“Also, that smells amazing.”
“Thank you, but why should I not be mad?”
I tapped my wooden spoon against my pot, set it to the side, and set the heat to a simmer. I had no plans to leave the house today, so I’d let this sit for a good few hours before I jarred the water and gave the herbs back to the earth.
Jemma was standing in front of me, hands in her jean pockets, looking down at her shoes.
“Oh no.” I walked over to her and lifted her head. “What is it this time? I cannot have more secrets and shit going on in this house. No more negativity.”
“I told Ryker about your birthday.”
I went wide-eyed, my hand still on her chin.
“What the fuck, Jemma?” I asked, knowing good and well what she did. A part of me was just refusing to believe it.
“I said ‘don’t be mad’.” She shooed away my hand and walked over to the pot I had just been at. She wafted the scent up to her, taking in a deep breath.
“How can I not be mad, Jemma? I said I wanted to table that conversation.”
She shrugged and took a step back, turning toward me.
“I know what you said, but I’m also your best friend, and truthfully,” she walked over and poked a finger into my shoulder. “I do know what’s best for you.”
The sound of a car door shutting brought my attention away from Jemma momentarily.
“You also can’t be mad at me for too long, because Ryker just pulled up and is here to see you.” With the last word, her voice turned into a song as she skipped out the back door.
“Sabotage!” I shouted at her as she exited the house, and I heard the front door open.
I’d given Ryker a key to the house after the incident with Parker. He’d apparently been thinking the same thing because he’d had a key made for me for his place, too. It allowed us to come and go as we pleased with each other. It felt like home even though we weren’t living together.
Ryker entered the kitchen where I was still standing just as my phone buzzed. I pulled it out to see a message from Jemma.
Jemma: He loves you and wants to make this special. Let him.
I took a deep breath and put my phone away before returning my attention to Ryker. He stood in front of me in black jeans, a green shirt. and a jean jacket. His hair was in a bun on top of his head. He looked so put-together.
I looked down at myself in my burnt orange overalls and green racerback tank underneath. I’d thrown the outfit on this morning, not worrying about makeup or doing my hair.
Ryker made his way over to me and placed a kiss on my forehead.
“Stunning,” he leaned down and kissed me. “It smells really good in here. What is it?”
“A simmer pot.”
“A what?” Ryker pulled away, his eyebrow raised in question.
I grabbed his hand and led him over to the stovetop. The simmer pot was sitting between us. He looked into it, and I watched him examine what I had concocted.
“This is cool,” Ryker focused his attention back at me. “What is it for?”
“It’s an autumnal simmer pot for prosperity.”
“A what for what?” Ryker had the same questioning look from before on his face.
I laughed and went into the explanation.
“A simmer pot is how I can bring different energies into the house in one wide spell. This one is specifically for propensity, which, during the fall, is great, as we are focused on reaping what we have sown in the spring when planting our roots. As we are ending our journey through autumn and about to enter winter in just a few weeks, it felt like it was needed.”
