He snuck furtively looks in our direction until he was ready to go. Sky gave a cheery, “This way,” like we were all friends here, and led back out past the parking lot to the main road, and we began the shuffling march toward Witch’s Brew. I didn’t know what we’d do until it opened, but at least this wassomething. The beginning of piecing together this latest Dream-veil mystery.
Chapter 17
Sky
As we nearedWitch’s Brew, I wondered how early Carli and Cassi opened. I knew it was before the sun came up since they liked to be available for all of those customers who commuted up to north Jersey or into NYC for work. As we crossed the train tracks, I looked up at the clock over the station and saw it was already 4:30am. How had that much time passed already? We weren’t walking that slow.
Whatever. The good thing was that there’d probably be somewhere to go in and sit in an hour or an hour and a half, even if it wasn’t Witch’s Brew. In the meantime, we’d at least walk to that general vicinity since there were little grassy areas down the street where we could pop a squat.
“You doing okay?” King looked over his shoulder and asked.
Our companion, who’d been staying several steps behind us, with Patchy by his side but about six feet away, mumbled back an affirmative, and I squeezed King’s hand. We’d been so concerned about this man, been so eager to help him, that I didn’t think it had occurred to either of us that he’d have no idea who we were and no reason to trust us.
I couldn’t imagine that trust came easily if you were living on the streets, making your way on your own with no one to supportyou or have your back. That sucked so freaking bad, and I hated it. I’d thought about running away from home several times as a teenager, but as bad as my dad was, I knew Ego’s was worse, and I’d wanted to make sure he had a place to stay if he ever couldn’t deal with it at home anymore.
When that day came—and it did—I wanted to make sure he had somewhere to go until we made a plan for him. Thankfully, it had all worked out for him, then for me, rooming with Chance and finding a BFF, a ride or die until the end, and it had brought us all to the here and now. To magic and ghosts and Dreamwalkers and soulmates and who knew what else. Our lives were beyond anything I’d ever imagined or hoped for.
But this guy was alone. I didn’t know if it was by choice or if he’d been kicked out of somewhere or what, but those details didn’t change the outcome, which was him living on the streets and being attacked by some kind of malicious entity while he had nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
So, that left the big questions. How did we earn his trust? How did we get him to stay here in Willowhope while we figured this out for him? Did we beg him to stay and then let him keep just surviving out by the boardwalk, hiding at night, trying to get some rest? What he did from here was up to him, but at least he followed us and was willing to talk.
When we were one shopfront away from the Witch’s Brew, its door opened and Carli stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Oh, good. You made it.”
King and I stopped short, but the little blonde breezed right by us, holding her hands out. “I knew today was the day.”
The guy stumbled backward, and Patchy moved to his side like he wanted to offer him comfort. His eyes moved around frantically like he was trying to figure out where to run—to escape.
Carli kept talking like nothing was amiss. “I’ve had a knowing for days that we needed to open up a little early for a special visitor. I’m assuming it’s you since you’re with them.” She hitched her thumb over her shoulder in our direction.
“I just met them,” he said.
“Of course you did, silly, or you’d have already been here.” Then like the force of nature that I was coming to understand she was, she looped her arm through one of his and pulled him effortlessly toward the coffee shop.
As he passed us, he shot us wide eyes like he didn’t understand what was happening. I had to agree with him on that front because I had no idea either. King shrugged at me, and we followed them into the homey store where the delicious aroma of fresh coffee permeated the air. Carli shoved our new acquaintance into a chair near the counter and planted her hands on her hips. “There.”
Licking my lips, I approached her and placed a hand on her forearm. “I’m not sure I understand what’s happening here, but before you fill us in, can we have a few cups of coffee?”
She patted my hand without looking away from the young man. “Of course, Sky. But I think our new friend would enjoy something else. Am I right?”
His frightened gaze moved from her to me to King and back again. “T-t-tea, if you have it.”
She beamed at him. “Of course.” Then a pretty flower-patterned teacup on a saucer with a thin line of steam rising from the middle moved from behind the counter to rest softly on the table in front of him.
“Uh, Carli?” I questioned. Why was she showing him her magic? Was she trying to freak him out even more than he already was? And how did she do that? Could I do that? I mean, I knew how to start a fire with the brush of my hands, so surely…
“Honey, quit showing off,” Cassi said as she came through the doorway that separated the front and back of the shop.
Carli’s lower lip came out in a pout. “I’m not. Why should we hide our magic if everyone in the store knows about it? It’s not like we have any other customers. We’re not even technically open yet.”
All of us knew about magic? My gaze moved back to the guy who stared open-mouthed at Carli. “Don’t you like your tea, dear?” she asked.
“Uh,” was as far as he got when King shook himself out and spoke up.
“Okay, maybe we should all sit down.”
Cassi shook her head. “I have to finish prepping for the morning rush. Y’all can go ahead and get started. I can hear you from here.” Her gaze moved to the new guy. “I’m Cassi, and the whirlwind in front of you is my wife, Carli. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“B-Booker,” he managed to get out.
