a hurry. “I’m sorry, I didn’t consider how my visit would make you worry.”
A rush of air left her as he stepped closer. The scent of dirt and flowers confused him, and he did a quick turn, searching for Mia. “Is Mia here?”
Vanessa shook her head. “No, she’s not. Why?”
“I smell dirt and flowers.”
Vanessa laughed. “I have floral incense going, and well, the dirt is because of Georgia.”
“How unfair is it that I smell like dirt to y’all,” Georgia said with a roll of her eyes.
Dirt. His mind ran through different information before it paused and he blurted, “You’re a werewolf?”
“He’s not only cute, but bright,” Georgia said.
His brows narrowed. “Better than being an asshole, I suppose.”
A growl reverberated through the shop, and Georgia’s eyes glowed.
“Hey… hey, everyone, back down!” Vanessa snapped.
Georgia’s eyes widened. “He just called me an asshole!”
“And you insulted his intelligence. Edward doesn’t hang out with people like us, Georgia. He’s barely around at family functions as it is.”
He shook his head. “This was a mistake. I’ll see you later,” he said and turned around to leave. He made it to the door before a small hand took hold of his shoulder.
“Wait!” Vanessa said. “I’m sorry about Georgia. Just ignore her. What did you need?”
Edward exhaled and stared out the window as people walked by. After a moment of debating, he faced her. His gaze slid to the counter, and he noted Georgia was no longer there. “Where’d she go?”
Vanessa shrugged. “Out the back to get some fresh air, I suppose.”
He nodded but was unsure where to start. “These lights are a great addition. You should invest in some sort of lighting for the front displays as well. While the soft music is nice, you may want to alternate songs with love ballads or catchy tunes, but make sure you keep it quiet like this. No one likes to shop in loud stores. I’d also look for a colorful painting to put on that wall,” he said, pointing behind her.
