Page 11 of Minnie

The words leave my mouth against my will. “Get them yourself.”

I try taking deep breaths to calm down. If I’m calm, Formula M will let me get the sprinkles. And then I won’t get fired from a job that I needed badly before the whole cruise problem, and now need even more.

Shit! My panic intensifies, which only makes Formula M double down. “And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Violet looks more shocked than offended. The gorgon, on the other hand, is looking at me like I’m worse than the dirt on the bottom of his sneakers. “Just add the goddess-forsaken sprinkles, Minnie.”

The way he says my name makes my heart race. And the fact that he obviously thinks low of me makes my chest ache. Which is how I end up crossing my arms in front of my chest.

“No.”

“Let me get this straight… you’re asking this lovely old lady to go all the way around the counter, to where you’re standing, so she can get the sprinkles and do your job for you?”

I wish I could take a page out of pre-pregnancy Amber’s book, shift into a mouse, and disappear.

Violet turns her glare on him. “Young man, I’m perfectly capable of walking around a counter.” And she proves it, with added vampire speed. She doesn’t even bother standing on tiptoe to reach the shelf, she jumps. Definitely for show. She adds the sprinkles and puts the container back.

I feel a wave of relief, followed by a distinct sense that my life is falling apart.

Formula M, being the pain in the butt that it is, forces me to roll my eyes at Violet. “See… that wasn’t so hard.”

She shakes her head. “You may want to rethink your career choices.”

And she isn’t wrong.

She also gives me an idea. Not to rethink my career choices, since there isn’t much I’m qualified to do. I’m a terrible barista. I suck at my waitressing job at Bob’s diner. And any time the temp agency sends me to work an event, I’m pretty bad at that, too. But maybe I can find another part-time gig I can hold down until I save up enough for the cruise.

I could also cut down on some expenses. Not Formula M or the invisibility spell, both of which I need to survive. But maybe a few of the other potions like Cloud 9 ½, which keeps my heels from hurting. I can tough it out for a week or two.

The door jingles again, and I don’t have to look up from what I’m doing to know it’s Julian. I can sense him from miles away. Literally. Since I have an internal radar that tells me where he is at all times.

My heart leaps in anticipation, even though I know for a fact that he’s mated to Amber, he’s madly in love with her, and he’ll never be mine. I don’t even want him to be mine, but the stupid curse forces me to react this way every time he’s around.

I used to think it was love. I used to believe Maude Montgomery when she told me we were meant to be. But now I know the truth. I’m not actually into Julian, she just decided he’d make the perfect son-in-law and took matters into her own meddling magical hands.

The indignation mixed with rage bubble up like they always do, but Formula M doesn’t let me bunch my hands into fists or scowl at Julian. Instead, I find myself batting my eyelashes as I sweetly calling out, “Julian, I’m so glad you’re here.”

I wish you were anywhere but here! Well, so long as you don’t leave town… because if you do, I’ll be forced to follow, and right now I really can’t afford to.

He smiles. “Hi, Minnie. Hope it hasn’t been too busy while we were gone.”

I don’t know how he manages to sound so polite and chill, but he does. His bluish-gray eyes meet mine across the cafe, and I can’t help but think how attractive he is. It’s those thick eyelashes, messy blond hair, and athletic build.

I can’t even hate him, because he’s such a nice guy. He’s never once yelled at me for flirting at him, or told me to get lost and stay away from him and Amber—who’s practically my only friend in this town. And he’s never looked annoyed, or shot me pitying looks, or made me feel bad for being cursed to chase him for all eternity.

I bat my eyelashes some more. “Why don’t you have a seat? I’ll make you any drink you want.”

Please don’t sit down. Leave. Go upstairs and find Amber and let this embarrassing purgatory come to an end.

“I can’t stay.” Julian’s words fill me with acute relief, even if I can’t actually show it. “Chase and I have a surprise for Amber.”

Chase? I glance past Julian for the first time and realize that the bunny shifter is standing behind him with a large box. How did I miss that?

And how did I not notice that the gorgon’s no longer paying attention to his phone? He’s scowling at me instead.

Chapter 7

Minnie