Page 52 of Witch Please

In the morning, Titus still couldn’t believe the way his life had changed.

Sex was great and all, but to him, it was a miracle to have someone to call late at night who would listen to his crap and make him feel better. Obviously, the mutual masturbation helped too. Endorphins were powerful as hell.

He hummed through his morning routine and danced with Doris quietly in the kitchen, singing a silly song as he set up her timed food dish. Then he headed to the bakery ahead of schedule, and he had a lot of the work done when Stan showed up half an hour later. The assistant wasn’t late; Titus was just brimming with energy.

The older man grunted at him as he tied on his apron and fell into his role without a word. Normally, Titus appreciated Stan’s laconic early-morning manner, but today, it would’ve been nice to have someone to share his good mood with. He wasn’t misguided enough to message Danica at this hour. Normal people didn’t keep the schedule he did, as even regular businesspeople started later in the day.

Hours flew, and the bakery opened. Soon, Titus had to give Maya a hand. If things kept going as they were, they would need to hire an assistant to help on the front end. That was a good problem to have. He wished he could afford to hire someone full-time, but it wasn’t in the cards yet. Fortunately, retirees often needed part-time work, and they had a wealth of experience to offer.

“Wonder if Mrs. Carminian is looking for a job,” he muttered.

No, that wouldn’t work. She’d flirt with him all day and never get anything accomplished. Smiling, he shooed Maya off to take her break and weathered the usual lunchtime rush. Titus was tired by the time the constant flow of customers abated. He leaned against the counter with a crick in his back. He could use a massage, but there was only one place in town for that, and he knew both masseuses, one of whom had been his biology lab partner. It was weird to pay to get naked in front of someone he used to dissect frogs with. Some services were easier to purchase from a stranger.

Maybe he should still be bummed about the conversation with his dad the night before, but he couldn’t work up the energy to care. Though the situation wouldn’t resolve itself, he didn’t need to obsess over it. Maya had been quiet and subdued all day. Clearly she was holding onto the issue in a big way, worrying it the way Doris did a rawhide bone.

At last, he grabbed his packed lunch and stopped by the clinic to get the test he’d promised done. Then he headed to his usual bench. A flutter of disappointment flowed through him when he found only a couple of birds pecking at crumbs on the ground nearby. As he approached, they flew off and waited in the branches of a nearby elm tree to lurk in case he dropped some choice tidbits. While he ate, his phone buzzed twice with messages from his old man. Aggravated, Titus nearly turned the damn thing off and only didn’t in case Maya or Danica needed to get in touch with him.

He glared at the screen instead. “Leave me thefuckalone.”

“Whoa, that’s harsh. I know I’m late, but I thought I built up some goodwill yesterday.” Danica’s teasing tone cut into his grumpy haze.

Full of happy incredulity, he bounded to his feet and dragged her into an impulsive hug. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

“Got held up at the shop. There was a hair-straightening emergency, if you can imagine that. Don’t tell anyone, but I fixed it for free since the girl was crying, and she—oh, never mind. You’re not interested in all the ways my day got weird.”

“I am, though. Fascinated, even.” Titus sat down, inviting Danica to join him with a gesture. As she did so, she passed him another concoction. “What’s this?”

The juice was green, ever so green. He regarded it with trepidation.

“Cucumber, kale, pineapple, lemon, and ginger.”

Oh God.

“Did I offend you in some way?”

Danica laughed. “Just wait until I make my beet cocktail for you.”

“Is there any way I can talk you out of this?”

To make her happy, he downed half the bottle in one swallow. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the worst thing he had ever tasted, but it had a weird mouthfeel. He didn’t know if he’d ever be pleased with drinking vegetables. Fruits were one thing, but when people started juicing beets and celery, it was a slippery slope.

“Any plans for tonight?” she asked.

Is she asking me out? Or about to?

God, he hated saying this. “I’m stopping by the station after work, part of the volunteer firefighter gig. And there are some related responsibilities. Why?”

“Oh, I’m not trying to spring something on you last minute. I was just curious.”

Part of him was disappointed to learn she was only asking from idle interest. “What about you?”

“I’m pretty sure I’m fighting with my cousin.”

Titus blinked. “Like in a cage match or…?”

Her smile was like sunrise over the ocean, sudden and so brightly beautiful that it took his breath away. “You’re so cute. No, but we’ve put off some…personal conflict, and if I know her half as well as I think I do, we’ll have it out soon.”

“Nothing serious, I hope?”

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