Page 5 of Hexed & Hazy

I step out of the boutique, and my phone buzzes again. Still Seth.

I groan, finally looking at the texts.

Seth

Can I see you?

A few moments later.

Seth

It’s an emergency.

And then, a few seconds later.

Seth

Ro?

What kind of emergency could Seth possibly have? He’s not like my sisters. He may manage the Botanical Brew, but he doesn’t own a business. No need for an accountant. He has no magical fires for me to put out, either literal or metaphorical. Seth has been a family friend for as long as I can remember. A human. Simple. Soft.

I don’t have time for more drama, and I should tell him as much, but my fingers move without permission.

Me

Meet me at Lupine.

Gods damn it all.

My mood is no better when I enter Lupine Apothecary. This is where all the witches—and some others—come for their magical supplies. Jars of herbs and bottles of elixirs line shelves, while flowers and more herbs hang from the walls. A little black cat slinks closer as I step inside, winding himself around my legs.

I bend over to scratch just behind his ears.

“Good afternoon,” Ozan, the owner and my brother-in-law, says in his best customer service voice.

Ozan is more competent than some, so I’m patient with him. I still help him with the books, but he has experience in marketing and business. He’s decent at fixing things, too, whether it’s the internet or a broken heater.

That doesn’t mean he won’t enlist me for help. When my family apothecary closed down, I offered my astral charms to him. It’s a good way to stay connected to my magic even when work has me too busy to practice as much as I’d like.

After my mother passed, I was the one with the best-paying job. It was natural for me to start working more, helping around the house as much as I could. Now, my sisters are all doing better for themselves, but old habits die hard.

And their success means more work for me.

“I have the charms.” I set the bag on his table and straighten up. “Sorry, I’m late. I know.”

“It’s all good.” He flashes me a bright smile, brighter than most people could muster after a hard day of work.

At least he and I have that in common: a good work ethic is often hard to come by, and I respect those who have it. Like Juniper. Ozan. And Seth.

I look over my shoulder, half expecting him to join us, but he’s nowhere to be seen. There’s no controlling the tingle in my heart at the thought of his appearance; I swiftly push it off. The charms clink and jingle as Ozan looks through them: crystals for various purposes, teaspoons to charm a drink, and bronze bells to chase away malevolent spirits.

“The intentions are labeled,” I say.

“Wouldn’t expect anything less from you. I’ll send your payment over tonight.”

“Thank you.”

I rock back, shoving my hands into my cardigan pockets.