Page 19 of Of Poison & Pumpkins (Of Witches & Men #3)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Elias

I have to pretend I didn’t just confess my desperate need to kiss Rynn as she stares at the high windows, where rain splatters against the glass panes.

“That’s hurricane season for ya,” Rynn mumbles. “One minute it’s warm and sunny, then in the blink of an eye storms roll in and out like nothing ever happened.”

She’s about to say something else but stops mid breath as I peek at my phone to check the radar and notice missed messages from Zanther.

Sofa-guy has been wandering around Blake Street. Barefoot and shirtless. He’s not buying anything or answering any questions. What should I do?

Nothing man, just ignore him.

Think his name is Porter if anyone asks.

What if he causes a scene

Do what you gotta do

And thanks for watching Pumpkins again. I owe you

Yeah you do!!!!!

Night out!!! Meet me at 10

Can’t

Why?

Not in town

….?

Tell you later

It’s the girl.

Tell me I’m wrong

Shut up

“Everything okay?” Rynn asks, curiosity in her eyes.

“Yeah, Zee’s gonna give me crap when he sees us on our date. What would you want to do? Rock climb? I can’t promise I’ll make it to the top, but I bet you’re a good teacher. You won’t drop me, will you? Nah, of course you won’t.” I tap my fingers against my knee. “We could get milkshakes?”

“What if customers see the owners of two rival shops together? They might think we’re teaming up against the other stores.” She drops her gaze and draws flowers in the dirt with her finger. “Plus, you shouldn’t be seen with me in public. I’ll be arrested soon.”

In this moment, she looks more delicate than a painter’s feathery touch. I want to take her hand, but restrain myself and dig an outline for another image in the dirt with a twig. I’ll save the date-talk for another day, but there’s no chance I’m letting her walk away from our deal.

“We can’t give up, Rynnlee. Not yet. We’ll find whoever took your paint.”

Rynn tosses her arms in the air. “That could make it worse! If I’m in possession of the cursed paint, there’s more reason to arrest me. I’ll be caught red-handed.”

“Or purple-handed,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

But her frown remains, as gloomy as the thunder booming outside.

Time to try another approach. “Okay, remind me of the ingredients we need for the antidote. Maybe if we have it ready, then if the cops do arrest you, they’ll let you off easy for saving the day. ”

“It calls for two chopped carrots, cut diagonally, three seeds from a Futsu pumpkin, and ten holly berries from a raven’s nest, mixed with a spoon made of yarn. Must be created on a starry night.”

“Alright!” I clap my hands together. “Let’s focus on the antidote for now. Carrots we’ll buy at the mart on the way home. The Futsu seeds we’ll grab from my uncle’s farm. It’s a bit of a detour, and the storm might delay us, but it’s doable. But I have no idea how to find a raven’s nest.”

“Tinsley can. The spell she chose this month is for her bird-watching hobby, so her magic will make it easier.” Rynn’s voice gains a dash of hope and she leans back on both palms. “But someone needs to run my shop.”

“I’ll ask Kurt,” I say, reaching for my phone. “Crap, I lost service.”

“Cell tower must’ve been struck.”

She continues to watch me, and I pretend not to notice.

What does she see when she looks at me? Does she see my Venezuelan features and wonder if I’ve ever visited my homeland?

I have the urge to list off every strange quirk about myself, to test her reaction.

More than anything, I want her to know all the pieces of me.

How I can never successfully pop an ice cube out of a tray without another one falling to the ground.

And that if I could have a superpower, I’d choose to read minds.

Goddess, what I’d give to read her mind right now.

Her eyes have power flowing through them, swirling with potential.

Why does she hide herself from the world?

If I had a wish, I’d want to help her believe in herself, and give her the tools to see her soul the way I do.

Wait. The wish!

“Rynn! I have the wish! Ask for the antidote, and it’ll appear in my hand automagically.

We won’t have to spend time searching for the ingredients,” I say, immediately regretting my words because I want to spend more time with her, even if the adventure leads us on a wild hunt.

