Page 8 of Charmed, I'm Sure

Everyone quiets down when they realize that I’m standing there, staring at the offending man. Glaring at him as he licks his fingers, oblivious to the fact that I am silently thinking of at least a dozen ways I can hex him before he even finishes swallowing that last bite.

He slowly turns to look at me, scanning from my face down to my clenched hands by my side. His audible gulp is loud enough for everyone to flick their eyes to him and then back to me.

“Morning Trouble,” he says with an overbright, fanatic shine to his eyes.

This man really has no idea who he is messing with. Has he not seen how people cower in front of me or how nobody is speaking because they are pretty sure they are about to witness his first hex?Or so they think…

“Is that the cranberry orange scone from Hex & Harken Cafe?”

Everyone sucks in a breath, even they know how much I love that scone. Which is odd to say the least. I didn’t think it was that obvious, but small towns, you know.

They look at him, waiting for his response. Except he doesn’t seem bothered by the attention or the fact that I’m glaring at him. No, instead he breaks off another piece of the scone, staring at it. With a slight drool, I watch as he slowly brings the slice to his mouth, his tongue eagerly anticipating the flavor. He even has the audacity to hum in satisfaction as he chews.

My mouth pops open as I stare at him, shocked.

His eyes flick to mine, a look of pure challenge in them.

“I have to say, I’ve never even tried that flavor combination before, but something about it called to me this morning. Can’t say I’m disappointed either.”

His lips smack as he licks the tiny crumbs from his fingers. All while staring at me, waiting for what I’ll say next.

If I were a cartoon character, I’m pretty sure steamwould pour out of my ears right now. What does he mean “something called to him”… he’s never even had cranberry and orange together, and for whatever divine reason he decided today, of all days, was the day to pick it up.

My hand shakes as I bring it up to point at him. “I ought to…”

“Perhaps we can start the committee meeting, dear,” Marnie interrupts.

My mouth snaps shut as I turn to look at her. She’s beaming as if she knew exactly what was about to happen, and she’s delighted to intervene. Marnie, the elder witch who does nothing but gossip in her free time, is not cowering in front of me like the other committee members. No, instead she is smiling from ear to ear while her eyes twinkle. Damn light witches and their ability to see fate. She obviously has seen some version of this event happen already.

My hand falls, and I storm over to the only open spot available around the table. The seat next to Miles, the one person I don’t want to sit next to. Because fate is a mean bitch and now, I’ll also have to smell his scent mingling with my favorite baked good.

The chair scrapes across the floor as I pull it back and plop down into it. Miles glances over as his lip hooks up in the corner.Why is he loving this?I glare at him, daring him to say something. My beautiful scone is sitting in front of him half-eaten. I don’t even realize that I’m staring at it until he slides it over in front of me.

My eyes ping between the scone, now sitting in front of me, and him.

“You look as if you might murder me if you can’t have it. Plus, I love sharing my food with a beautiful girl like you.”

I can feel my face redden as my anger rises. Who does he think he is? First, he tookmyscone, and now he is offering it?Is he trying to flirt with me right now? Maybe we should have the doctor check this guy out.

“Who do you…”

Marnie clears her throat with a tiny ahem. “As adorable as it is to watch the blooming of your relationship, we dohave a long list to go over. Especially if we want to ensure your twin, Elora, isn’t going to blow a gasket if we are behind.”

My hands slam down on the table as my body shudders. I beg your pardon, what does she mean blooming relationship? There’s no blooming relationship. But of course the poodle zeroed in on the one tiny, irrelevant detail.

“Twin?” Miles asks, looking from Marnie to me.

“Oh, yes, dear. Elora, the one that welcomed you and sent you on your way to…well…her twin, Bellamy. Didn’t she tell you she had a twin sister?”

“Fascinating. No, that wasn’t mentioned, and neither was her name. So, thank you for that.”

I glare between the two of them. They are chatting as if I’m not sitting right here. Of course, I didn’t give him my name. Why would I? I’m hoping that he doesn’t pass the admission into the pack.

Marnie beams as she stands up. “Alright everyone. Let’s get this meeting underway so we can move on with our days. As you know each of us has a role to play even though two new people have been added. We, as in myself and Elora, have already chosen their role for the Samhain festival. Ivy Greenthorn is in charge of decorations.”

The witch is in a tweed blazer with a ruffled undershirt and her hair is pinned up in a way that makes my head hurt just looking at it. Her binder is full of color-coded tabs and she has matching highlighters laid out next to her. She is definitely one of those people who would lose it if one of those goes missing. Honestly, I want to hex them to change colors when she uses them.

Marnie moves on. “Next, we have Thatch Booker, who is the logistics lead, who will ensure that whatever ideas we come up with are actual possibilities and not some fantastical idea.” Thatch’s goggles move as his forehead creases. The man is practically a grease can with the amount of grease staining his skin and robes. Does he even bathe?