Page 11 of Festive with a Grumpy Fae
“Bacon butties for all,” I mutter, and then we lapse into silence.
When we get to town, I park the car in my spot behind the bookstore, then lead Cillian to Main Street.At this time, only the cafés and the hot bread shop are open, but most of them are already busy with tourists.I don’t have a favourite—I like to spread my food love indiscriminately—so I pick the one that looks the least busy and stride in.
The realisation that I’ve made a mistake is almost immediate.Karen is manning the register this morning, and she’s an old friend of my aunt’s.Even as the customer ahead of us steps aside, Karen’s eyes skate from my face to where Cillian is skulking close beside me, and her smile falters.
And then it’s back, along with a gleam in her eye that makes my stomach sink.
“Good morning, Lachie.What’ll it be today?”
“Double-shot latte,” I say desperately, then, when her brows shoot up, I add, “I mean, hi, Karen.Great to see you.Could I have a double-shot latte, please?And, um, two bacon butties?”Reluctantly, I turn to Cillian.“Do you want coffee?”Does he even know what coffee is?“Or something else to drink?”
“I’ll have what you’re having.”
“Two lattes,” I tell Karen.“Thanks.”I hold out my phone, ready to tap the card reader, but it’s too late.She’s scented blood—I mean gossip—and is smiling at Cillian.
“Hello,” she says warmly.“I’m Karen.Are you new to town, or just visiting?”
He stares at her expressionlessly.
Karen darts a glance at me, then tries again.“Are you a friend of Lachie’s?”
Slowly, Cillian turns his head toward me.“Who is this person?”
I bite back a groan as Karen’s eyes widen in affront.
“He’s not very social,” I tell her.I’m a little envious, because there have been many times I’ve wanted to brush people off with a rude comment, but I never dared.“Cillian, this is Karen.She makes the best coffee you’ve ever tasted.”Not really, but a compliment can’t hurt at this stage.The gossip is going to be rampant.“Cillian’s a friend of mine from Melbourne.He’s visiting for a few weeks.”
I can literally see the battle behind Karen’s gaze between her curiosity and offense, and I decide to get ahead of it.“I wish we had more time to chat, but I can see how busy it is in here, and I have to get to work, so why don’t I just pay and get out of your hair?”
She’s distracted enough—probably trying to decide who to call first—that she nods and sends my order to the card reader so I can tap, and then I declare, “We’ll just wait outside,” and hustle Cillian through the door before he can speak again.
The first thing he says when we’re back on the wide footpath is, “Are people going to expect me to talk to them?”The note of disdain in his tone makes it very clear what he thinks of that idea.
“Yes,” I hiss.“You don’t need to be chatty, but saying ‘hello’ won’t kill you.”
His huff is a work of art.“Don’t be so certain.”
My jaw is clenched so tight that I have to force the muscles to release.“Look, you were the one who insisted on coming with me today.You could have been nice and comfy andalonein the cottage, but instead you’re here, in a town full of people, about to spend the day in a retail establishment.Where there will bemore people, and some of them may speak to you.”
“Not for long,” he says darkly, and I swear, my vision goes dark with panic.
“What’s that supposed to mean?You can’t do anything to anyone!Remember what you promised about not drawing attention or letting anyone know you’re—” I look around, but there’s nobody close enough to hear.“Nobody can know you’re fae,” I whisper.
“Yes.I know.We’ve discussed this.”His tone implies thatI’mthe one being difficult right now, and I throw up my hands in frustration.
“Wait here while I get our breakfast,” I snap, then stomp back into the café.Behind the counter, Karen is making coffee with a phone wedged between her ear and shoulder, and when she catches sight of me, she half turns away.
Great.Just great.
six
Two Weeks Later
From the cornerof my eye, I watch Cillian reading my book while I supposedly re-alphabetise legal treatises.I can’t work out if he’s actually reading or just pretending.It’s a question that’s bugged me a lot since the first day he came to work with me.Sometimes it seems like he’s reading, and other times he just leafs through pages, not even bothering to skim.Even more confusing is when he stares at one page for ages—I’m pretty sure there was one time that lasted an hour.
I should ask, but I don’t want to.The idea of upsetting the status quo we’ve settled into isn’t a fun one.
I huff a little laugh, not loud enough for anyone to hear, but it’s funny to think that, as much as Cillian annoyed and frustrated me the night I summoned him—and the morning after—I’m getting so attached to him now.But I can’t pretend otherwise.As weird as that spell book was, the summoning spell was the real deal.Cillian came here to keep me company, and he’s the best company I’ve ever had.