Though, I also need her name cleared. It’d be highly unfortunate if she falls in love with me, but winds up in prison.

“No, Dude. I won’t ever use your magic for my own gain. Don’t ask again.”

“Dude? Terrible nickname, I won’t respond to that one.”

“Your eyebrows are doing their thinking dance.” Rynn tilts her head like she’s investigating, hypothesizing about my response.

“They have a thinking dance?”

The only way to win this is to surprise her. Give her something unexpected—something real. “If I could travel through time, I’d go to the day my dad left and beg him not to. But then it may have changed the course of my life that would prevent me from sitting here with you right now.”

Our hands are close where we’ve been doodling in the dirt, and I let my pinky brush against hers.

Rynn bites her lip, then smiles again, showing off that one crooked tooth on the side. “Your body is mirroring me. Every time I lean forward, you do too, Sugarsnaps. Ooh, that’s a good one.” Her smile widens, making my heart explode.

“Yes, Sunflower?”

“I’ve been wondering, why did you choose to open your sh?—”

Lightning flashes out the window, followed by a boom of thunder overhead. The sound ricochets through the arena.

“I couldn’t hear that last part.” I scoot closer until our hips touch.

“I said why did you choose to open Pumpkins in Oakmar?”

“My uncle won’t let me in on the family business until I prove myself.”

She waves me off. “You already told me that part. But you could’ve opened a store anywhere. Why in Oakmar?”

“Well, be patient, little lady, and I’ll get to that part.

” I nudge her side softly with my elbow.

“I needed a place where the eccentricity of Pumpkins would thrive. I asked my friends for location ideas. Zanther knew about the unique shops on Blake Street. He sent me a few links. When I did my research, I had a mini heart attack when I saw your picture on Palooza’s page.

” I pause, hoping I haven’t gone too far.

“Rynn, you have been in the back of my mind for so frackin’ long that I thought I was hallucinating. ”

She’s watching me so intently that I wonder if she’s holding her breath.

“I was nervous that the idea and memory I had of you was too good to be true. So, it took me a while to convince myself to find you on social media. I only gathered a few bits and pieces of your life, but you seemed even better than I remembered.

“I saw the protest you created last year to stop the magic declaration system. I agree with it. The Council shouldn’t force Fuzers to share their spell with Nergs.

It’s too controlling. I’ll never forget that quote you had in the newspaper: ‘ Freedom means the ability for us to use magic when and where we want without having to inform others .’”

Rynn opens her mouth to speak, then closes it again, waiting. I’m not sure if that means she wants me to continue or she’s in shock.

“And the few pictures you posted proved that I’d still be crazy about you. They convinced me to travel cross country to take you on a date. You were sooo cute in that picture with the rescue cat …”

“Which one?” She blushes.

“The black one.”

“Oh, yeah, Zoomie.”

“And the rock-climbing pictures are such a turn-on. I was immediately protective like a caveman. At the same time, I wanted to brag about you to everyone.” I rub my chin, my pulse and nerves skyrocketing from exposing so much.

“What percent stalker are you? Fifty?” She laughs.

“Hey, now. I had the decency not to investigate your bathroom drawers when you shoved me in there. Though, I did see a few bookshelves on your shelf and plan to borrow each title from the library.”

“Elias …” she whispers, leaning closer. “You’re …

you’re sweet. Unhinged and obsessed, and definitely eighty percent stalker, but sweet.

And the only reason I’m not making a mad dash to the door after that deranged confession is because I did the same thing.

I creeped on your social media right after I heard a customer mention you in my shop last month. ”

“Really? Who?”

“I only heard his voice, but thinking back, it may have been Zanther. He mentioned the Thoren Pumpkin farms cutting their staff in half last year because of AI stealing their jobs and how he knew ‘Elias’ would figure out a way to fix it when he joins the marketing team. When I heard your name, I think time stood still. But I convinced myself it couldn’t be you he was talking about.

I knew you went into marketing, but there must be a ton of guys with your name.

