He winked, shattering the tenseness between us.
I relaxed, and he smiled ruefully as he reluctantly let my chin go.
He backed off, giving me space, then raised his voice to call to the women. “Don’t worry, Orrin is just shy. He’ssohappy to escort you! Now, why don’t you tell him all about the party you attended earlier today? Don’t leave out a single detail!”
“It was Friendsgiving—you know, Thanksgiving with friends?” Jess said. “Our friend Ryan hosted. We had it today so everyone would be free on actual Thanksgiving Day—we’re eating with our cousins.”
I focused on the conversation with determination, using it to ground myself.Thanksgiving—it’s near the end of the month.
It was a nice reminder that we were getting uncomfortably close to the twenty-eight-day mark since Gisila had tried attacking Tutu’s.
I glanced up at the sky when the moon peeked between some clouds.
I wonder if she’ll try something again.
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Considine
Jade gave me the side eye as she unbuckled her seat belt. “After we get our drinks, you promise we’ll go to Tutu’s?”
“Of course. I agreed to that before we left.” I said. “Am I so disreputable you don’t think I’ll keep my word?”
“Yes,” Jade bluntly said.
I thought for a moment, then agreed. “You’re probably right. However, you forget, I am just as invested as you are in making certain Gisila doesn’t send goons out to Tutu’s Crypta & Custodia.”
Tonight marked the end of a moon cycle, which historically was when Gisila made her biggest attempts to break into Tutu’s.
There was no sign the winged lizard was back in town, yet. However, given the hassle she’d been, I didn’t want to take any risks.
“That’s true.” Jade’s expression was thoughtful.
“I merely suggested we stop and procure a hot drink first to sustain us in the chilly weather,” I said.
Jade’s frown was back. “Cold weather doesn’t affect you.”
I rolled my eyes. “You have seen right through me. How dare I attempt to be polite and infer that I, too, could use a hot beverage instead of confessing I’m worried about you freezing.”
Jade rested her hand on the car dashboard. “Oh. I get it. Um…thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you.” She flashed me a small smile before she opened the door and slipped out.
Thoughtful isn’t exactly what I was going for, but I guess it’s a start.
I slid out of the driver’s seat, locked my car, then followed Jade into my chosen location for our date-even-if-Jade-didn’t-know-it-was-a-date, Queen’s Court Café.
A bell attached to the door rang as we entered.
Jade—ever the professional—did an immediate scan of the place, likely looking for alternative entrances and exits.
With American Thanksgiving over, the café had swapped to winter decorations even though the month wasn’t finished.
Two artificial Christmas trees a little shorter than Jade were arranged in the corners of the shop—one was white and decorated in a night sky theme with glittery moon and star ornaments, while the other was a traditional evergreen and covered in animal ornaments.
A chalkboard held a list of the café’s seasonal drinks—winter moonwhite mocha, royal gingerbread latte, frosted castle creamer, and a peppermint pony cup—which looked like it was a cup of whipped cream covered with crushed peppermints and meant for actual horses based on the pony chalk drawing next to it on the board. Despite the café having a drive through, I questioned if many café goers trailered their horses in for the occasion.
Jade approached the desk, her shoulders rising as she mustered her courage to make her order. She was fine ordering at any of our traditional haunts, but as she was neither a bigcoffee or tea fan she hadn’t visited Queen’s Café more than once or twice.
