Page 41 of Moonlight Hearts

While the two of them were in the back, Rae and I had a chat by the coffee makers.“Everyone’s staring at the new manager.More than they’re normally staring at you.”

I let out a low breath, trying my best not to let it turn into a sigh.“Yeah.Do you think they’re, like, an incubus?”

Rae’s lips pressed tight.“Nope, they’re not.You don’t like incubi?”

I shrugged.“I’ve never met one.”My mouth fell open.“Wait, you’re telling me they’re actually real, right?That’s what you’re saying?You’re not making fun of me or anything?”

“They’re real.But Blondie isn’t one of them.Pretty good with the customers though.”

I looked over my shoulder.“Right, I noticed that.Guess they’d have to be, what with being a co-manager.”

“Yeah.”Rae licked their bottom lip as if they wanted to say more on the matter.

“He was a little odd.When he got here.He got here early.”

Rae cocked their head.“Like you?”

“Uh, well…”

They rolled their eyes.“Wait, are you telling me they’re going to be just like you, with the no-phone thing and the neat freak rules?”

“Huh?I have no neat freak rules!And I never told you not to use your phone.In fact, you’re always using your phone.”

They buffed their neatly painted nails on their shirt.“True.It’s more of a self-imposed framework for you.I was wondering whether Thaeros might be more easygoing.”

I heard hissing from behind me and turned.

“Psst.”Kasey wiggled his fingers at us.“Are we doing gossip?May I be included?”

“We don’t gossip,” I told him.

Rae huffed a sigh and put their hand on my shoulder.“Exactly, Kasey.We’d never ever do that, would we?”

Kasey cleared his throat.“Riiight, I forgot.Gotta cook.”

He went back to whatever was sizzling in the background.

“Are you serious?You gossip?”

Rae shrugged.“I wouldn’t call it gossip.We just talk sometimes.In the secret chat, you know.”

“Oh, come on.”

“It’s all good, Amory.We never say anything actually bad, we just maybe wonder what you’d do if you found a funny-looking stain on one of the menus and whether it would really upset you if you always saw the same stain in the same spot.It was a thought experiment.”

They grinned at me like some junior villain.All they needed to really pull off that look was a little more makeup, a costume, and a black cape.

I crossed my arms.“You two are impossible.”

“Sorry!”Kasey hollered from the kitchen.

Rae kept up their grin.“Yes.We’re very sorry.”

“For your information, I’d say ‘Out, damned spot.’”

Rae’s mouth shifted into a perfect O.“That’s what Elias said.”

“Elias is in on this?”