“Thanks for picking me up. You didn’t have to. I could have walked.”
Zaina shook her head; her platinum blonde hair was cut in a pixie which showed off the tattoo she called her protection sigil on the back of her neck. “I feel like it’s going to rain. I didn’t want you to get stuck in a downpour. Plus, Mike wound up leaving for his business trip last night instead of this morning, so I had nothing but extra time.”
“Thanks, Z.”
Nicole had always been a complete skeptic about all things witchy, but she didn’t begrudge her friend her beliefs. Zania’s tattoo showed a waxing crescent moon, several interlocking circles and two arrows making an X. When Nicole had been recovering from surgery, Zaina had brought her a pink candle with her sigil carved in it. Nicole was sure it was just the placebo effect, but she did feel peaceful whenever she lit that candle.
Zaina pulled out onto Main Street and glanced at Nicole.
“Something is different. You look…did you meet a man?”
Nicole’s mouth dropped open, “How? What? No, not, why? I look different?”
Zaina hit her brakes as a couple began walking into the crosswalk. She began laughing. ”I’m an empath and intuitive. I’m not psychic. Devin told me about brunch.”
Nicole gently face-palmed, “I’m such a dork.”
Zaina tapped Nicole’s knee, “You are not! But usually, you’re so logical I can’t put anything past you. You’re also so skeptical; I’m amazed you fell for it!” She pulled into the alley behind her shop and put the car in park. “Let’s go in and you can tell me all about this new man.”
“Sean,” Nicole corrected, “but he’s not my man.”
“Okay, whatever you say,” Zaina said over her shoulder as she opened the door to her shop just as big plops of rain began falling from the sky. She held the door open as Nicole ran in to join her.
Nicole turned on the lights in the shop. Zaina began to prepare hot water and make sure the tea station was restocked for anyone who might pop in during their inventory restock today. “I think you should have a nice cup of ‘Opportuni-Tea’ today.”
“How can I not take your recommendation? You predicted the weather correctly.”
“Well, to be honest, it was the smell. I could smell rain, and then I checked my app and it said there was a sixty percent chance of rain.”
“Sure, I’ll try the Opportuni-Tea. You’ve got honey, right?”
“Hon, I have three shelves filled with different types of honey,” She waved a hand toward a display of honey, honey pots, and a variety of honey from wildflower to pinecone.
Nicole reviewed the shelf, trying to decide. Zaina turned on the electric kettle and pulled down Nicole’s shop mug. Outside of her home, Zaina’s shop was Nicole’s favorite place to be. There was something so cozy about the small store with its soft lighting, scented candles burning, and the nooks of comfortable chairs that invited you to sit down and read a book or have Zainaread your cards. Light jazz was playing in the background and Nicole’s mind wandered back to Sean. She wondered if he liked music, and if so, what kind?
Zaina edged up to her, “Did you decide on a honey yet?”
“Nah. I’ll just take whatever you have open.”
Zaina pressed her palms together and tapped her fingers. “Alright, Marley Creek Acacia it is. Now sit down, relax, and tell me all about…what was his name?”
“Sean,” Nicole said quickly.
“Look at that sparkle in your eyes!”
Nicole’s face flushed. “This is just silly. He asked me out and I turned him down. There’s nothing to talk about.”
Zaina crossed her arms and leveled a commanding stare at her friend. “We’ve got hours of inventory unpacking, pricing, and tagging. I need this. Tell me everything in glorious detail!”
“Oh alright, fine. I’ll tell you all about it, but it isn’t that big a deal.” Nicole ran a hand through her hair.
By four o’clock, the shelves were stocked, and the inventory tracking system was ready for Zaina’s open house next week.
Zaina looked over at her friend slyly. “This year I’ve added oil making classes to the open house. We’re going to make protection oil, healing oil, even sex oil. You need to come make some sex oil.”
Nicole crossed her arms and glared at her friend. “I don’t need any sex oil.”
“It’s not just about the sex, though that would be wonderful for you too. How long has it been?” Zaina cocked her head to the side.
