“I don’t know how to work the video thing.” Setting everything on the counter, he flails his hands in the air. “My sisters all just laughed at me before hanging up on me. I asked my twin, Autumn.”
I laugh. “You’re a twin!”
“Fraternal,” he growls. “She laughed at me and told me to watch a how-to video, but she didn’t once tell me how to find the how-to videos. It’s a vicious cycle, and I’m lost. Even the townsfolk laughed at me. My business partner, Spock?—”
Tears stream from my eyes. “Spock?”
“Yeah, that’s his nickname. Anyway, not even he would help me. He stared at me like I’m crazy. I had to drive two hours yesterday into the city just to buy this thing, and no one will help me set it up aside from the store I purchased it from. They set it up so I can at least use the darn thing, but…” He glances at me, his rant fading as he looks at me with a desperation of the technologically impaired.
“How do you not know how to work technology?” Holding my laughter back, I swipe away my tears as I grab the tablet from him.
“I never had a need for it,” he grumbles, back to his grumpy personality that is more like a hangry raccoon.
“Okay.” I swallow any snarky comment. “Do you have Wi-Fi?”
“What’s that?”
“You know, I honestly can’t tell if you are even serious.”
“I’m not, that was a joke,” he grumbles before waving his hand back at the tablet.
“It’s hard to tell.”
“I’m logged into that.”
“Spock did it, didn’t he?” I honestly have no idea, but I just wanted to say his name again.
“Can you get me set up?” He grips the counter across from me, his muscles flexing as he leans in and back.
“Yes.” I glance at the clock. “You’re lucky I have time before my first shift at the library.”
“I appreciate this.” His voice softens, and for a moment, a brief flutter rises in my stomach.
Nodding, I glance at the tablet. Setting him up with an app he can use for his lessons isn’t hard. What proves difficult is Arlo hovering over me before pacing and hovering again.
Maybe that’s why I set his passwords as red-flannel-knight-one. I don’t even feel bad about it either. Just as I’m about to push the tablet back over to him with five minutes to spare, the bell on the door jangles and a princess saunters in.
Her silky blonde hair flows in waves to a tiny waist. I’m instantly envious of her, and I try not to pat my own curls to check for a frizziness level. I woke up at a crucial level five—already untamable.
Her eyes sparkle, freaking sparkle, with the palest blue irises. That, combined with her delicate features and pink Cupid’s bow lips, means she really looks like a fairy princess. Plus, she’s short and dainty and wearing heels, which means she’s even shorter. I didn’t know adults came in that size, and I feel instant shame for thinking that.
She smiles at me with perfect white teeth that gleam. Wearing a casual pair of jeans and a black turtleneck, she exudes confidence that makes me jealous.
“You must be Wren,” she gushes, and I’m positive she is genuine about that. “Oh, it’s incredible to finally meet you.” I swear this fairy squeals and thunders past Arlo to sweep me into her arms.
This beautiful stranger hugs me as though I’m a long-lost kitten, then she hugs me tighter as I awkwardly pat her back. Eyes wide, I stare at Arlo, who stands frozen in shock.
Eventually, this crazy cat lady pulls back, her smile never wavering, not even at my awkwardness.
“Bloom,” Arlo says, backing himself into a corner.
My eyes light up in recognition. “Bridget?” I ask.
Her smile turns excitable, like a golden retriever. “You’ve heard of me. How exciting.”
I’m not even mad. Wasn’t I just planning to go into her shop an hour ago? Or at least trying to find an excuse to go into her shop just to meet her? And here she is, fate and destiny colliding.
“I have.” I give nothing away as I finally give her an answering grin.
