“You seem different today. Lighter. Has something happened?”
I resist the urge to tug at my nonexistent collar as my cheeks heat.
“Ohhh,” Malik draws out the word. “Somethinghashappened. You know I’m an excellent confidant, so spit it out. I must know what put that sweet smile on your face.”
The usual guilt at finding happiness in anything rears up, but I do my best to shove it aside. I’m allowed to find peace. I’m allowed to be happy. I’m allowed to be enthralled with the concept of dating two people, all of us together.
It’sokayto be happy. Sometimes I need to remind myself of that.
“Well,” I start. “I went on a real date with Dirk, and it was wonderful.”
Malik’s eyes flash, and he starts swishing his tail lazily from side to side. “Tell me everything.”
I fill him in on the meal at Herschel’s Fine Dining, but I leave out the whole throuple thing. Connall, Dirk and I haven’t had that conversation all together yet, and it seems like something that should happen before any of us tells the world about our connection. Although, knowing Dirk, it wouldn’t surprise me if he announced a haven-wide meeting just to make sure everyone knows. Dirk is the type to put that shit on a billboard.
Oh god, that is terrifying.
“I lost you,” Malik murmurs. “Are you going out again?”
I snort. “Is the sky blue? We didn’t make a specific plan, but you’ve seen how Dirk is. He could show up out of thin air any moment.”
“I’ve noticed,” Malik says with a soft laugh.
No fucking sooner have I said it than the bell hanging over the front door chimes. When I scoff, Malik raises a brow, and we turn as one.
Sure as shit, Dirk stands in the doorway, an innocent look on his face as he slips both hands into his pockets. “Yeh look like yeh were expectin’ me, Louanna.”
Malik and I share a look before he snorts out a horsey laugh and turns for the storeroom.
I shoot Dirk a meaningful look, glancing at the clock. “I’m here for another two hours, Dirk, and I’ve got a date with the gnomes after that.”
“I know,” he chirps. “I’m off to find Connall to see if he’d like to grab a beer.”
Oh fuck. He’s taking Connall on a date? I want to go with an intensity that steals my breath.
Like always, Dirk practically reads my thoughts. “Don’t worry, Louanna, I’m jest killin’ time between his last session and yer time with the gnomes. Once yeh’re done assistin’ them, I’m stealing the both of yeh for a bit.”
A muffled sneeze echoes from the storeroom, pulling my attention from Dirk.
He glances over at the storeroom door, where Malik’s tall shadow darkens the floor.
Dirk’s fingers trail along my jawline and then into my hair, canting my head slightly backward. “See yeh later, Louanna.” He brings my free hand to brush his lips, nuzzling softly along the back of my hand.
For a long moment, I’m lost in the depths of his intense, focused gaze. As quickly as he came, he spins to go, and then I get lost in staring at his fine ass and the way dark leather pants hug his muscular thighs.
I stare until the door swings quietly shut behind him, and then I stand in place for a moment, wondering if the gods are finally smiling down at me after a super shit six months.
“Ahem, Lou,” Malik’s voice echoes from the storeroom as he peeks his head around, concern on his face. “Your sleeping potion is boiling over.”
“Oh fuck!” I shout, spinning toward the cauldron.
Two hours later, I’ve cleaned up the boiled-over cauldron and bottled all of the sleeping potion. Every table is fully stocked and cleaned, and the store looks amazing. I’ve been tackling deep cleaning projects one at a time because, while Malik is an amazing potion maker, he’s not that great at cleaning. Moss is adorable in a cottagecore potions shop. Mold, not so much.
I push the cash register shut and wipe down the checkout counter as Malik joins me, slipping a bag over his broad chest. “Best of luck tonight with the gnomes, Lou.” His voice is wondrous as he grabs the front door and holds it open, gesturing for me to go through. “What an honor.”
“Everyone says that,” I say on a laugh, “when the reality is they literally want me to do hard labor. I’m not sure how honored I’m going to feel here shortly.”
Malik smiles as he locks the front door, handing me the ornate metal key since I’m opening in the morning. “Well, I can’t wait to hear about it. To be honest, word has gotten around, and it wouldn’t surprise me if you find half of the Hollow standing in the street watching.”
