Page 89 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

“Put me down, put me down!” Talula laughed. Dahlia attempted to spin the captive Talula, but instead toppled them both, laughing, into the grass. Dahlia’s arm still slung easily over Talula. They were so close, almost nose-to-nose. Talula could feel Dahlia’s chest heave against her own with every burst of laughter.

“You did this. You made all of this happen,” Talula said breathlessly.

“You’re the magic one.” Dahlia’s toothy smile beamed in the dark October night. “I just do the organizing.”

The words soared through Talula, bright as starlight. Talula’s gaze fell to Dahlia’s mouth. She watched the way Dahlia’s lips softened, parting just so, before a cold nose interjected between the two of them. Simon had thrust his snout between their faces, breaking the spell.

“Hi, Simon—feeling left out?” Dahlia laughed, sitting up cross-legged. She scritched Simon under his chin. “By the way, what happened to you today? I thought you were going to come by and go over the new vendor list with me this afternoon.”

The incident with Damien flashed into Talula’s mind, and ice chilled her veins. She swallowed. She’d been playing dangerously close to the truth these days with Dahlia. But she couldn’t keep this from her.

“Kiki’s ex came into the café looking for them.” Talula hugged her arms around herself, eyes locked on a damp spot on her jeans. “He…was not nice about it.”

The scintillating air of victory evaporated between them. Dahlia set a warm hand on Talula’s knee. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Talula filled Dahlia in (without mentioning any magical recipes). When she was through, Dahlia scooted closer. “How do you feel?”

Huh. Talula realized no one had asked her that. After the full, action-packed Saturday, she suddenly felt hollowed out. “Tired. Mad at myself.”

“Why?” Dahlia asked gently.

“I said ‘I’m sorry.’ ” Talula covered her face with her hands. “To get him out, I said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to leave.’ Why did I have to apologize? Why did I have to make myself smaller?”

“Don’t you dare, Talula.” She cupped Talula’s face, holding her gaze with an intensity that sent shivers all over Talula’s skin. “Don’t you dare feel bad for saying what you needed to say to protect a friend and get out of there safely. He’s the one who should be ashamed. He’s the one who hurt Kiki and tried to make you afraid. He’s the biggest piece of shit that ever shot out of an ass.”

Talula let out a half laugh. “That’s disgusting.”

“Yes, he is. But you’re wonderful.” She pulled Talula into a hug and whispered into her hair, “Thank goodness for mangoes.”

Talula could’ve let Dahlia hold her all night, but Simon grumbled pointedly.

“Thanks.” Talula drew away from Dahlia slowly.

“You going to be okay tonight?”

“Yeah, I’ve got my fierce protector.” Talula jutted her head toward Simon, who puffed out his chest with a proud hrmph.

“Good.” Dahlia got to her feet, then offered her hand to Talula. “Do me a favor? Make your bodyguard a big steak for biting the guy?”

“Absolutely.” Talula let Dahlia pull her up.

“Beautiful.” Dahlia’s deep eyes were locked on Talula’s face. “I’ll see you tomorrow, witchy woman. And don’t you suffer any fools!”

“Don’t suffer any fools?” Talula questioned with a wry smile.

“I don’t know, I read it on a meme or something.” Dahlia started to jog away backward. “But it sounds epic. Like you!”

Talula waved until the night swallowed Dahlia up and she and Simon were alone with the stars, the green, and the Magic Box. They started to walk home in silence. Talula replayed Dahlia’s touches and words over and over again in her head, clinging to the residual warmth of her hug.

After a few blocks, Simon spoke, his voice low and measured. “You never told your mother, did you? About your romantic entanglement?”

Talula shook her head. For a few moments, she listened for Simon’s reply but could only hear the mismatched sounds of their footsteps against the pavement and the wind rustling lazily through dry leaves.

Finally, Simon asked, “Will you tell her in person?”

Asked. Not ordered. Talula chewed on the request, on what she would be risking if she told her mother about Dahlia. She couldn’t imagine her days without Dahlia. But Dahlia didn’t deserve to be treated like a dirty secret. “Yes. I’ll tell her in person.”

“Good,” Simon said. “I’m glad.”