Page 19 of Magic & Matchmaking (Moonflower Witches)

Chapter Eighteen

EMMA

I paced outside the tea shop. The moon hung high in the darkened sky, stars glittering overhead. Floating lanterns lit the dirt road with a dim glow, people flitting in and out of the businesses still open this late into the night.

After my talk with my father, I’d been too restless to go back home with him. I’d visited The Brewhouse and a few other businesses, hoping I’d find Layla, but I’d had no luck. I wanted to be the one to tell her that I’d been all wrong about Sarise.

“Emma?” Layla approached from across the street.

Her hair hung in loose waves down her shoulders, and she looked lovely wearing a light pink frock that cinched around her waist and flared out around her ankles.

“What are you doing here?” she asked with a wrinkled nose.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were out with Sarise?”

Layla bit her lip and wrung her hands together. Oh no. Maybe Sarise had already broke the news to Layla that they didn’t want the same things.

A gust of wind blew past us, chilly and biting. I gestured to the door. “Care for some tea? ”

Layla’s face broke into a smile, and she nodded.

We sat in the empty shop, a candle flickering on the table and providing a dim light.

“Can’t a dragon get any sleep around her?” Herman said from the counter where he lay curled up, though he peeked an eye open with interest, and I knew he was going to absolutely eat up our conversation.

Layla had picked the tea: a spicy chai that I hadn’t yet tried, but the flavors were bold and zesty. I took another sip, then set it down.

“I ran into Sarise earlier, and”—I bit my lip—“I don’t think she wants the same things as you.”

Layla’s brows furrowed, her hands wrapped around her mug.

Right, I could see how that sentence was vague.

I steeled myself. “She doesn’t want a relationship.

She just wants a fling. I’m so sorry. I encouraged you to explore other relationships and date her.

” I groaned. “I made you think you had this whole future of travel and seeing the world when you never did.”

Layla took a slow sip of her tea, contemplating my words, and my stomach shriveled. I hoped I hadn’t just crushed her dreams, her heart.

Finally she set down her mug and gave a guilty shrug. “I haven’t been seeing Sarise these last few weeks.”

“You haven’t?” I didn’t understand. “But she said you were meeting her at the tavern today.”

“Yeah, just a friendly chat before she leaves.” She looked down into her steaming cup.

“I’ve been seeing Althea,” she said in a rush.

“You seemed to disapprove of her, and I felt awkward admitting that we were dating and then I let you think I was seeing Sarise when really I was seeing Althea, and the whole thing spun out of control. I’m so sorry I lied to you! ”

My mouth dropped open. “I should be the one apologizing for making you feel that way. Althea? You’ve been seeing Althea?”

Layla wouldn’t meet my eyes, but she gave a small nod .

Herman watched us, both eyes now open and peeled to our interaction.

“Are you happy with her?”

Layla gave another nod, still not meeting my eyes.

“Then I think that’s wonderful,” I said. “I don’t know why I was even pressuring you to see Sarise.” I palmed my face. “I’m so sorry. Clearly I’m not a matchmaker.”

“I think it’s obvious why you wanted her to court Sarise,” Herman said.

“Oh?” I cut the dragon a look.

He heaved a sigh like I was such an inconvenience. “You were projecting.” He came to a seated position, his tail curling around him.

“Projecting?” I looked between him and Layla.

She pressed her lips together.

“What does that mean?”

Herman tilted his head at Layla. “Do you want to tell her or should I?”

Layla drummed her fingers against the side of her tea cup. “I think what Herman is trying to say is that it’s clear your dream is to travel and see the world and do it with someone you love? And so maybe you were pushing me toward the future that you felt you couldn’t have.”

My mouth dropped open. Witch’s tits.

They were right. I had done that. I sank my head into my arms, and Layla reached over and patted my back.

“It’s okay.”

“No it’s not. It’s really not okay.” My voice came out muffled.

“You know, there is a solution to all of this,” Herman said. “You could just tell Riven how you feel.”

My head snapped up as I gaped at the dragon. “You know we’re not in a real relationship?”

“I know everything.” He stared at one of his talons. “I thought you two would figure this all out on your own, but as usual, I have to step in and give advice. What would you do without me?”

I blinked. “I can’t leave the shop and travel with him.” I gestured to it. “It’s got such rich history here.”

“It doesn’t even like you,” Herman said, rolling his eyes dramatically .

“That’s harsh,” I said.

“But true,” Herman countered.

