Page 2 of Nix and Tell (The Arun Nixes #1)

2

Violet

I shouldn’t tease her.

It’s been a year since I opened Spellbound, the shop directly next to Chlo’s queer tailors, and she’s as awkward around me now as she was that very first day. And I still can’t help teasing her.

It helps that I don’t think she realises that I’m doing it. I’m fairly certain that she sees me as some kind of bubbly innocent, and so my machinations always pass her by.

She looks hot tonight, though she always looks hot. Impeccably dressed in a bespoke tailored suit, with braces, a tie and a blazer that makes me wish that I could pull off a suit like that.

It’s not that I’m too curvy for a suit, just that I’m too curvy for a suit off the rack, and too broke to have one tailored for me. Besides, I think I rock my little goth girl style. Black boots, short black dresses with entirely too much leather and lace for a respectable woman in her thirties. Perfect for me.

It’s not exactly a long walk to Finn’s bakery, considering all the shops are housed in the same building. It was a mill at some point, or so Hazel said once, and now it’s split up into a quartet of equally niche businesses. Chlo’s queer tailors; Finn’s vegan bakery; Hazel’s art studio; and my beloved Spellbound.

The bakery is warm and smells amazing as we walk in. Finn’s laid out a selection of baked goods for us, and I dive for them, mumbling greetings around a mouthful of flaky pastry.

Hazel’s there already, tucked into the smallest corner she possibly can, her eyes devouring the food the way my mouth is. Finn puts a doughnut on a plate and places it in front of her without a word. She peeks up, nods her thanks, and then takes a bite.

I’m still standing, hopping from foot to foot as I eat, humming in pleasure and doing my little happy food dance. The three of them are used to me by now, and no one makes a snarky comment, or tells me to shut up. Food stims are the best stims and I’m so glad that I don’t have to mask after a full day in the shop. Customers are great, especially when they ask questions and buy things so I can pay my rent, but it’s also exhausting to be on .

A chair is pulled out by the table, and a shoulder gently nudges me towards it. Sitting down, I grin at helpful Chlo, whose face is completely blank.

How does she do it? I’m always impressed that no matter what happens, those stoic looks are forever on her face. The only way I can tell that I’ve thrown her is when she ruffles my hair. I close my eyes for a second. I now the others will think it’s because of the food, but it’s not. It’s because I’m remembering the touch of her fingers, accidentally grazing my cheek as she pulls back from messing with my hair.

“So,” says Finn, and my eyes fly open. That’s a clear ‘I’m starting the meeting now’ voice. “Winter business hasn’t been too bad, but I was thinking that we should really do a social media push this spring. The Spring Equinox is three weeks away–on a Saturday, no less–and I think it’d be the perfect opportunity to maybe make a day of it. ‘A Day At Riverside’, or something.”

“Works for me,” I say. “I could open up my equinox ritual to outsiders; do it on the riverbank during the day.”

“Yes,” said Finn, warming to the idea. “I can sell themed spring vegetable tartlets, and lemon cakes, and we could speak to Kit about the pub having mead-based cocktails on the menu.”

Chlo and Hazel looked at each other at the mention of Kit’s name. “I’m not really sure…” began Hazel hesitantly. “Kit’s quite private.”

“She’ll come if Marla comes.” Finn seemed certain.

The other two didn’t exactly disagree, but neither of them looked convinced.

“I can do a live painting of the river,” suggested Hazel. “And maybe people might be interested in ordering prints?”

“They definitely would,” I said. “Your artwork is beautiful, Hazel.”

She blushed, tucking a long strand of pink hair behind her ear. “It’s all the river.” I don’t know that I could be so modest about my talents if I were Hazel; her art is stunning. Somehow the river feels truly alive in her work.

There was a pause, and then we all looked at Chlo.

“It’s a smart idea,” she said. “I’ll think of someway for Suited to get involved.”

“Excellent!” said Finn. “Let me know what you land on, Chlo, and I’ll start working on the social media graphics. Another meeting to finalise details this time next week? Whose turn is it to host?”

“Mine, though I can’t promise anything as delicious as this,” I say, waggling my eyebrows at Finn.

“Yeah, yeah,” she says. “I’ll bring food.”

After the last crumbs of baked deliciousness have been polished off, we all head out.

It’s a Friday evening and as much as I love my new home, Wyrten Bridge isn’t exactly buzzing with choices for an evening’s entertainment. But The Arun Arms does some really good food, and has a surprisingly good variety of drinks for a village pub. Besides, I figure that there’s no time like the present for persuading Kit to join our plans.

Chlo follows me as I head up and over the bridge, her eyes flickering to the stained-glass windows of the church and back as we pass it.

“I think Finn’s right, Kit’ll come around if we can persuade Marla.”

“Finn doesn’t know how much Kit hates magic.”

That makes me stop. “What?”

“Kit hates magic, and I can pretty much guarantee that if it’s got anything to do with a feast day or a ritual, she’ll be having none of it.”

“That’s foolish,” I argue, fighting to keep my tone light. “She does things for Christmas, and that’s just Yule dressed up in Christian clothing.”

Chlo doesn’t say anything else, but I’m uneasy now. I’ve liked going to the pub on occasion, and the idea that Kit hates magic has thrown me off-kilter. Spellbound is my home, and it felt like all the locals had embraced my weird pagan shop with gusto. Now I’m second guessing myself, wondering whether I should really be here at all. Whether I’m going to–

“Shit.” Chlo’s voice is far closer than I’d expected, lost in my own thoughts and I jump backwards and almost trip over. She reaches out and catches me before I can fall, pulling me upright.

If she’d tugged me just an inch closer, I’d be up against her right now.

Damn her spatial awareness.

“I didn’t mean to make you jump.”

“That’s okay–”

“And I definitely didn’t mean to make you nervous about Kit.” She looks down, and her fingers fiddle with her tie. “Kit’s not an arsehole, and she definitely doesn’t have a problem with Spellbound, it’s just that she’s been burnt by… well by some dodgy shit in the past, and it makes her wary of anything magic-adjacent.”

I blink.

“So you really shouldn’t worry, I promise.” She looks up from her tie then, and her eyes are a dark green, so dark they could almost be black.

I force my face into a smile, but she’s having none of it. Her thumb goes beneath my chin, and she makes me keep looking up, at her.

“It’s fine, Violet. Seriously.”

I nod and she steps back, and it feels like she’s taken all the oxygen in the evening air with her. Fingers dance by my sides and I don’t quite know what to do now, torn between wanting to go to the pub, and wanting to go home and hide under my covers forever.

A sudden sigh, and she’s taking my hand and marching us both towards the pub.

I guess we’re going to the pub after all.