My Sunrise Sunset Paramour (My Midnight Moonlight Valentine 2)

“Simone, leave me alone.” I groaned, grabbing the blankets and yanking them over my head.

“It’s almost noon! You’re going to be late for your shift at work!” she hollered as she tried to pull the covers away from me, but I just held on tighter.

“Five more minutes!”

“Five—Druella, do I look like your mom? I have to go to work, too. If you wanted to sleep in all day and not be bothered, why the hell did you come over to my apartment! Stay at home.”

“Axel wouldn’t leave me alone,” I grumbled, trying to bury my head in the pillow.

“You are turning twenty-six soon! Get your own place!”

“Stop nagging me!” I huffed, kicking my feet. “Why does everyone nag me!”

“Because you are a pain in the ass! And I am throwing water on you in five, four, three, two, one—”

I sat up quickly to freeze the water before it could touch me. However, there was none. Just a very annoyed Simone, standing beside the bed, dressed in her work pants and white blouse with her arms crossed as she glared at me.

“Why would I throw water at you knowing you’d most likely stop it and fling it back at me?” she asked before throwing me my spare toothbrush. “Now that you are up, get ready so we can go to work.”

I sighed, scratching my mess of curls.

“Come on, and get moving. Your spare clothes are in the bathroom,” Simone said as she left the bedroom.

Grumbling, I peeled my way out of bed, taking my toothbrush with me, and entered the bathroom only to be terrified of by my reflection.

“What in the…” I grabbed at my sorry excuse for hair and wanted to cry. The rest of my face was a mess, too, from the dried-up drool at the corner of my mouth to the sand in my eyes. I looked like some sort of creature. I’d taken a shower before I slept to save some time when I woke up, but now I was tempted to take another one.

“And don’t even think of taking a shower! We are going to be late if you do.” Simone’s voice trickled through the door.

“Yes, Mom!” I shot back, annoyed at how well she knew me. Well, not really annoyed—glad. God only knows how I’d make it some days without her. She wasn’t my mom, but often, it felt like she was my big sister.

I glanced at the clothes she’d folded and kept on the counter for me, along with deodorant, lotion, perfume, hair gel, and a hair tie. I really felt like she’d make a better circle leader than I did. She was good at taking care of others. Brushing my teeth, I did my best to forget about all things magic, throwing my hair into a bun before changing.

When I came out of the room, I could smell…waffles!

“May the goddess of magic bless you!” I cried out cheerfully as I entered her little kitchen to see the stack of waffles and cereal waiting for me.

“Hurry. We need to go,” Simone said as she poured coffee for herself.

“Yes—”

“Call me Mom again, and I will turn your food to ash,” she sneered.

I grinned, taking my seat and reaching over for the syrup happily. “So, how was your little date this morning?”

“It wasn’t a date,” Simone lied from behind her cup.

I rolled my eyes and took a healthy bite. “Sorry, I’m the spinster. What do people call it when a guy picks you up and takes you out?”

“We went for breakfast.”

“What a long breakfast. You weren’t even here when I got here early this morning, so what were you doing all that time?” I chewed, enjoying watching her trying to find a lie. She turned her head to the side and just shrugged.

“Nothing.”

I laughed. “You are a horrible liar, Simone.”

“Shut up!”