Page 8 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

I wave my hand. “Please, I’m just here to enjoy some pastries and apologize to Sparkle.”

Sparkle seems to turn in on himself. “You’re just here to make fun of me.” He grabs one of his friends’s hands and the group follows him to a table in a back corner by a big window. The friend with the headphones pulls their sunglasses down and winks at me. Strange. Endearing, but strange.

“I didn’t mean to make a ruckus,” I say.

The demon shakes his head. “No need to apologize. I don’t know what happened last night, but I’ve never seen Sparkle act like that.”

The white-haired Fae shakes their head. “Never.”

“I’ll make it up to him. Which one of you is Wick?” I ask.

The demon raises his hand.

“Either of you ever been to Faerie Good Coffee in Evansville?”

Wick shakes his head. “I don’t venture out to the human realm all that much. My partner has to make me charms to hide my demon features.”

I turn to the Fae.

They shake their head. “Wren, and no. I stick to Hex. I don’t like glamouring away my wings.”

“Well, I’m excited to try your treats. I’ll take one of everything.”

They both blink back at me. “Everything?”

Wren looks around and nods. He rushes to the backroom and when he comes back, he has boxes and bags piled in his arms. “Might take a bit of time. Please have a seat, and we’ll let you know when everything’s ready.”

And wouldn’t you know it? The only table available is the one next to Sparkle and his friends.

5

SPARKLE

Oh, that conniving demon! He sits next to our table. Not that there are other tables, but he could be a decent person and not sit next to us.

Beau laughs before slapping his hand over his mouth. I can’t see his eyes behind the sunglasses, but I know he’s rolling them or trying to get a good look at Lucien.

“He seems very nice,” Gabe says. “I know a thing or two about misunderstandings.”

Beau nods and picks at a napkin. We didn’t get the chance to order our breakfast because I stomped away from the counter.

Lark tips his head toward the demon. “It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him, would it?”

“Well, no,” I say. “But now I’m just being stubborn.” Because I’ve embarrassed myself by overreacting. It’s very sweet that Lucien said I was right yesterday. But now I just want my breakfast and to run back home. The demon is too attractive. Way, way too attractive. What does he really want with little ol’ me?

Beau knocks his shoulder into mine and nods toward Lucien. Reluctantly, I look. The demon laughs with his friends, but I can’t get invested in their conversation. Lucien is just getting treats, and he’ll be back in the human realm in no time.

My phone buzzes.

Wren: Does everyone want the usual? I’ll grab it before we finish his order.

Bless this Fae. I ask the group, and they all agree. Wren shoots back a thumbs up. At least we’ll get something in our rumbling tummies, and Lucien won’t get it all.

Beau bounces in his chair when Wren walks toward us with a tray full of food. I can feel Lucien’s eyes on me while we pass around our breakfast.

Wren turns to the demon. “We gotta make sure our best customers are taken care of, but never fear. Your order is almost done.” For some reason, he gives an elegant bow before he leaves.

I just roll my eyes.