“So Skye, a little birdie told me you’re taking a vacation,” Autumn says to me.
“She means me.” Hannah throws an arm over our shoulders to give us a quick hug. “I’m the little birdie.”
“I don’t believe it.” Kayla hangs her coat on the rack by the door, showing off a long-sleeved slogan tee that says,Stop staring at my tits, with the writing placed right over her breasts. She loves that one so much she bought it in a few different colors.
A giggle escapes me as I nod. “Yep, it’s true. I’m officially on vacation.”
“I didnotjust hear you right.” Naomi trots out of the backroom and sets a stack of books on the shop’s woodcounter. She’s the same height and build as me, with warm brown skin, curly black hair, and one of the most beautiful smiles I’ve ever seen. Her embroidered tunic almost looks like Autumn’s, but Naomi’s clothes are orc made, since she’s now married to an orc and lives in Faerie. “Skye’s taking a vacation?”
“You guys are acting like this is unusual or something.” A blush heats my cheeks.
“Hello, have you met you?” Naomi cocks her elbows to stand, hands on hips. “You taking a vacation is the dictionary definition of unusual.”
Snickerdoodle. What are they going to say when I tell them I accepted another job?
I open my mouth, ready to confess, but am saved when the door opens and Violeta hurries inside. Short and curvy like me, she never seems to feel the cold, wearing only a light jacket over a fluffy burnt-orange sweater that looks amazing against her tan skin and honey-highlighted brown hair. “Hello, hello!”
“Yo, my Witch Bitches!” Jasmine carols, following her into the store, her beautiful brown face split in a playful grin. She peels a turquoise wool pea coat from her tall, lean body, the color matching the silk wrap shaping her brown hair into a high pineapple that fountains luxurious curls.
As everyone sheds outerwear and says hello, the rest of the book club members pile inside. With Willow, Emily, Abril, Madison, Destiny, and Rachel added, we’re a loud group of cheerful chatter and warm hugs.
Then everyone gathers around me and Autumn, grabbing their favorite cereal milk cocktails and cupcakessprinkled with matching cereal crunchies. Something in me eases as Jasmine snags her favorite type of cupcake from my tray and gives me a wink.
I’ve never belonged to such a large friend group before, too shy in high school or college to insert myself into one. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been so excited we started the Witch Bitch Spicy Book Club—it’s given me a way to get closer to so many more people. Even though I’m shy, I come out of my shell when talking about something I love, and there’s nothing I love more than books.
Not that we get much chance to talk about books with all the witchy shenanigans that go on in town.
We settle onto the couches, all smooshed together, and I love this too—the solidity of feeling my friends by my side.
“So what’s the news?” Violeta asks.
“Didn’t you hear?” Autumn grins and nudges me with her elbow. “Skye’s taking a vacation.”
“No.” Jasmine’s voice rings with disbelief. “How did that finally happen?”
“Yep.” Hannah pops the P and smirks at me before nibbling on the edge of her cupcake. “I flexed my mayor muscles and freaking made her.”
I take a hefty swig of my cinnamon crunch cocktail, letting the spicy sweetness coat my tongue, wishing for once that Autumn made the drinks stronger, because I need all the courage I can get, liquid or no. “So… about the vacation thingie…”
“What did you do?” Kayla narrows her eyes, giving me an assessing look, but a hint of humor dances in their depths.
“I, uh, kind of told Luke I’d catalog his library.”
“What the eff?” Autumn says.
“You mean the largest-library-in-all-of-Faerie library?” Hannah shakes her head. “How is that any kind of break?”
“Yeah.” Kayla points at me. “I don’t think the word ‘vacation’ means what you think it means.”
“How could I resist?” I throw up my hands. “The money will let me buy so many kids’ books. I’ll finally be able to start my children’s reading charity.”
“But what aboutyou?” Autumn sets a hand on my forearm and gives me a serious look. “That’s wonderful and selfless and all the good things, but how about taking some time to take care of yourself?”
“Itistaking care of me! It’s exactly what Hannah said. Luke has the biggest library in several worlds, and it’s stuffed full of books on magic. This is a dream come true!”
“Are you sure it’s his big library you’re interested in?” Naomi grins at me while waving two fingers in the air. “Not his two other assets?”
“You did say stuffedfull.” Autumn elbows me again, wiggling her eyebrows.