Layla ran a finger around the rim of her cup, then her face brightened as she stared at something over my shoulder. I turned to see Althea across the street, waving.

“Go.” I nudged my head. “She’s welcome to come in for a cup of tea.”

“She would love that,” Layla said, getting up from her seat and rushing outside.

The door clicked closed, and the floor started to shake. “Oh, not this again.”

I braced myself for whatever the tea shop was about to throw my way—literally.

“Told you so,” Herman said, flapping his wings and lifting in the air.

“When are you going to accept me?” I asked the shop.

“Well, that’s easy. Never.” Herman flew to the ceiling, hovering right underneath it as all the plates, cups, and cutlery began trembling as well.

I stood, hands balling into fists. “I am not afraid of you.”

“What is wrong with you?” Herman shouted as the shaking intensified. “You should definitely be afraid of the sentient shop that can gouge your eyes out with a fork.”

He had a good point, but enough was enough.

The door opened as Layla and Althea stepped through, and the shaking immediately stopped. I stared at Layla with wide eyes.

She patted her cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”

I swiveled my head around, then slowly turned in a circle, inspecting the shop.

“Excuse her.” Herman floated down next to me. “She’s a little paranoid.”

“Layla,” I said slowly. “Step outside the shop for a moment, then come back in.”

“Um.” Layla wrung her hands together. “Okay.”

Althea looked between us. “Is this some weird ritual? Should I come back?”

“I haven’t the slightest clue,” Herman said.

Layla left and closed the door, and the shop began to shake again, tea cups lifting off the shelves, hovering threateningly. Althea backed up toward the window, eyes wide as she stared at knives floating into the air.

Layla stepped back in, and everything stopped.

Oh my witch.

“You.” I pointed at Layla. “The tea shop wants you. It doesn’t want me.” I thought back to every time the shop acted out. “It’s only ever attacked when you haven’t been here—or in my vicinity.”

There was that time it tried to hurt me when I was in the little alcove with Riven, but Layla hadn’t been anywhere near us.

“She’s right.” Herman pointed his tail at Layla. “She’s actually right.”

“You don’t have to sound so shocked,” I said.

“Oh my goodness.” Layla clapped her hands to her pink cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t spell the shop or anything. I don’t know why it’s doing this.”

I glanced at the tins filled with her recent recipes. “Because you’re better suited to run this place,” I said slowly.

“She’s right again,” Herman said. “Amazing.”

I ignored him. “You’re the one who’s come up with every new recipe, every new spell since I’ve been here. You love this shop. You know it. You know the customers. You’re meant to run it.”

Layla stepped back. “Aunt Morty didn’t think so, and she would know if I was ready.”

I thought of my father, how he assumed I’d been happy all these years... until he saw me and Riven together.

“Morty isn’t infallible,” I said.

“That’s also true.” Herman raised a talon. “She decided not to adopt me. Big mistake, in my opinion.”

Althea nudged Layla. “I told you.”

“You did?” I asked her.

Layla gave a small shrug. “She might have told me once or twice that I had some good ideas.”

“Brilliant ideas,” Althea corrected.

“Well, I’m not going to take the shop from you.” Layla stepped forward. “I’ll just always be here when you’re here, and then it won’t act out against you anymore. ”

“No.” I shook my head. “This place isn’t my dream. It’s yours. And I want you to have it.”

Layla stilled.

“It makes sense,” I said. “The shop knows it, and so do I.”

“So do I,” Herman said. “Also, can I keep sleeping here?”

Layla stood there, eyes wide, not moving or speaking. Althea put a hand on her shoulder, but she still didn’t move.

“Is this what you want?” I asked. “To own this shop? To make a life here in Thistlegrove?”

Layla was silent for a moment. “Yes,” she finally said, so quiet I almost didn’t hear it.

“Then you have to be brave enough to take the opportunity.”

“What if it all goes wrong?” Layla said. “What if I ruin my aunt’s legacy?”

“What if you don’t?” I asked.

“Someone really needs to learn to take their own advice,” Herman muttered.

A smile spread across Layla’s face, a hint of mischief in her eyes that I’d never seen before. “I’ll take over the shop. If you tell Riven your true feelings. If I have to be brave and go after my dreams, then so do you.”

I laughed in disbelief, then stopped. She was right. Herman was right. I pinched the bridge of my nose, realizing I’d forgotten about my promise to take Riven out for dinner. Looks like I was out of excuses. It was time to face him.

“Deal,” I said.

Now I just needed to do it.