Page 4 of Mochas and Minotaurs

“Damn. Do you want me to come over and give you a hand? I’m done with work, and I ain’t got nothing to do. Honestly man, without the gym, I’ve got no life.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, come by. I could use some help. But you’re not going to believe who my neighbor is.”

“Who?”

“Remember the cute little witch I took home two weekends ago?”

“No way! The redhead?”

“She dyed her hair black.” And it looks fucking hot on her. “But yeah, her.”

“Damn. No wonder you’re distracted. But that’s a good thing, right? You liked her.”

I didn’t reply. I liked her, yes. But that was before she disappeared on me the next morning. And even if she hadn’t, it wasn’t like I was in the position for anything serious. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us if I tried.

The sound of Declan’s motorcycle starting up came through the speakers. “I’ll see you in ten.”

Chapter 3

Griselda

“So you’re saying thatthe hottie from the bar is on the other side of that wall?” Lily asked with wide eyes from the screen on my dining table.

I didn’t worry that she was practically screaming her question because I knew Marcus wouldn’t be able to hear her. I had my place locked up tight with magic wards and barriers. None of the words from our three-way video call between Penny, Lily, and I would make it to the other side.

“Yep,” I said, taking another sip of my Sauvignon Blanc. “But I’d like you to remember that I totally ghosted him in the morning without saying bye or exchanging numbers, and I think he’s a little bit pissed.” Okay, maybe more than a little pissed. He couldn’t wait to get me out of his space.

“I still don’t know why you did that,” she said. “He is a complete package. I mean, look at him. He’s clearly a ten, and he’s a business owner to boot.” Then her eyes went wide. “Wait… don’t tell me he was shitty in bed.”

“No,” Penny gasped. “It can’t be.”

I shook my head, rolling my eyes. “I’m not going to go into details, but he was great in that department, too.”

“Then why?” Lily lamented.

“Whhhyyy!” Triscuit, my African grey parrot, shouted from his perch. “Whhhhhhyyyyyy!”

Triscuit eyed my laptop and then started making his way over to it, his eyes on the keys.

“Hey, none of that,” I said, shoving him away.

My two best friends knew I was talking to my pet bird; he’d been around since we were all in college. Triscuit, too, knew I was talking to him. As long as I had my eyes on him, he wouldn’t actually rip all the keys from my laptop, but if I dared look away, anything was fair game.

“I already told you,” I said, directing my attention back to my friends. “I didn’t want to deal with the morning after, so I panicked and left.” Ugh! Saying it out loud didn’t make it sound any better. I was such a chicken when it came to romance.

Did I regret it right now? Yes, yes, I did. If I hadn’t been such a coward, I wouldn’t be in this predicament now.

“And besides,” I continued. “We both went into it knowing it would be casual. I didn’t want to end up being the clingy one. I just didn’t realize I’d end up offending him.” I hadn’t meant to.

Since my offering of buttery goodness the other day, his friend and gym manager, Declan, had shown up several times to order drinks to go. At first I thought that Declan was fully human, but now I wasn’t so sure. I had a feeling he was a shifter of some sort, though I couldn’t put my finger on what. Nothing he did gave it away, either.

I hated to admit it, but I had their order memorized already. One Americano and one café mocha with extra whip. I didn’t know which one of them drank what, though.

I could only guess that he sent his friend over to avoid talking to me.

“Maybe the universe put the two of you together for a reason,” Penny said.

Of course Penny would think that. She’d gotten ultra lucky considering her spell fucked up, and shestillmanaged to hook the world’s hottest, funniest, and peculiarly devoted incubus as her mate. But we didn’t all have her magical good luck.

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