Page 9 of Must Love Libraries and Libations (Moonshine Hollow #2)

We both laughed, but I noticed how Juniper’s eyes lingered a moment too long, a soft smile forming on her lips. After a moment, she seemed to collect herself then looked away.

“Speaking of introverts,” I said. “You will never guess who I had the pleasure of arguing with today.”

Juniper cocked her head sideways in confusion. “ You had an argument with someone?”

“Not just anyone. Master Erasmus.”

Juniper gasped lightly. “The gargoyle?”

I nodded then proceeded to tell her what had transpired at the library. Granik returned just as I was finishing my tale. He leaned in to hear, his eyes wide.

“What will you do?” Juniper asked.

“Oh, I’m not letting him get the better of me. We will have our party.”

Granik nodded. “If anyone can convince him, Prim, it’s you.”

“I’m sure it will be beautiful as always,” Juniper added. “You just have to help him see it.”

“I’ve run into that gargoyle once or twice. Not much for words,” Granik said. “And people call me grumpy.”

“Who calls you grumpy?” Juniper asked him teasingly.

He merely winked at her in reply.

“Worse, he was downright rude to Elder Theodonna. Grumpy is one thing, but rude to an elder is unforgiveable.”

“That is a problem,” Granik agreed.

“Speaking of problems,” Juniper said, her gaze drifting behind Granik for just a moment.

I took a deep breath, expecting to find Kevin there, but instead, it was one of Cousin Annie Beth’s daughters, Marley.

“Hi, Marley,” I said with a smile. “I like your overalls.”

Marley, who was a cheerful girl with a mop of long red hair and bright blue eyes, smiled widely. She had dressed up as a cupid swan, complete with pink feathers and glittery red hearts, the shapes of the swans painted onto the legs of her overalls, a pink feather in her hair.

“Thank you, Prim. I love yours as well,” she said then turned to Granik. “I’m so glad to see you here, Granik,” she told him, her long lashes fluttering as she eyed the orc with such longing, I thought Granik might blush.

“I am happy to be invited, neighbor,” Granik replied diplomatically.

For the longest time, Marley had been trying to catch Granik’s attention, but all her efforts were for naught.

The orc didn’t seem to notice, not even when Marley had delivered him a picnic lunch, which he’d shared with his workers.

Once, Marley had even left him a pie on his porch, but afraid it was the work of meddlesome brownies, he’d thrown it away.

I smiled at Marley. “You remember Juniper, right, Mar?”

“Sure. Hi, Juniper,” Marley said, not turning from Granik. “Granik, I was wondering if you would… Well, will you dance with me?”

Granik stiffened at once and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Of course he will,” Juniper said, taking the tankard from Granik’s hand and giving him a gentle push.

“I will?” he asked Juniper.

“Yes. Go on.”

“Great,” Marley said, a wide smile crossing her face as she took Granik’s hand and pulled him toward the square.

“I’m not much of a dancer,” Granik told Marley as he headed off with her.

“Oh, that’s all right,” Marley replied, smiling at him.

Turning back, Granik gave Juniper such a look that it made her giggle.

When the music started, the pair began to dance, arms linked together as they spun in circles, Granik looking helplessly back toward Juniper.

“You will never hear the end of that,” I told her.

“I know, but it’s good for him. He never dances with anyone. If he had it his way, he’d just stand beside me all night. He wouldn’t even come without me.”

I raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing.

As Marley and Granik turned on the dance floor, Granik kept looking Juniper’s way. She signaled directions to him, keeping him turning in time with the others.

“He’s lost without you,” I said, watching for Juniper’s reaction.

Juniper merely laughed and kept clapping with the tempo. “Yes,” she said, laughing loudly. “Poor creature.”

“Primrose!” My mother’s voice cut through the sound of the music. I cringed. Turning, I found her pulling Kevin toward me. “There you are. Poor Kevin has been looking for you everywhere.”

“I have?” Kevin asked, confused.

Beside me, Juniper giggled.

“Yes. You have. Now, go join the others,” she told Kevin and me, gesturing to the dance square.

“Good evening, Missus Windsong,” Juniper greeted my mother politely.

“Juniper, dear. I didn’t see you there. No wonder Primrose was distracted.

You have such wonderful friends, Primrose, such elegant and successful women with such serious businesses.

You know, Juniper, I was wondering if you would look at this mole on my neck.

I have tried everything to get rid of it with a rosemary tonic, but?—”

“Come on, Kevin,” I said, gesturing for the potato man to join me in the dance square. For once, I was glad for an escape from both my mother’s constant jabs about my work not being serious enough and her physical complaints.

Looking over my shoulder, I mouthed sorry to Juniper then turned to face my punishment.

