Kristy’s lips part, and her brows go up. “You know, most people would ease that kind of information onto someone. Or at least warn me to sit down first.”
I shrug. “It’s so much easier to just say things as they are.” I let out a breath and watch the dagger disappear from Julian’s hand. “But I wanted to straighten up and check on things, which is probably why you’re here?”
“Yeah. I forgot to call Vanessa and Clark to tell them not to come in this evening. Do you think we should stay closed?”
I let out a breath. “I don’t know. Ruth is probably pissed as fuck right now.”
“Pissed as fuck?” Julian repeats in question.
“She’s really mad,” I quickly explain. “Did you happen to talk to Ruby this morning?” I ask Kristy.
“Yes, she filled me in on everything. We’re getting closer. We will find her, Callie.”
I glance at Julian. “He might have a way to locate her. Ruth is probably cloaking herself with dark magic, and Julian’s boss, I suppose could say, might be able to help find her.”
“Does she know about you?” Kristy’s blue eyes fill with concern.
“No,” Julian answers. “Nor will she.”
“Okay. Good. Because I don’t want to have to threaten an angel,” Kristy starts with a smile. “But Callie is my best friend.”
“I love you, but you suck at the threats,” I say with a smile, and Kirsty hugs me.
“I’ll try to channel you more next time.”
“That’s a good idea.” We break apart.
“The store looks good,” Kristy says as we walk out of the office. “And the warding is strong. Maybe we should open.”
“Julian and I can manage until Vanessa and Clark get here, and I’ll send one of my familiars over to keep an eye on things,” I offer. “You can go home.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
I shake my head. “They’re coming in at two?”
“Yeah.”
I look at Julian, making sure he doesn’t mind. “Then we’ll stay. Go home…or go back to Evander.” I wiggle my eyebrows, and Kristy shakes her head.
“I’ll go get coffee. How’s that? Want anything to eat, too? I’m starving.”
“I’ll pass on the coffee,” I say, wrinkling my nose and putting my hand over my stomach. “I think the stress is getting to me. Or maybe my liver is finally protesting after all these years from consuming mass amounts of alcohol.”
“You should eat,” Julian tells me. “You haven’t yet today.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “A muffin from Curlew’s would be good.”
“That’s all you want?” Kristy asks.
“Yeah. A blueberry muffin with those big sugar crystals sounds really good now that I’m thinking about it. With butter, of course.”
“I’ll be right back, then,” Kristy says with a smile. We all walk to the front of the store together. I undo the stay-away spell, and Kristy turns on the open sign. “You sure you want to stay?” She flicks her eyes to Julian.
“Yeah. We’ll be fine.” I look at my cousin. “Right?”
“Yes,” he says with a curt nod. “I like to watch humans.”
“Don’t refer to people as humans when they’re in earshot,” I say, internally wincing. Though as awkward as Julian will be, no one is going to accuse him of being an angel, that’s for sure. “I’ll say I’m training him, and he’ll hang out with me by the register. And if anyone gets too curious, he can do angel-tricks to make them go away.”
“I can,” Julian agrees.
“Now go,” I tell Kristy. “I really want that muffin.”
She smiles. “Fine. I’ll be right back.”
I hurry into the office and get a drawer for the cash register as soon as Kristy leaves. A few customers come in right after that, and Julian stands back, watching us curiously. I introduce him as a friend from out of town. A few people in Thorne Hill know I came from the Martins, and saying a random cousin showed up is cutting it too close to the truth.
The time actually goes by fast, and I feel better once I get some food in me. I call Lucas when we’re leaving right around two in the afternoon and swing by Suzy’s Café to get a burger and fries. I eat half of it in the car on the way home.
“I can sense Alona,” Julian says as soon as we pull into the driveway. “I will go to her and then come back.” Without another word, he disappears from the car.
I take my foot off the gas and look at the empty passenger seat. “I so need to learn how to do that.”
Parking to the side of the house, I grab my takeout bag and head inside.
“Honey, I’m home!” I call when I get inside. Scarlet comes running, little tail wagging fast. “Yes, I got food for you all.”
Lucas comes out of the office. “Where’s Feathers?”
“Talking to another angel. He’ll be back.” I shake my head, eyes wide. “That’s so weird to say.”