And sure enough, not long after—he did.
The café was empty for the first time all day, so he didn’t have to panic.Instead, he turned into his normal self right in front of a very startled Ginger.She jumped back, hissing, as he stood and brushed himself off.
“I told you I’m Nathaniel,” he told her pointedly.
Thea was in the back, so he made his way to her.She didn’t hear him coming, busy pulling a loaf of bread out of the oven, and as she set it down, he wrapped his arm around her waist.
She jumped and gasped.
“Sorry,” he said.“I should have warned you.”
“That might’ve been nice,” she said with a little chuckle, turning toward him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Those were the most vile-tasting things I’ve ever tried in my entire life,” Nat said.
Thea giggled.
“And you’re laughing about it?”he asked, pretending to be outraged, though really, he was just glad to see her smiling.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but your face was so funny.”
“As I was trying not to throw up?”he asked.“That face?”
There she went, laughing again.
“I’m sorry,” she said when he glared at her.“I’ll stop.”
But her eyes were still bright with laughter, and Nathaniel let out a hmph.
“I see how it is,” he said.“No care for my feelings.”
“That’s not true,” she said, even though the corners of her lips were turning up.
“Well, if you’re only going to laugh at me, I’m leaving,” Nathaniel said.
“Don’t go,” Thea said, reaching for his hand.
“I’m going to go see if Aunt Genie has any suggestions,” he said.
“Who’s—” Thea began, but then her eyes widened.“Eugenia?”
“Right,” Nathaniel nodded.“She may remember magic, or whose families may have had it.Or she may have found something in that library.I don’t know.But it’s worth a try, right?”
“Absolutely,” Thea said with a nod.“I hope she has something for you.”
“Me, too,” Nathaniel said with a grimace.“I’m tired of this.”
“You are well within your right to be,” Thea agreed.
“Thank you,” he said.
“I’ll keep things going here,” she said.“And hopefully you’ll make it back without turning into a cat again.”
Nathaniel grumbled.“If I turn into a cat again, I might just run away and hope a coyote finds me.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” Thea said, her voice fierce.“I don’t care if you are a cat for the rest of your life—it doesn’t matter.You are not allowed to give up.Because I just got you back,” she added softly, “and I’m not letting you go again.You understand me?”
Nat smiled at Thea, pulling her back into his arms to give her a kiss.