Behind me, I heard Granik try—and fail—to escape Marley’s clutches.

We were both trapped in country dance purgatory.

When the reel started, Kevin and I began our dance.

It went about as expected. He knew the moves, but he was so…lifeless. No fire. No spark. Just…potato man.

“What do you do for fun, Kevin?”

He blinked, as if he’d never considered the question before. “I…collect bugs.”

“Bugs. What kind of bugs?”

“All kinds.”

“Do you have a favorite?”

He paused in our dance and opened the pocket of his shirt, revealing a beetle tucked inside. “Mainly beetles. This was on the sunflowers.”

“That’s very sweet.”

“It is?”

“Yes. Do you have a terrarium for them at home?”

“No. Why?”

“So they have somewhere to live?”

“I wait until they die and then display them in shadow boxes.”

“Oh, I see…” I said, suddenly envisioning the walls of his home covered in dead creatures, their faces all looking at me in nightmarish terror. “Well… What about your work? Do you enjoy your work?” I asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from nightmare fuel.

“I go and do the work.”

“But don’t enjoy it?”

“I don’t dislike it.”

“I see,” I said, praying the reel ended soon.

Dying here. I am literally dying here.

I locked eyes for a moment with Granik who appeared to be in similar pain.

“Pets? Do you have any pets?” I asked, suddenly worried about some poor, unsuspecting caticorn whose fate was to be displayed in a shadow box.

“No.”

Thank the gods.

“How about a favorite place in Moonshine Hollow? Maybe a café or pub?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, you have a favorite place?”

“Yes.”

“Which is…”

“My house.”

“Right. Well, that is good that you love your home.”

“Okay.”

There was a lull in the conversation once more.

Kevin, who was decidedly not asking any questions, seemed far more worried about the beetle in his pocket than getting to know me.

“How about…” I began but couldn’t think of anything to ask. Nothing. There was nothing to ask him.

I was relieved beyond words when Cousin Annie Beth interrupted us.

“Primrose, I’m so sorry to bother you, but I need you for a moment. My apologies, Kevin.”

“Okay,” Kevin said then turned and walked away.

“What’s wrong, Cousin?” I asked as Annie Beth led me to the edge of the party.

“Bugs! Bugs trying to get on the food, bugs biting people, just…bugs. Ugh! Can you help?”

“Of course,” I said, then turned and summoned a simple charm that swept over the party like a warm breeze that smelled faintly of honeysuckle to us, but to the bugs, nothing but pure citronella.

And while I was at it, I added one more enchantment, adding on a spell that settled over the party like the twinkling glow of fireflies, a gentle enchantment that reminded people to set their worries aside and just be in the moment.

The moment the spell was cast, people smiled a little wider, eyes shined a little brighter, and they all laughed a little louder.

Cousin Annie Beth smiled contentedly. “Oh, Primrose, your magic is so beautiful.”

“And bug-free.”

She laughed. “And bug-free. Thank you, my dear. No matter what anyone says, your magic is a blessing to us all.” She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek. “Now, make your escape from Kevin while you have the chance.”

I laughed, and Cousin Annie Beth walked away, going to check the food once more, smiling with satisfaction at her bug-free buffet.

As I watched her, I thought about her words, “No matter what anyone says…” Anyone, of course, being my mother, who found my magic…unimpressive.

And she never let me forget it.

I exhaled deeply, then turned, planning to rejoin Juniper and Granik. The two were elbowing one another playfully, then Granik took her hand and led her to the dance square.

Is it finally happening?

But when the music started, they made goofy faces at one another and danced in a silly fashion, Granik twirling her out of time with the music.

Nope.

I scanned the square. My mother was busy with the other cousins, my father was lost somewhere amongst the sunflowers, and I…

Maybe Cousin Annie Beth didn’t think my magic was boring, but my life sure was.

I enjoyed the party, the food, the music, and even the overalls.

But something was missing. Something… or someone .

I needed some excitement, I just didn’t know what form it would take.

But in that sliver of a moment, that infuriating gargoyle appeared in my mind once more.

I needed something enticing, not enraging .

“I have pie,” a voice said from behind me.

I turned to find Kevin with two plates loaded with slices of my mother’s horrible pie in his hands.

“Thank you,” I said, taking a plate from him.

He gave me a polite nod then stood there with his plate.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He’d already tasted the pie, no doubt.

“My beetle got away.”

My spell had worked, ridding the party of mosquitoes and saving unsuspecting beetles from untimely deaths.

“I’m sorry.”

“Okay,” Kevin said then took a bite. He stared at the pie a moment, as if confused, then shrugged and took another bite.

With a defeated sigh, I turned and joined him, taking a bite of the hideous pie and wistfully watching the happy, dancing pairs while desperately wishing for something more.