Plus, why would someone in Oakmar be talking about some guy from Indiana? ”

Desperately wanting her to keep going, I slowly graze my pinky up her forearm. Her eyes flutter shut for a beat, and I swear she leans into my touch.

She continues, “So, yeah, I looked you up. All your profiles were public, so you were an open book and damn, you post frequently. After scrolling through pictures, you seemed like an honest guy who loves to kayak. I was almost angry to not see a lot of drinking shots at bars or blondes wrapped around your waist or wild boys’ nights in Cancun. ”

“I don’t drink.” I rush out, taking this opening.

“Alcohol I mean. I can’t drink again. I made some mistakes in the past.” I speak so fast she might not even understand.

“I wish I had stopped drinking sooner, then I’d have found you earlier.

Should I have told you at all? Being a possible alcoholic is a red flag, isn’t it? ”

“I’d want to know more about that sometime to support you as a friend. Because all we can be is friends. Am I attracted to you? Yes. And do I kind of want to see what it’s like to kiss you? Yes, but not now. Not yet.”

“Okay, I can wait, Sunflower. Just be aware that you’re absolutely slaughtering my sense of balance and any chance of productivity for the near future.”

“What if it’s forever?”

“Forever is not such a long time when it’s spent seducing the one you care for.”

The door to the barn flies open. I get a whiff of the thick scent of rainfall as the downpour rushes in. A dozen soaked unicorns gallop inside as Viv runs after them, corralling them with wild gestures.

Rynn jumps to her feet and helps the frantic unicorns, using a steady voice with both hands out wide. My body snaps to action. Alexandra doesn’t seem aware that she’s about to be smothered in a stampede. I scoop her up and place her out of danger by the wall.

When I turn, a smear of purple, pink, and white beasts circles Rynn. My heart rams wildly in my chest. What if they flatten her?

“Rynnlee!” I run over. I dart between two unicorn foals who wobble on legs thinner than spaghetti. “You okay?”

Uninhibited laughter erupts from the mayhem. When I finally weave around polka-dotted flanks, the flurry opens to Rynn smiling, with golden glitter sprinkled in her hair. Both her hands rest on a unicorn’s shoulders as it licks her nose repetitively.

“That tickles,” she giggles and cringes.

This is the type of scene to be filed away as a core memory. Another tight squeeze in my chest warns me that I’m in serious trouble.

Once the unicorns calm, Viv leads two at a time through the arena’s gate to their stalls. Standing next to Rynn, I pet the nearest unicorn. Even the way she touches the creature shows such adoration and respect.

“Guess we should drive to my uncle’s pumpkin patch soon,” I say quietly to Rynn, wondering if she notices how much I’m trying not to let her rejection get to me.

“I’m pretty sure we passed a bridge on the way in, so the road back might be flooded.”

Another door rattles and then flies open from the wind.

“Can’t go anywhere,” Viv says as she re-enters the arena, but I can barely hear her over the crashing rain. “... all night ... flood warnings … Waken County.”

Quickly, I jog to the side door and lock it shut.

As we each guide unicorns by their leads, I exchange a quick glance with Rynn. She doesn’t seem to be bothered that our journey to collect the ingredients is put on hold.

I shrug. “Well, if we get to stay here, then I’ll help cook dinner.”

“Lovely! I was thinking chicken tacos and I’d love some help in the kitchen.

” Viv leads us down a new hall. “Long ago, before The Unicorn Acts were in effect, this place hosted sleep-away camps for kids who wanted to learn to ride. I’m glad it was finally shut down since the animals weren’t treated well, plus they had to carry around little ones for ten hours a day. ”

Rynn nods as we follow her through a maze of hallways that are more like long tunnels connecting the barns.

When Viv turns another corner, she says, “This storm won’t let you leave tonight and there isn’t a lack of beds to choose from, see?” She flips a switch and lights flicker on.

Inside a high-rafted barn, decorated with twinkling stringed lights, there are at least ten rows of twin-sized beds, lined up in long columns. I rise on my tiptoes and count. Yup, at least one hundred beds to choose from.

“Which one should we share?” I grin at Rynn, who rolls her eyes.