I cleared my throat, nodding. “Sounds great. After the morning rush, I’ll let you know when we leave.”
“I’ll be waitin’.”
I was eager to tell Sterling the news. Olive hadn’t arrived yet, so I invaded the kitchen to prepare his morning coffee, assembling a small silver tray with the small brewing pot, sugar, and cream, and brought it up to him early.
He answered the door blearily, dark hair messy, and rubbing his eyes. And no shirt.
I must have turned bright red trying not to stare. I must’ve forgotten to say anything, because he said, “Good morning, Mr. Fiddlesap. Is everything all right?”
I admired his dedication to the joke even while half asleep. “Morning, Turnip. Sorry to wake you so early, but I have exciting news.”
“Mm, it’s okay since you brought coffee,” he said with a smile. “Come in.” He stepped aside and held the door open for me.
I only intended to deliver the coffee and news and return downstairs, but the invitation was tempting.
“I can’t stay long. I’ve got to be downstairs to handle the morning rush.” I stepped into the room to set the tray on his table. “Get yourself dressed—” I scanned him once more, adding, “if you want.” His eyebrows bounced up, and I regretted my inability to resist flirting with him. “We’re going to see Willorunia after the rush. She wants to talk to us.”
Sterling sat at the table, yawning. “Do you know her well? You seem much closer to the people here than I originally thought.”
“Oh, um…” I didn’t know why it always surprised me when he pointed this out. I had known these people my entire life, but the way I was always dipping in and out of their lives made me feel like a stranger. “She influenced me to become a witch. She’s also one of the few people in my life who always saw the real me. When I was a child, she never forced stereotypical ‘boyish’ activities on me, and her gender-blind introduction to witchcraft really helped clear the view of my life path.”
Sterling stopped pouring his coffee to watch me. I immediately felt silly for telling him something so personal. “That’s lovely. Does she know?” he asked.
“No.”
“You should tell her,” he said, continuing to pour the dark drink into his mug, and then he took a sip of plain black coffee. I swore I saw him drink it with cream and sugar before. Was I serving it wrong? “I’m sorry if I’ve been referring to you incorrectly. May I ask about your gender?”
“Oh, it’s—you haven’t. I’m… well, I don’t know.” Explaining this to him flustered me. Griffin was right; Ididlike him a lot, and maybe part of me didn’t want to ruin my slim chances of him liking me back if he was into men. But if he was only into men, he wouldn’t like the real me. “I go back and forth. Most of the time I feel like a man who likes to look feminine, but sometimes… Sometimes I wish people would see a woman when they looked at me. Nothing can be done, though.”
“That’s not true. You just let me know when you feel that way and I’ll change the way I talk about you, all right?” he said, sipping his coffee again.
He watched me struggle to find words. I’d never been so open with anyone about this, because I just expected people to look at me funny and move on, but this… I’d never felt this before. His words made my soul feel safe and warm. Like I didn’t haveto guard myself around him. “Thank you,” I murmured. “What about you?”
“I’ve been a man every day so far,” he said.
I nodded, fighting a smile. “And, um… Sorry to change the subject, but can I ask about your preferences? I don’t want to get it wrong,” I said, pointing to the coffee.
Sterling looked me up and down slowly. “You never get it wrong. I like it however you present it.” He looked me in the eye as he took another drink and then lowered the mug, licking his lips.
Heat spread across my face and down my neck, and ventured even further to a place that made it dangerous to be alone in a dim room with him. “I—we’re talking about coffee, right?”
He smiled and shrugged. “Sure.”
I laughed shrilly and tugged my high collar. “I, uh—I better get back down there. I’ll be back after the morning rush to fetch you. Enjoy your—your coffee,” I stammered, practically running for the door.
“I will. Bye, Cassian,” he said.
The memory of the conversation distracted me through the rush. Was I overthinking it, or did he flirt with me? If it had just been about coffee, he said it in such a salacious way I don’t know how I could convince myself hewasn’tflirting. Thank the gods for this counter between me and the customers, because my attraction was obvious.
Fortunately, when the rush ended, I wasn’t so hot under the collar anymore.
Unfortunately, it only lasted until Sterling arrived downstairs. He had somehow become more attractive since earlier that morning. Even his straight posture and the way he leaned both elbows on the counter got me blushing again. It was all over when he smiled and said, “Hey, Cassian.” I don’t knowat what point he stopped calling me silly names, but I almost wished he would go back.
“You ready to go?” I asked.
“Ready when you are.”
I snatched my cloak from the office and swung it around my shoulders before running to tell Griffin we were leaving. I led the way to Griffin’s home, which was south of the inn down Forger’s Trail. This was a lesser-used trail, which branched off to a few private properties in the woods and ended at a small town called Dreckle.
