Page 69 of The Minotaur's Valentine

Georgia, the bubbling blonde who must have coffee flowing in her veins because she is always here and never exhausted, rushes to my side. She looks around the coffee shop which is peaceful and mostly empty during the mid-morning lull, then grabs a bunch of napkins and wipes them across the floor. The spill is gone. Then she does the same to the counter. It’s sparkling.

“Wh-what? How? Wow!”

Georgia laughs. “I can use the charmed napkins when there isn’t a big crowd. You’re dating Milo, so you’re in the know now.” She winks and waves, blonde curls bobbing around her bright peach cheeks.

I follow her. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anyone who buys as much coffee as you do is entitled to one question a day.”

“Just one, huh?” I laugh and Georgia beams. My nerves loosen. “You... you’re human, but your brother isn’t, is that right?” I ask in a soft undertone.

Her smile leaves. “We’re both half-Orc, but I got the nature magic and Georgie got the looks.”

“So Georgie is—”

“Giant, green, and not even slightly jolly. Well, unless he’s watching Cutthroat Kitchen reruns. He loves watching other chefs smack talk each other.”

“Cool. Cool.” My throat is boa constrictor tight. I asked one question, so the others will have to wait. “Well. Uh. Bye until tomorrow.”

“Wait.” Georgia gestures to an empty table for two near the pastry case. “Was that it?”

“No, but I only get one question a day so—”

“Oh, honey. I was kidding. Sit down. Tell me what’s up.” Her face becomes grave. “Is it Milo?”

“No! Yes. He’s not the problem. He’s wonderful. He’s too good to be true. That’s a red flag. I avoid red flags. Whoever thought that having so many green flags could be a red flag?” I hiss furiously into my half-empty coffee cup.

“Whoa, whoa. Milo has too many green flags, and that’s making you nervous?”

I shrug. It sounds stupid out loud. “You know how it is. When something seems too good to be true, it obviously is.”

Georgia looks thoughtful. A customer pushing a stroller comes in and Georgia pushes her chair back. “Let me take care of this. But while I’m gone—think about something. You’re dating someone you can’t openly date outside of Pine Ridge or a few other communities. People would lock you up if you told them you were dating a minotaur. Those horns are going to get caught on something. If you have tile—prepare for a lifetime of hoof scuffs. And babies... Well. He or she could end up like me, or like Georgie, or somewhere in between. There might not be any red flags, honey, but there are plenty of caution signs.”

While Georgia goes off to the counter, I let myself stew over her words.

No. It’s not ideal to be with Milo. I know that, but... I don’t care. I want to stay in Pine Ridge, so I don’t think the outside world matters all that much. Most humans are clueless and unobservant, according to the supernatural community. I sure was.

But there are some things that I can’t avoid. If I married Milo...

If we had kids...

What would they look like? Would they be bullied? Teased? Would we have to hide them? Enchant them?

Or would they look totally human in all the ways that mattered?

What if my genes barely registered and they looked like a minotaur? Would I be the one shunned?

A tear slides into my coffee cup, making a hole in what’s left of the froth.

These aren’t red flags. These are stop signs. This is why I should walk away from a wonderful, wonderful person that I’m falling in love with.

I wipe my eyes roughly with a napkin and drain my coffee—then wish I hadn’t. Too hot.

I fling back my chair, causing heads to turn.

Bad Reputation is blaring in my head. I swagger in my scrubs, pretending I’m Joan Jett. I don’t give a damn about what other people say I should do. If the only reason to leave Milo is because the world says it’s wrong to be with him?

Then I’m down to stay.

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