Page 13 of Charmed and Alarmed

My dick is going to fall off at this rate. For fuck’s sake.

“Hi,” she says mildly, and I was so busy staring at her, I didn’t realize there was a second dish at her side until she holds it out to me.

It would be rude not to sit with her and eat it, right?

Wordlessly, I draw closer, reaching out to take the ice cream from her hand. The truck shifts under my weight as I heave myself onto the tailgate beside her, gazing out at the overgrown field bordering the parking lot. Behind us, a speaker crackles to life, and a bored woman’s voice echoes over our heads,“Order thirty-one!”

“It’s a little early, don’t you think?” I ask, even as I bring a spoonful of the swirled chocolate and vanilla to my mouth. It’s not something I’ve eaten for years, favoring higher-end treats on the occasions I craved an indulgence. This is good though, better even. My childhood was mainly shit, but the taste of this reminds me of hot, sticky summer evenings, scraped knees, and fireflies dancing around bicycles as I rode into town with my friends.

As I look over at her, Leni shrugs, helping herself to another spoonful. It’s difficult to tear my eyes away, but even when I manage it, I’m hyperaware of her sitting just a foot away from me.

“I got an email,” I lie, turning the plastic spoon between my fingers. “The groundbreaking was pushed to next week. We can go back to E&V. I’m sorry to have wasted your morning.”

While I would hardly consider myself a dishonest man, I’ve never had a problem spinning a web of bullshit if the need arose. So, why do these words taste like ash on my tongue?

At my side, Leni hums, and I can’t resist turning to watch her scrape the bottom of the dish with her spoon, bringing the last helping of ice cream to her lips. “Okay,” she acknowledges at last, her eyes on the field before us.

What is she thinking right now?

I swallow. “We can sit for a while. If you aren’t in a rush.” Just for something to do with myself, I take another bite.

She nods slowly and turns to face me, the ends of her hair tangling around her face as they’re caught by the summer breeze. “I’d like that.”

I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or not, but I could swear there is something in her eyes that wasn’t there this morning.

6

LENORA

“Okay. So.” Honor jabs her finger at an item on the very intimidating looking wedding spreadsheet she has going. “Now, wereallyneed to schedule the bridesmaid dress fittings. Does this day work?”

My sister Sophie and I are stationed at a corner table of the coffee shop across from E&V. I can see the building clearly through the large plate glass window, and it keeps drawing my gaze whenever there is a lull in the conversation or Honor begins debating materials for the reception dinner napkins again.

I know far,farmore about stain-resistant tableware than I ever cared to.

Sophie, who doesn’t seem to be even a little bored with this conversation, leans obligingly over to see what Honor is pointing at. “I can do that,” she reports promptly, pulling out her phone. “That’s the place on Cardinal Street, right?”

“Yes! I went in there last week to poke around, and the owner wassosweet. I’d definitely like to support her if possible.” My sister keeps talking, but I am not listening as my eyes dart, yet again, to the door of E&V.

Truthfully, Honor has taken to this wholebillionaire’s wifething like a fish takes to water. If she feels at all unsure about her place in Julian’s world, or as the new head of a massive nonprofit at the ripe old age of twenty-five, she hasn’t shown it. Meanwhile, I’m not even confident I’m qualified to be restocking the ink cartridges in Team E’s offices.

“Len?”

Realizing I’ve been staring at the doors of E&V for way too long, I blink, turning to meet the expectant expressions of Honor and Sophie. I stare back at them, bemused. “What?”

“The bridesmaid dresses.” Honor’s brows pinch together, a hint of hurt in her expression. “Can you make it to a fitting on Thursday? After work?”

I reach into my purse to produce my phone, scrolling through my calendar until I reach the day in question, as if there’s even the remotest possibility I’ll actually be busy then. Apart from work and physical therapy, my schedule boasts just two upcoming events: Honor’s engagement party and a dental cleaning in two months.

“That’s fine.” I avoid looking at my sister as I type it in.

“I’ll give you a ride,” Sophie offers with a bright smile, obviously leaning into her new designated role as the Vogel family conflict avoidance expert. “Bram and I are going car shopping for me tonight. I can’t deal with carpooling to work anymore. You can’t take a half day if the boss is your ride home.”

Honor rolls her eyes. “Don’t let him talk you into something expensive and European. Speaking of which, we’re talking about Italy for the honeymoon!”

They have officially left me behind in this conversation. New cars? European honeymoons? It’s difficult not to be bitter, even if I know full well I painted myself into this corner. Things are starting to get a little better, but I’m still feeling dangerously adrift; so overwhelmed by the many requirements needed to become a functional, happy adult that I’m not doing anything at all.

Except fixating on my boss.

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