I arrive a little late to baby Luz's birthday party and head straight to the Mendoza's backyard. I see several coyotes racing, and when they get to a row of orange cones, all three shift into their human-forms. Mateo, Miguel, and Alondra laugh as they transform.
"I won," Alondra announces, lifting her hands up into the air. Her husband, Jett, walks over with a beer for "my crazy fast wife," he says, kissing her temple before handing it to her. Even after several years, I still can't get used to the fact that my friend's sister is married to a rock star I grew up with. It's incredibly trippy to hang out with him.
Walking over to Armando at the grill, I hand him some fresh Mexican marigold. "I brought some extra just in case."
"Thanks, man."
Scanning the party, my eyes settle on a familiar curvy figure whose auburn hair is braided into two pigtails. My breath catches, which annoys me, and I force myself to recover. "You're friends with Serena?" I ask, trying to sound casual.
"Oh, yeah. Erin loves her. When Luz was born, Erin was having trouble producing enough breast milk, and Serena made her this tea blend that was a lifesaver. They've been pals ever since."
Erin's cousin Meredith pokes her head over Armando's shoulder. "Those look amazing," she says, then turns to me. "Your neighbor also makes fantastic teas for women during that time of the month, and when Aunt Flo gets kicked to the curb as well." She says, before sauntering off to her husband, Calvin.
I hang out with Armando by the grill for a while, glancing at my neighbor talking to different guests. No matter what I think of her hippie-dippie stuff, she certainly has impressed many people I respect.
After lunch, we sing to the one-year-old, who then destroys the cupcake in front of her, covering herself adorably in pink frosting. I notice Serena helping Armando and Meredith slice the cake, then passing around pieces to the guests.
When I see her coming towards me, my heart begins to race, which I find incredibly irritating. Smiling up at me, she hands me a slice of birthday cake.
"So I hear we're booth partners for the harvest festival."
"What?" I blurt out. "We're together?"
My tone must appear rude because she gives me an incredulous look and squares her hands on her hips.
"Listen, I don't know what your deal is with me, but it's getting tiresome, and we're stuck together unless you're in the mood to argue with Goldie," she says, spinning on her heel and stomping away.
I stand there like a dummy, holding a slice of bright pink cake, wondering why the hell watching her storm off makes her even sexier.
When the clock hits 3 AM, I give up on trying to fall asleep and turn on the shower. Under the steaming hot stream, I stretch my neck, thinking a good rub down will help me fall asleep. With soap pumped in my hand, I begin to stroke my cock, picturing my favorite space princess in a certain outfit that has gotten me hot and bothered for decades now. Closing my eyes, I rest my head under the stream as I picture her lips around my cock,while sucking it and stroking the shaft with her other hand. Fantasizing that I look down at my space princess, I pretend she looks up at me with her big brown eyes and wet auburn hair plastered across her back.
Whoa, wait, auburn hair?
My strokes become faster as I realize I'm fantasizing about Serena sucking and licking my cock like she's in love with it. Before I can shut my mind off, my body shatters as I spill my seed into the swirling water.
With my heart racing, I slam my hand against the tile, steadying myself, and try to catch my breath.
What the fuck was that?
4
Serena
Wrappingup a box packed with my wise woman tea, I hand it to my Los Angeles-based customer, then watch her and a friend walk away in awe. Did they seriously drive over three hours just to come to this farmers market for my tea? My heart flips in my chest.
Leaving the rat race in Chicago was scary, but buying the farm in Corvid Valley last year was the best decision I ever made. Not only has my life slowed down in so many incredible ways, but I have been more in tune with the magical part of myself ever since. Of course, one can still be a connected witch anywhere they live, but it is definitely much easier for me out here in this Central California Valley than in man-made buildings and traffic surrounding them.
"It looks like you're having an excellent Saturday morning." Goldie, the Farmers Market manager, pulls me out of my daydreaming stupor.
"Hi, Goldie. Yeah, it's been a fantastic morning. In fact, I just sold to someone who drove here from LA."
The Farmers Market manager gives me a smile and a supportive squeeze on the forearm. "I'm just walking around reminding everyone that we have our harvest festival planning meeting after we close this afternoon."
"I will be there."
When she walks off to visit the next booth, Tessa and a couple of her high school girlfriends come giggling over.
"Hi, Serena," she says, then turning to her friend with curly hair, she says, "Here, Christy, this is what I was talking about. Moon cycle tea."
