The thought was too horrible to contemplate.
He cranked his powers up higher – and, after a long moment, the baby looked away, burying her head against her father’s neck.
Max slumped down in his seat once more.
What is it about this town?!he thought, rubbing at his face in an attempt to ground himself back in reality.Not only are my powers not working properly, but random people are suspicious of me.
There really was no reason to be suspicious – all he wanted to do was exchange his money for their excellent goods and services.
He didn’t like the feeling of being seen as suspicious one bit… but he would’ve been lying if he’d said that he also wasn’t feeling just a little bit intrigued. While working for himself as a restaurant reviewer was certainly enjoyable in its own right, he’d been dissatisfied with the rest of his life for a long time, now – since his father had left, really. There had always been a yearning underneath it all – for a complete family, for the ability to shift, for a sense of belonging. He’d never had a real purpose.
He still wasn’t sure that he had a purpose now, but hedidhave a mystery, and it was enough to awaken parts of him that had been asleep for a very long time. He suddenly knew that he wanted to find out exactly what was going on, and that it was going to be a challenge.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sir – I thought this table was empty.”
Startled, he looked up to see Sylvie standing next to him. Obviously he’d been running his powers a bit too high, and she hadn’t noticed his presence at all. He dialed them back down to a lower setting.
“I’m so sorry, but do you mind if someone shares the table with you?” she went on. “We’re all full.”
Yes, I mind,he wanted to say, but he wisely kept his mouth shut. He just had to finish his now-lukewarm tea, and then he could leave – the other person would barely have time to sit down before he’d be standing up.
“No, that’s fine,” he said, and Sylvie smiled.
“Thank you so much, sir,” she said. “Ma’am, if you’d like to take a seat, I’ll bring you your order.”
Sylvie moved aside, to reveal a radiant goddess in human form – or, as she was better known, Poppy. Tiny snowflakes perched on the top of her beret, struggling valiantly against thewarmth of the bakery, and her rebellious blonde curls sprang out from underneath, framing her gorgeous face, her flushed cheeks, her sparkling eyes.
Max tried very hard not to spray out the tea he’d just swallowed – and, somehow, succeeded. More or less, anyway. It certainly wasn’t his most dignified moment.
Poppy’s mouth dropped open into a perfect O.
“… Hi,” she said, clutching her table number tight against her chest.
“Hi,” Max said weakly. “How are you?”
“Oh, you two know each other? That’s great,” Sylvie said cheerfully. “I’ll leave the two of you to catch up!”
Poppy slid down into the other chair, biting her lip in what was obviously an entirely unconscious gesture, and also the most attractive thing Max had ever seen.
“Well,” she said eventually. “That was unexpected.”
“Yeah,” he said, even as he fought the most intense internal battle of his life.
Stay or go? You know you wanted to spend more time with her. Now’s your chance.
“Are you still eating?” Poppy asked. “I’m sorry, I don’t want you to feel like you have to get up and leave on my account. I can sit here quietly, if you like.”
She looked so uncertain that Max couldn’t stand it. In that moment, he made his decision.
“I’m still eating,” he said, indicating the minuscule dregs of tea left in his cup. “I’d like to stay here, if it won’t bother you.” He steeled himself. “And maybe… chat? If you’d like.”
Poppy’s face broke out into a brilliant smile, and Max knew he’d made the right choice.
“Iwouldlike.”
Chapter 7
Poppy had always thought that when people talked about twiddling their thumbs, it was metaphorical… but, as it turned out, that wasn’t the case. She was, in fact, literally twiddling her thumbs.
