Page 21 of Just Like Magic

“Thesize of my head, you say?Leadon.”

NINE

AutumnandHazelwalked down the sidewalk made of interlocking red brick and reached a cute building clad in white shiplap style siding with two doors standing side by side in the middle of it.Aboveone hung the sign forYouLittleTart, with its adorable pie-face logo and orange script.Thedoor beside it was emblazoned with a soft yellow coffee cup covered in pink hearts with the nameDejaBrewCoffeeShopCo. beneath it.Hazelcould see customers sitting at cozy looking tables, large mugs cradled in their hands.

Hermouth started to water the second they stepped inside the bakery.Thescents of cinnamon, chocolate and fresh-baked buttery bread filled the air, and she pulled in a deep breath.

“Itsmells like heaven in here,” she said toAutumn, who nodded.Thefar right side of the store was taken up with enormous display cases, all softly glowing and showcasing the treats within.Hazelstepped closer, drooling over the pumpkin swirl bread, the cinnamon muffins, the pumpkin pies with intricate pastry leaves, the cranberry white chocolate chip cookies bigger than the palm of her hand.

Tothe left of the display cases was a wooden counter where customers could place their order.Anenormous black chalkboard hung on the wall behind it, listing what was available.Thewalls were covered with art—an eclectic mix of paintings and photographs of varying sizes and shapes.Belowthe counter, wooden crates housed other items for sale—local jams,YouLittleTartbranded cake and muffin mixes, branded tote bags, even a small collection of candles with scents inspired by the shop’s treats.

“Hey,Autumn!” shouted a woman from behind the counter.Herlong dark brown hair was swept up into a high ponytail, with her long bangs almost obscuring her eyes.Shewore a dark blueT-shirt with the shop’s logo on it, and when she smiled, it was wide and bright, showcasing the slight gap between her front teeth.

AutumntuggedHazelover to the counter. “Hey!” she called out. “We’rehere for lunch.Wewere going to have sandwiches but then decided cinnamon rolls were a better choice.”

Laurellaughed. “You’rein luck.Ijust pulled a batch of pumpkin walnut ones out of the oven.”Sheturned her attention toHazeland then extended her hand across the counter after wiping it on the khaki colored apron tied around her waist. “Hey,I’mLaurel.”

“Hazel.I’mstaying at theShephardInn.”

“Ooh, lucky you.I’mnot sure what’s better.Theview of theHighlands, or the view ofAdamShephard.”Hereyebrows bounced andHazellaughed.Shehad to agree, because both the scenery and the hotel’s owner were equally appealing.

Laurelgestured toward an empty table that had just opened up beside the rain spattered window, andHazelandAutumnhurried over before someone else snagged it.Afew minutes later,Laurelappeared with two plates, each bearing an absolutely mouthwatering cinnamon roll that smelled like heaven.Hazelwas pretty sure she was drooling.

“Ihave a few things to finish up, but…Oh, look who it is,” she said, waving as an identical carbon copy of herself stepped inside.Forsome reason, whenAutumnhad mentioned thatLaurelandSiennawere twins,Hazelhad assumed that they weren’t identical, but they clearly were.Theonly difference in their appearance was their hairstyle.WhereLaurel’swas long and dark with a thick fringe of bangs,Sienna’swas a lighter coppery color, shorter, and without bangs.Thankfully, it made them easy to distinguish.

“Oh, no,” saidSiennaas she approached whereHazelandAutumnwere sitting. “Oh, this won’t do at all.Hangon.”Sheheld up a finger and then dashed back out the door.

“What…” startedHazel, just asLaurelpulled up a chair to join them.

“She’sgoing to get coffee,” she said easily. “So,Hazel.Whatbrings you toGossamerFalls?”

“Well, a few things.Thebeautiful views, obviously.Butmainly,I’mhere to work on my book.”

“Areyou a writer?” askedLaurel, leaning in eagerly. “SiennaandIare both total bookworms.”

Hazelgrinned, happy to have a way to dodge the question.Afew years ago, she’d been so thrilled to talk to anyone and everyone about her career, her books, her process.Nowtalking about it felt like poking a bruise, dull and vaguely painful.

“Whatkind of books do you like to read?”

“Mostlysmutty romance,” saidLaureleasily. “AnaHuang,LaurenAsher,LucyScore,ElsieSilver.”

“She’sleaving out the monster and alien porn,” saidSienna, who’d returned in record time with four paper coffee cups emblazoned withDejaBrew’scute logo.Shelifted them one by one out of the tray, then reached into her pocket and unceremoniously dumped sugar and milk packets onto the table before sinking down into the remaining vacant chair. “Hey,” she said, nodding atHazel. “Youmust beHazel.I’mSienna.Autumnhas already told me so much about you.”

Hazelblushed slightly, but before she could think of what to say—thankGod, because she was painfully out of practice when it came to getting to know people and friendships and, well, fun—Laurelpointed atSiennawith a stir stick.

“Please, you’re the one who got me reading that stuff.”Sheturned toHazel, eyebrows once again bouncing. “Ifyou like alien peen, you need to readIcePlanetBarbarians,” she said, nodding sagely.

“Ican honestly sayI’venever read, um, alien peen, but color me intrigued.”

“Hazel’sactually a pretty famous author,” saidAutumn.

“Really?” the twins asked in unison, and once again, beforeHazelcould speak,Autumnspoke for her.

“ShewroteARevelationofEnchantment,” saidAutumn.

“Seriously?” squealedSienna, slapping her coffee cup back down on the table and then helping herself to a torn off hunk ofAutumn’scinnamon bun. “OhmyGod, so good,” she mumbled as she chewed.

“Um, yeah,” saidHazel.Sheshifted in her seat, feeling uncomfortable with the attention, with the weight of eyes and expectations on her.Itstruck her then that these women were younger than her—Autumnby a good ten years,LaurelandSiennaby a little less—but she felt young sitting with them, and not in a good way.Youngin an immature, inexperienced, what amIeven doing here way.

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