Page 12 of Small Town Girl

I hand it over to Zach. He flips it over a few times, inspects it closely, then brings it to his mouth.

“You’re not going to fucking bite that,” I tell him, snatching it out of his hand. “You don’t even fucking know why people bite coins.”

“I do, too. Besides, it was a joke. Geez, you’re testy today. What’d she give you that for?”

I start to tell him about last night, but he stops me just as I describe Nollaig. “Get dressed, get some ibuprofen, and get to work, then tell me. That way you don’t have to repeat it fifty million times.”

“Why the fuck would I have to tell anyone else?”

He snatches the coin from my hand, flips it in the air, and catches it with a grin. “Because your girl left you a fae coin.”

I pinch the back of my neck at the base of my skull and blink, trying to keep my eyes open despite the pain. “What are you talking about?”

He just hits me hard on the back as he stands. “I’m going to call Darla and let her tell you the bad news.”

I’m sitting at the bar an hour later, flipping the coin in my right hand, staring into space when Darla finally makes it in. Randy and Zach stare at me tight-lipped, disapproval on their faces, while Zane ignores us all as he scrolls his phone at my side.

“You said you had a fae problem?” Darla asks them.Zach points to me, and her eyes hone in on the coin in my hand.

“Where the hell did you get that?” she asks, something akin to horror in her voice.

“Get what?”

“That coin.”

I sigh, not looking forward to rehashing that tale for a woman who’s like an aunt to me. Bad enough I need to go hit up the clinic and get tested for everything under the sun because I’m a fucking moron.

“A girl he raw dogged gave it to him,” Zane provides helpfully.

I run a hand over my face, looking around to make sure we don’t have too many eavesdroppers. “Thanks, man.”

He grins. “I’m here for you.”

“Not just any girl, a fae,” Zach adds.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” Darla says, leaning closer to the coin but refusing to touch it.

“Exactly?” I repeat, wondering just how much of a play-by-play she’s looking for.

“Notthatpart, the rest of it. The PG part, but don’t leave out any details.”

“The place was dead last night. I sent everyone home except Eddie and Steely. Then a girl walked in dressed all in green.”

Darla sucks a breath in through her teeth.

“She was gorgeous, blonde curls, freckles. She had a bit of an Irish accent. It was slow, and we talked all night. She came home with me, and I must have been on something because we didn’t use protection. And now I need to get tested for everything under the sun.”

“You’re clean,” she says, sounding irritated, but doesn’t explain. “How did you get that? What kind of deal did you make?”

“Deal? I didn’t make a deal.” I stop talking as it dawns on me. “Fuck, she said she wanted to bring her family and plant crops. I thought she was bullshitting. How would you plant crops back there unless you’re–”

“A fae the size of a coin?” Zane offers.

I make a face at him.

“Not just any fae, a clurichaun,” Darla says.

“You mean a leprechaun?” Zane interrupts.

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