Page 97 of Wild Thing

Then we hop back into the car, and Mason drives us the rest of the way. When we drive past theWelcome to Honey Hillsign, I sit up tall in my seat, eager to take everything in. Daphne talks about this town all the time, but I never had a good reason to make the short drive myself. Now that I’m here, I want to soak it all in.

I stare out the window as Mason drives through the narrow streets near town square. “Oh my gosh, Mason. Is that your cousin?” I point to the posters affixed to just about every lamppost that we pass.

He grins proudly. “Yup. That’s Davis.”

“Youdidtell me that your cousin is running for mayor. But seeing the campaign posters is so cool.”

“He’s totally gonna win,” Mason says with confidence.

I nod slowly, my eyes on him in the driver’s seat. If his cousins are even half as charming as he is, I don’t see how the voters of Honey Hill will be able to resist. “I’d bet this town is just Westbrook Territory, isn’t it?”

“You bet,” he tells me without batting an eye.

My gaze roams around the street again. “Well, don’t tell anyone from Starlight Falls but this might be the cutest, most boutique-y town I’ve ever seen.”

“Let me show you around.”

Mason takes us down Main Street and parks in front of the shops. We’re strolling down the sidewalk and Mason is telling me all about the history of the town when a metaphysical shop catches my eye.

“Oh! Can we go inside?” I ask.

I’m dashing into the little shop before Mason even answers. I swear I hear him groaning as he follows me through the door.

I’m busy admiring all the cool trinkets displayed on the jewelry racks when a female voice calls out from the back. “Well, that’s a face I haven’t seen in here in a long, long time. Hey Mason!”

“Hey Ziggy,” he calls back. “Don’t get too excited. I’m not here for another tarot readi—”

“Ziggy? Ziggy Beaumont?!” My gaze freezes on the girl stirring a big cauldron at the back counter. She’s wearing a wispy floral dress and her hair is dyed in a vibrant shade of pink.

At the sight of me, she drops her spoon, heading in our direction. “Holy shit! Karli Brighton!?”

The two of us collide in a hug.

“You two know each other?” Mason asks warily.

“Of course we do.” The tall hippie girl tucks me under her arm. “Karli is friends with my baby sister, Daphne.”

“Small freaking world, huh?” I supply with a grin.

“Seems so.” Mason chuckles wryly.

I definitely hadn’t been expecting to run into a friend from high school here. But it’s so good to catch up. Even though I’ve never seen Ziggy prancing through the woods naked like her Aunt Rainbow, she and I go way back.

Mason lingers by the front counter, scrolling on his phone, while Ziggy and I catch up, sitting on the bean bag chairs in the back.

“So you and Dr. Westbrook are a thing?” She nudges me in the ribs, keeping her voice low.

The question leaves me flustered. I wordlessly flap my lips, nothing meaningful coming out. Deer in the headlights, am I.

She laughs. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’. You like him. Let’s take a look and see what the cards have to say.”

It’s only when Ziggy whips out her tarot deck that Mason zones back into the conversation. “Fuck no,” he mutters. He barrels in my direction, quickly grabbing me by the elbow. “So, it was great seeing you, Ziggy. But you seem like you have lots of—”

“Oh, come on!” she protests as Mason ushers me away.

He pastes on a fake smile and helps me to my feet. “I’m sure Karli would love to stick around and chitchat some more but—”

Ziggy calls after him. “Mason! Don’t act like I didn’t predict the demise of your last relationship. Remember—”

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