It was an order. Still, it made me smile. “I know you’re up to something.”
She laughed. “Always.” Then she cranked up the radio so any chance at conversation was drown out by her clapping loudly about how “so fine” Mickey was.
Dork.
The ocean appeared and disappeared between scrubby pines as we followed the highway that was tacked along the edge of the world like some kind of unspooled ribbon.
I fought her for the radio control once, because I hated that song about the world ending with an earthquake, no matter how fine the singer felt fine about himself. She, having fast reflexes, won, and sang every word while she leaned toward me, which was super annoying.
Finally, she parked facing the sidewalk and a short, uneven stone wall. Beyond that were the craggy rocks of the jetty and the endless stretch of ocean. Waves shrugged up onto the rocks, sending white spray to hang in the non-existent wind. No fishing boats were coming in or out of the jetty, and the foot traffic was maybe half a dozen locals getting late afternoon coffee.
“Let’s pop this shop.” Jean was out of the truck and waiting for me on the sidewalk.
I got out and fell into step next to her, angling for the crosswalk. “I’m okay,” I said as we waited for the signal. “I don’t need you to cheer me up.”
“Who said I’m trying to cheer you up? I’m in it for the free popcorn.” She punched at the crosswalk button even though she knew it didn’t really do anything.
“So there’s really nothing wrong with you and Hogan?”
It wasn’t the sunshine that put that blush on the top of her cheek bones. “No. We’re…it’s fine. And we are so not talking about him.”
“Do I need to put on my uniform and threaten to tase him? Did he hurt you?”
I didn’t know her eyes could get any wider. “You are not allowed to tase my boyfriends ever again.”
“It was the one time. And it wasn’t even a real TASER.”
“He didn’t know that.”
I smiled. “I know.”
She smacked my shoulder and I giggled.
“Still haven’t heard that thank you for putting up with you today,” she reminded me.
“Talk about your boyfriend and maybe you’ll hear it. Wait.” Something else occurred to me. “Did he propose to you?”
“No!”
“Did you propose to him?”
“Why would you even…no. It hasn’t been…long enough.” She pulled her fingers back through her hair, sending white and orange to swish and swirl like vanilla orange ice cream.
“You always get twitchy and bail before things get too serious. So is that it? Is it getting serious?” I waited. Put on the big sister eyes. The ones that made her think I could see what she was hiding from me.
Finally, she caved. “I didn’t, haven’t bailed. It’s more the…opposite. I wanted to tell him. About. Everything.”
Everything meant the supernatural creatures who lived in Ordinary and the gods who vacationed here. About our jobs as Reeds to keep the peace and see that mortal law and much, much older laws were observed.
It wasn’t something a lot of mortals knew about. It was best kept that way.
Hogan had moved here when he was in middle school and his mom had decided to travel. He’d come back after finishing up his degree in business and opened the Puffin Muffin bakery.
His business was thriving, and apparently, so was their relationship.
“Telling him Ordinary’s secrets is your call, Jean.” I said. “If he’s important to you, we’ll support you no matter how it goes down.”
“I know.” That, with absolutely no conviction.
