Page 57 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

“Lucien said I was smart.” The words come out quieter than I intended. I fiddle with the edge of my napkin and immediately feel ridiculous for bringing it up. “Not just regular smart. He said maybe people should come to me for ideas.”

No one laughs.

Instead, Lark looks confused. “Why wouldn’t they?”

I blink at him. “What?”

“You’re good at figuring shit out.”

“Since when?”

“Since always?” Lark says.

Beau nods beside him. “When I moved to Hex, you knew everything. Who I needed to talk to, where I could stay, what places were safe, how everything worked. You made it less scary.”

“That’s different. I know Hex.”

“And people,” Wren adds. “You’re really good with people.”

Gabe takes another drink before setting his mug down. “You also basically keep Flutter and Fangs running whenever things get busy if Lark and Pike aren’t around. You just take charge. You know the regulars, the inventory, the schedule, who can cover what. You don’t have to be the person in charge to be good at seeing the whole picture.”

I stare at all of them. What the fuck? “You guys could have mentioned this before.”

Lark laughs and hooks an arm around my shoulders. “We thought you knew.”

“I did not!”

“Well, now you do.” He squeezes me before releasing me, and I try very hard not to get emotional over breakfast. My phone buzzes beside my plate, saving me. I grab it immediately.

Lucien: Good morning, pretty kitty.

My silly heart does a silly little flip.

Another message appears before I can answer.

Lucien: I have begun interviewing managers.

I sit straighter. “Oh!”

Everyone looks at me.

“Lucien’s hiring a manager.”

Gabe gives me a knowing look. “Did you tell him he needed one?”

“Maybe.” I stare at the message again. Last night I’d pointed out that he owned The Rot, managed The Rot, and still jumped behind the bar whenever someone called out. Apparently, he took that more seriously than I realized.

Beau smiles. “He listened to you.”

My thumb stills over my phone. He did. I told Lucien he couldn’t keep doing everything himself, and instead of laughing or telling me he knew his business better than I did, he listened. Warmth spreads through my chest.

Sparkle: Good. Maybe now the owner will stop trying to do every job himself.

The little typing bubble appears almost immediately.

Lucien: The owner is extremely talented.

I snort.