My friends’ mouths dropped open, and a smile split my face. I loved shocking them and rarely got the chance to do so. “Remember when I told you guys about my father’s accident?”
They both nodded and their expressions morphed into ones appropriate for a sad situation.
“Well, he had to see non-PIA healers. A family outside of Boston, unrelated to Spellcasters—well . . . kinda unrelated. A part of their family are alumni and active spies. That branch is the Wardwells of Connecticut.”
Tabitha’s eyes lit up. She recognized the name as I had the night Mother and I had warped to Massachusetts.
“Anyway, this other branch of the Wardwell family tree has never been to Spellcasters. It was a dad, a mom, and their son and the son was hot with a capital ‘H’. Not only that, but he seemed nerdy too. Definitely the best healer I’ve seen of our ageever, and you guys know I’ve seen a lot of smart initiates coming through here. He was just like those super nerds in the movies—hot, intelligent, and quiet.”
“I don’t believe you.” Tabitha crossed her arms over her chest. “If this guy exists, why wouldn’t you have told us about him when you mentioned your dad?”
That was a great question. I’d called my friends the day after my birthday and told them what had happened to Father. I had mentioned that we were outside of Boston and that my birthday celebration—which was supposed to happen that very day—would have to be delayed. But I hadn’t mentioned Alex Wardwell at all.
I shrugged. “I guess I was . . . processing everything.” It wasn’t a lie. Although days had passed, I still found it hard to believe what had happened to Father. And even more so that a young man had been the one to save him. My friends remained silent. Apparently, they didn’t know how to respond to that, although I noticed that Tabitha still regarded me with skepticism as we started walking.
We’d gone down a couple more streets, and I was about to suggest entering the candy shop when a shrill voice caught my attention.
“I told you I didn’t want to go to that dingy cabin, Jagger! It’s really not as impressive as you think. Just a rundown shack.” Miss Iris rounded the corner we were approaching on the opposite side of the street. As she spoke she yanked her arm away from her boyfriend, the shifter who had sucked her face off in the café. “Why are you pushing so hard to go there?”
The shifter glanced around frantically at her outburst and moved closer to her, clearly about to answer, when Phoebe, who was generally oblivious to drama around her, began to wave enthusiastically. “Miss Iris! Hi!”
Miss Iris whipped around, and I cringed. Even from a good distance away I could see the stark red blotches marring her cheeks. The couple had been fighting pretty seriously.
At the sight of us, however, the angst painted across her face vanished and she smiled. “Girls! I was wondering when I’d see you here for our Diana’s birthday!”
Miss Iris crossed the street, leaving her boyfriend behind with a scowl planted on his lips. When it was obvious she intended to talk to us for a while, the shifter took a seat on the bench behind him, apparently content to wait it out by himself rather than chat.
“Did you stop by the café already?” Miss Iris said when she reached us.
“No,” Tabby said. “We planned to go by later, for an early dinner.”
Miss Iris wrapped her arms around me. “Good. You girls do that. I’ll tell Javi to make sure you get an appetizer on the house.” She pulled away from the embrace and looked me straight in the eye. “Are you feeling better, love? Your heartache dulled?”
It touched me that she’d just been fighting with her boyfriend and yet, here she was, worried about me.
“Hey Iris! We’re gonna be late!” Jagger yelled from across the street.
The café owner shot the shifter a scathing look. “Oh so now you’re concerned about being on time?” She turned her attention back to us and loosed a frustrated breath. “I better get going. He’s being very . . . temperamental today. I don’t understand what’s going on, but it’s giving me emotional whiplash. A few minutes ago he was talking about swinging by Butcher cabin before our movie date to see if he can restore it. But then just yesterday he was saying how he should buy a nice house in the town to impress Father.”
I cringed, and Miss Iris gave me a knowing look. “Exactly. I haven’t told him yet that dear old Dad is less than taken by shifters. It never seems like a good time to bring it up.” She sighed heavily. “But when will it ever be, really? I suppose that after making love he’d at least be in a good mood, but that would besucha downer.”
My friends and I averted our gazes. We weren’t virgins but hearing an adult you respected talk about their sex life was different than talking about it to your friends. Unfortunately, my eyes latched right onto Jagger, who was staring intently at us and mumbling like a crazy person, which wasn’t any better.
Miss Iris’ eyes widened as she realized what she’d said. “Oh lord. That was an overshare, wasn’t it? I’m sorry, girls. I’m a rambler, just ask the wine club ladies. Forget I said anything and go have your fun.”
She gave us each a hug before walking back across the street to her boyfriend. After they disappeared I turned to my girlfriends. “Did that seem weird to you guys?”
Tabitha nodded, watching as the couple walked down the street, bickering once again. “You mean that he didn’t introduce himself to us? Or that he grumbled not-so-quietly the entire time she was talking to us? I mean—good Gods—it’s not like we’re some hot guys who are gonna steal his girlfriend away.”
“He did seem a littleabrasive,” Phoebe said.
Definitely that, but there was something else strange about that whole ordeal too.
“Whatever, they’re just two adults with issues,” Tabitha said. “Let’s go get lunch. I’m starving.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me down the street alongside her.
But whatever was going on with Miss Iris and Jagger felt deeper than typical relationship issues. I shot a glance at Phoebe, who was more affected by other people’s emotions and troubles than Tabitha. She too looked carefree, like she’d already moved on too. I shook my head, trying to clear all the weirdness out. Then again maybe I just felt like the fight was heavier because I’d just gone through a breakup and Miss Iris and I had a special bond?
Tabby and Phoebe started discussing all of the specialty candy they would buy. Unable to filter through what I’d seen with Phoebe and Tabitha chattering, I forced myself to set the scenario aside. Whatever had been off about that situation—if it had been anything at all—I’d figure it out later.
