Page 20 of It All Started with a Bite

Yeah?

It was a legit reason to get fired too.

A series of shocked emojis flashed across my screen.

OMG!Three dots appeared as she typed.Don’t do anything crazy.

My best friend knew me well.

Too late. I already gave my former boss the finger.

Shit. Stay there. I’ll bring ice cream.

I looked at my box of desk supplies and sighed before messaging back.

I have a better idea. How about we go check out that new cafe you were telling me about? I need caffeine and sugar. Lots of it.

Sure. I’ll be there in fifteen.

I was sitting on a bench opposite my former workplace looking at the sky and pondering how my life choices had led me to this moment when Ellie turned up with Bo on a leash. She was oblivious to the admiring glances she was drawing as she bounced along the sidewalk like a bunny.

My gaze dropped to Bo. “What’s he doing here?”

“He looked bored,” Ellie said.

“I was bored,” Bo panted. “Also, I wanted to make sure you weren’t planning any revenge murders. Though if you are, I know where to hide bodies.”

I frowned. “Have you been watching the true crime channels?”

Bo wagged his tail. “They’re fun. I didn’t know humans could be so dastardly.”

It was beginning to dawn on me that my dog might have a more extensive vocabulary than my best friend.

“What’d Bo say?” Ellie asked curiously.

“Nothing you want to know.” I decided to change the subject before my dog could offer more criminal suggestions. “So where is this place?”

Ten minutes later, we were standing in front of Bean Me Up. The coffee shop occupied the ground floor of a converted Victorian townhouse in Sycamore Grove, Amberford’s artistic district. Macramé plant holders and dream catchers decorated the bay windows. A hand-painted sign on the sidewalk promisedEthically Sourced Coffee and Good Vibes.

I squinted at the building. Something about it felt different from other coffee shops.

“There’s a vampire at the counter,” Bo said helpfully. “And I’m pretty sure that guy with the dreadlocks sitting by the window is a werewolf.”

I grimaced. “So that’s what those smells are.”

8

Coffee, Cream, and Supernatural Muffins

“What smells?”Ellie said quizzically.

“Bo says there’s a vampire and a werewolf inside.”

Ellie’s eyes lit up. “Where?” She scanned the interior of the coffee shop eagerly.

“One of the baristas and dreadlocks by the window.”

Ellie started looking like a kid of Christmas Day.

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