Page 42 of Moonlit Alexandrite

Colbie huffed and planted her hands on her hips.

“You don’t know? What about the assorted gummies that turned up on his doorstep?”

“What a lovely gift.”

“They were shaped like cocks and balls. They also had ‘eat a bag of dicks’ written across the front.”

“Could have been anyone.”

“You’re right. It must have been the true owner of the loch who wrote ‘get your whole furry family off my territory’ in the postscript, right?”

They were nearly nose-to-nose through the bars now, and I knew Colbie had hit a nerve. My poor kelpie would never concede the loch to anyone else’s ownership.

“Why do you care?” he asked instead.

“I don’t care about him, but every time he is pranked, who do you think bears the brunt of it? The pranks in the gallery? I’m on clean up. His bad moods? Life gets worse for me. I can’t take it anymore, and I want you to make it stop.”

Tase reared back as though Colbie had struck him. My heart dropped as I saw the pain I had missed on my best friend’s face. I had been so caught up in making my dream come true and getting to know my mates, I had missed the fact that my best friend was unhappy.

With a small whimper, I crossed the room and threaded my arms through the bars to give her an incredibly awkward, but heartfelt hug. “I’m sorry. I should have realized.”

“You’ve had a lot on your plate,” she replied, stroking my hair.

“Why are you still working for him?” Dion asked from his place on the bench. I looked around to see him watching her closely, head cocked in thought.

“Uh... because life ain’t free?” Colbie said. I grinned at the sass. This was the girl I knew. Shit, I felt terrible for missing the signs. I thought back over the last few weeks. Had she been less engaged? Quieter? I knew she low-key enjoyed the nightly walks with Newt, but she put up a front so Ren would keep giving her candy. We were both crazy in love with that little kid.

“So what if there was another option?” Dion asked, too casually.

Colbie rolled her wrist, inviting him to elaborate.

“Castor has been talking about bringing on another bartender. He only has Dash and me at the moment and there are two bars to man. So what if I put your name forward to work at Flare?”

“I don’t know the first thing about mixing drinks.”

“So? I’ll teach you.”

“Why?” Colbie’s eyes narrowed, but I could see the hope there. This could be good for her.

“You’re my mate’s best friend and if you’re happy, she’s happy, which means we’re all happy. Now, will you please accept the offer and let us out? My ass is numb, and I’m sure we would all be happy to see Tase get some pants on.”

“Not me,” I grumbled, and was rewarded with a grin and a wink from the man in question.

Colbie heaved a tremendous sigh and slid the keys into the lock.

As we were filling out into the front room of the station, Stone pocketed the cell he had just been speaking on.

“Can’t let you go home just yet, someone has been at your store again, Lex.”

* * *

Black.Every carefully potted plant, every brightly colored flower, was now a mess of black soot and ash.

“We’ve been around the property, and it seems to be restricted to the outdoors. The perpetrator doesn’t appear to have been inside the premises, but with your permission, we would like to go in and check anyway,” Stone said.

I nodded numbly as Colbie offered the spare key to the officers to let them do their search. I remembered giving her the key two weeks ago when I forgot my own set for the third time in as many days.

Colbie was always the responsible one.

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