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BEAU

I nibble my bottom lip as I squint at my weather app. Storms. For three days.

Maybe I should call in, burrow into my bed or hide in the closet with the door shut and my sound canceling headphones and a towel stuffed under the door to keep all light out. Yes. I should definitely call in, but I know I won’t.

It’s not that I’ll be in major trouble, but if I lose a shift, then I can’t save or I might be short on rent. The thought of being short for rent makes my stomach slosh with anxiety. I don’t think Mrs. Boots will mind me being a tiny bit late if I need to be, but I’d rather eat slugs.

Hex, Indiana has been a haven these last three months. I don’t want to sully that by not being responsible, and going to work even if I’m scared shitless about the storms, is responsible.

Out in the human world, I mostly stayed in my bat form unless I wanted some kind of human luxury. I’d find lost money from the ground to buy little human treats to eat or dress myself in soft human clothes.

I glare at the weather app one last time before swiping to my homepage and shoving my phone into the pocket of my skinny jeans. I’ve known this storm system was coming, but not in enough time to ask for the days off. Randy—my manager—always has the schedule for Hex Grocer done for a month out.

I lean onto the sink countertop to take in the dark circles under my eyes. They look even worse in the dim lighting. I haven’t been sleeping.

Maybe the storms won’t be so bad? My co-workers have assured me that most storms in Hex are mild, but their mild, and mine could be totally different.

I’ve weathered storms. Big ones, small ones, one rumble of thunder and it’s over. I just really, really hate them because they remind me of the day my life changed forever. Oh, and they are terrifying.

I smooth my hand down the front of my uniform shirt. It’s a red t-shirt with the Hex Grocer logo on the front, which is just a cornstalk and typography. Hex is known to be surrounded by corn. It’s our protector and keeps normies out. Well, the magic keeps normies out; the corn is just a cover.

I swipe water through my unruly, boring brown hair. There’s a dent at the top from where my headphones sit, but if I don’t have them on when I’m human, everything is too loud for me. I adjust the headband a bit for comfort.

The storms shouldn’t start for a few hours, so the walk to work should be fine. I shove my anxiety to the back of my head. Sometimes I can imagine I’m not a nervous wreck at least seventy percent of my awake time. I really won’t have to worry about the storm until after my shift. While I’m clocked in and stocking shelves, I’m fine, nothing can get me inside Hex Grocer. At least that’s what I’m going to tell myself for now.

I grab my sunglasses from the small shelf in the wall by the door and slide them on. My apartment stays dim so I don’t have to wear the shades inside, but at the grocery store the lights are always bright and artificial and hurt my ridiculously sensitive eyes. Randy doesn’t mind the accommodation. He says as long as it helps me get the job done, he’s good with it.

Outside my apartment, the sky is dark and gloomy. The air smells like rain and I already want to rush back inside and call out. “I can do this,” I chant to myself as I lock up. “Everything is going to be?—”

“Hey BB!” Sparkle calls to me from the front door of the buttercup colored house as I practically jump out of my skin. I live in the basement apartment of the cat shifter family’s house. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you!” He’s wearing hot pink sparkly leggings and a white tunic that falls off one shoulder. His white cat ears twitch back and his tail sways as he joins me at my door. Sparkle pats me down. “You okay? You’re shaking. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It wasn’t you. I’m already riled up about the storms.”

“I love storms.” Sparkle spins on his toes with his arms out. I try to keep from curling in on myself, but I can’t help it and wrap my arms around my waist. Sparkle frowns. “You’re really afraid, aren’t you?” He drops a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.

“Yep. It’s sad, right? I’m twenty-four and still can’t—” I shake my head, hating that storms have me in such a choke hold.

“Hey, it’s okay, BB.” He leans in close to whisper, “I still hate the vacuum cleaner.” He giggles and loops his arm in mine. “Come on, I’ll escort you to work. Mom wants me to pick up a few things, anyway.”

“I’d like that.” I let out a breath and relax as much as possible. Before I moved into the Boots’s basement, I hadn’t had a friend in so long. Sparkle’s the best and over the last several months, he’s helped me come out of my shell just a little bit. Not a lot, but enough that I’m satisfied with my progress, even if it’s slow going.

“What plans do you have this weekend? Because Pike is giving me free rein to organize the other dancers. I want you to see my pole routine.” Sparkle bats his ridiculously long lashes, each of which are dotted with what appears to be a jewel. He’s always dolled up. Honestly, the man is beautiful, but not exactly my type.

“I dunno.” Going out in public that’s not Hex Grocer is always way too much for me.

“It’s okay if you’re not ready.” He pats my hand and we walk in silence. Sparkle works at Flutter and Fangs, a bar run by an incubus and a Fae. He not only dances, but he teaches pole and bar tends. He says he’ll do anything to keep him away from being home. While I’m the opposite and would rather stay in my cozy, happy place I made in the basement of his childhood home.

“One day, promise.”

“Whenever you’re ready, BB, I’ll give you the best lap dance of your life.”

That has me laughing. “I don’t know that I’ll ever be ready for that.”

“You never know.” His tail wiggles up my back, making me laugh again. “My specialty is pole dancing though, or I make a mean Sex On The Beach that makes everyone moan in ecstasy.”

“I don’t even know what that is.”

“Oh, you sweet sheltered man. Come to F&F, let me teach you.” More lash batting.

My cheeks heat and I shake my head. “Not yet.”

“Okay.” He boops my nose with his manicured finger and pulls me closer. His tail brushes my leg as we walk. I don’t think it’s intentional, it just sways, or maybe it has a mind of its own, like demon tails. “Have you been to Wick’s bakery?”

I shake my head again. “Is it good?”

Sparkle skips a few steps in his excitement. “Oh em gee, it’s to die for. He has these amazing cherry tarts. And holy fuck, if you’ve never had one of his apple cinnamon muffins, you’re missing out.”

“I do like treats.” It might actually be an understatement.

Sparkle’s eyes light up. “That’s it! Your next adventure into the great wide world of Hex is Wick’s Bakery. Baby steps. Maybe you’re really not ready for F&F, but the bakery should be nice and slow paced if we time it right.” He lets me go and claps as he bounces in his sneakers.

The tiny bell on the top of the door of Hex Grocer smacks against the door as we walk in. Sparkle kept me from thinking too hard as we walked. He gives me a knowing smile and squeezes my arm before letting me go.

“Thanks, Sparkle.”

“Have an awesome day, BB!” He waves while I head to the back room to drop off my lunch in my locker. It’s just a sandwich and some chips, but now my mouth is watering for sweet treats from a bakery.

Maybe the next few days won’t be scary. Maybe I can get through the storms without an incident.