“No clue. Maybe two years?” Jade supplied, alternating guzzling down her post-workout elixir and sipping at the coffee she’d just ordered.
“Don’t even worry about her though. You’ll get to know all the others. Aurora makes it her business to include every witch in the neighborhood,” Ivy said with a chuckle.
“Her husband is the DA, and she’s the president of basically every neighborhood and school organization.” Jade nodded over her shoulder to the massive house that stood out among the rest. It dwarfed the ones on our street and the cul-de-sac and was much larger than the others on Blessed Crescent. “You could say they are couple goals.”
Modern glass windows encased the middle level, showcasing an extravagant living area and kitchen. An onyx table ran the length of the window spanning the dining room. It was beautiful and bold, fully on display for all the neighbors to see. The rest of the house was shrouded in glamorous black siding, only the deep-purple door and a silver star in a windowsill standing out against it.
I rested Aspen on my shoulder, rubbing his back until he elicited a satisfied burp. Then I strapped him back into his stroller, looking once more at the magnificent 5 Blessed Crescent. How nice it must be to have it all together. To live in such a picturesque home.
When we strolled back in the direction of our respective houses, I pulled out my phone, checking once again to see if Hazel or the police department had called or texted.
Nothing.
I heard a shout from behind me. “Midnight!”
Hopping out from Café au Luna’s truck, the broody brewista strode toward the bench we had been sitting at, Aspen’s muslin blanket laying there. I met him halfway with my stroller and watched while he folded it with near perfect precision. Then he came and handed it to me, our hands grazing before he recoiled. It was subtle, but still noticeable.
My breath caught at his reaction and I waited for some magic to hit me. Did he burn me with a flame ability? Or did he see that terrifying future for me like Hazel had?
“My name’s Oakley.” I laughed, still embarrassed from earlier and trying to play off the confusing moment.
“I know.” He kept his gaze averted, the hand that had touched me held by the other.
“Well, thanks,” I said, giving him a half smile, half grimace before pivoting and speed walking to catch up with Jade and Ivy.
Odd.
When I glanced back in his direction, he was watching me warily, but there was something akin to awe in the way his evergreen eyes sparkled. It was basically the opposite of being disgusted by me, like his reaction suggested, and I wondered what had happened when he touched me…
Chapter5
Oakley
After a sleepless night followed by a lazy morning, I decided enough was enough.
Yes, Hazel had disappeared for days before, regaling me with her carnal exploits, but she’d never gone this long without responding to a text message. I didn’t care how good this guy was, no one was that good.
No reason could outweigh my gut feeling that something wasn’t right. Not when Hazel was usually attached to her phone in case she heard from clients. She kept portable chargers in her purse, and one in her car, at all times. Her phone was basically an extension of her.
Where the hell are you, Hazel?
I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and sent off the text I’d been avoiding. Maybe she’d make fun of me for overreacting later, but I’d exhausted all the rationale my frazzled mind could muster.
About ten minutes later, adingcame from my phone, a text popping up on the screen that Lynx would be arriving in two minutes.
Shit. That was less of a warning than I thought he’d give me.
I unlocked the door and then carried Aspen over to the bouncer then scurried into the bathroom, quickly brushing down the loose wisps of hair before checking for any massive stains on my T-shirt.
Why was I even primping myself? Lynx didn’t see me like that.
But, for whatever reason, I did it regardless.
The door groaned open, making me freeze. I took a deep breath, and with one last glance in the mirror, I headed out into the hallway. Lynx was in light-gray,fittedsweatpants with a Luna’s coffee cup clutched in each hand, like an incubus sent to lure me to my ruin.
Settle down, Oakley.He’s just being neighborly because he took pity on you.
No wonder he had so many private clients. One look at him in those and I was about to ask if he had any openings in his schedule, despite the fact that I could barely move after yesterday’s class.
