Page 16 of Novice Girlfriend

And that got us a lot of them handled faster.

She’d also implemented the way that we didn’t exclude student workers who were on shift during the treat truck times. Sergey had brought it up to Tracey, and Tracey had passed it to Rita. She’d immediately assigned one of her team to handle it with the university and businesses at the university.

That was the one time we were getting the colleges involved. They verified employment, their familiar type, and the student was allowed a pass to come during any other treat truck time no matter the school or location. It was that simple as long as people didn’t abuse the system and people worked with us.

Wild idea, right?

Part of me wanted to get updates while I was doing this, but that would take my focus. This was for me to get everything off my chest… But it was hard to do that without the updates?

It made me think of what my witch friend Kate had proposed, and I told Mrs. Reid that I thought it was important that people started looping her in so she could update me. That sounded a bit redundant, but she could filter it for me. Give me what I needed for when I needed it so I could use these times to get out and make decisions, not just be bogged down with details.

That was how CEOs did things, right?

When I was thirsty and wanted to stretch, I finished the skein I was working on and took in a deep breath. I blinked out at everything and then met her gaze.

“First, yes, that is how CEOs do things. It’s how Owen works with his aides. They filter and sort massive amounts of reports and information so he can get the brief ideas immediately and dig into what he wants or needs,” she told me. “So, excellent, and we can set that up.”

“That sounds nice,” I accepted. “Also, I want some familiars here when I do this. I think it would be helpful for the familiars who need the comfort, like Cheese and all of Taylor’s people, to hang here while I do this. They could always use the extra comfort.”

She studied me for a moment. “You could be less efficient in your magic if they soak that up.” She chuckled when I shrugged. “Of course you don’t care, I’m simply doing my job and warning you.”

I bounced that around. “Fair. Maybe not just a free-for-all. Once a week or something we rotate them—however it works.”

“Once a month is very generous,” she corrected. She held up her hand when I went to argue. “Now, let me check how we did.”

I knew she wasn’t taking credit for my magic or work by saying “we,” but letting me know I wasn’t alone in what I was feeling. It was nice actually.

Really nice.

“You are at a much better place,” she declared after checking me with her magic. “You need to de-stress. Heavily. However you do it. Your soaks. Treats. You have to cleanse your mood and stress right now. Your magic requires it, not just your emotional and mental health. So whatever is weighing on you—”

“Easier said than done,” I grumbled.

She snickered. “Yes, I know. Believe me, I know.”

Internally, I winced. Yes, if there was anyone who understood, it was the head of the council’s mate. Fair enough.

“What can you take off your plate? Take today and make that the priority. I will inform others that you are not doing sessions this week because they have weighed too heavily on you with the other traumas. You need to heal your emotional health before we break your magic.”

“That won’t go over well,” I worried.

Anger filled her eyes. “Then the selfish bastards can be cut off from the miracle they are receiving if they won’t appreciate you. We are over the way too many witches are abused.”

I couldn’t hide how touched I was. “Thank you, Laura.”

Her eyes flashed surprise that I used her first name, but she was acting like a protective aunt, not just my mentor. She understood and gave me a hug, kissing my hair.

“Do you have any suggestions?” I wondered.

“Yes. Several actually, but first, time to preen at how amazing you are.”

“How so?” I asked when we parted.

She gestured around the massive party room. “You did a third of them, Bevin.” She chuckled when my mouth dropped open. “Yes, that many. This helped, and I have—I will speak to Tracey. I think I know how to handle this and take fire off of her too. Trust we will do better by you.”

“I do.” I really did. The way she, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Moon, and especially Mrs. Oliveria threw down for me… They would do anything to protect me.

I knew that now.