Page 24 of The Black Lotus (Fatal Florals Duet #2)

SEVENTEEN

SERENA

“ S erena!” Lena exclaims from behind the counter, placing the new glass design she was working on down and rushing around to greet me. “I haven’t seen you in ages ! Where have you been?” She tackles me without slowing, hugging me tightly.

Sucking in a deep breath, I sink into Lena’s embrace.

I missed the smell and feel of Sinister Beans.

Aster promised me last night, after his punishment, which he was enjoying way too much to truly be considered one, we would go out and get my favorite coffee instead of making it at home.

We’ve been so distracted with everything, it’s been a while since I’ve been in, so Lena must have some new designs ready for me to fill our cupboards with.

She releases me from her hold and pulls back, her fingers tightly wrapping around mine.

Her breath catches, the words getting caught in her throat as she takes in the man behind me, her eyes nearly popping out of her head.

Pulling me close, she whispers. “Don’t look now, but there is a god-like man standing behind you. ”

Giggling lightly, I step back beside Aster and lock my arm with his. “Lena, this is Aster, my boyfriend.” I blush, and pride shines over her features. “Aster, this is Lena, my friend who owns this amazing place.” I gesture to the shop around us.

Aster reaches his hand out to greet her, but Lena goes in for a hug instead, making him tense up and me swallow my laugh.

“I’m a hugger, and I refuse to apologize for it,” she says, letting him go.

“It’s nice to meet you! Now I understand why I haven’t seen you around.

” She winks and we all walk together towards the front to order.

“Oh! Serena, I got some new designs and recipes for you to try.”

My smile is instantaneous. “Really? I can’t wait to try them.”

“Here,” Lena says, reaching over the counter to grab me a menu they didn’t have before. “We’re trying something different. Go sit down, look over what’s new and I’ll be over shortly to take your orders.”

I stare at the options and glance around to see more tables clustered in the shop.

Almost all of them are filled . I didn’t notice when we first walked in, but Lena’s little coffee shop seems to be more, waiters and waitresses walk around taking orders and bringing food out. I think it’s a diner now .

The familiar smell of roasting beans is now overshadowed by the food as a sense of longing washes over me. Wishing for the comfort that this place once brought me as a feeling of discomfort takes its place, while I glance around the unfamiliar space, fidgeting with my fingers.

I grab Aster’s hand, and we walk to an empty table for two. “Was it always like this?” Aster asks.

I shake my head as a frown replaces the excitement I first had walking in.

“No, this is new.” We sit in silence, each looking over our menus.

The front of the menu has all the food options, one half boasting everything savory, the other sweet, and on the back of the menu are all of Lena’s coffee’s including the new ones she mentioned.

I wasn’t expecting to eat here, but now that I’m seeing and smelling all the food being brought out, I think I will try the new menu as well as a coffee.

“Do you know what you’re getting?” I ask Aster.

He looks up. “These apple cinnamon pancakes sound good.” The man loves his sweets. I smile. Maybe I should learn to bake for him. “What about you?”

“I’m feeling something savory since my coffee will be sweet.”

“Let me guess,” he says, glancing across the options once more. “You’re going to get a breakfast burrito with the Chucky drink.”

“You know me so well,” I tease, just as Lena comes to our table.

Even though we haven’t known each other long, the way he can just read my mind tugs at my heartstrings.

“So, what do you think of the new setup?” she asks, pen on her notepad.

“I love it! Your new coffees sound amazing and the food smells delicious. Whose idea was it?”

She blushes. “It was actually Jessie’s; he’s doing all the cooking.”

“Jessie is her husband,” I say to Aster, who nods once. “Who's watching the boys?”

“My mom is; she’s been a saint through the whole transition, and even though it hasn’t been long, we are hoping to gain more customers. Jessie loves getting to try new recipes.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Thanks. I’m really proud of how far we’ve come.” Lena takes a deep breath, shaking away the emotion in her voice. “What can I get you two?”

“I’ll take your breakfast burrito and the Chucky coffee, please.”’

“I had a feeling you were going to choose that one,” she teases, her pen scratching against the paper. “And for you, Aster?”

“Apple pancakes and a Ghostface coffee.”

She smiles. “I’ll be back with your drinks shortly, and the food will be out soon.” She places her pen and pad into her apron and walks away after I say thank you.

I eye Aster warily, wondering if my boyfriend got body snatched while I wasn’t looking. “I’m surprised you ordered the Ghostface coffee; I thought you’d want something not as sweet.”

He shrugs, settling back into his chair. “I knew that would be your next choice, and we don’t know when we will be able to visit again. If I don't like the drink, I’ll order something else, but at least you’ll get to have two new cups.”

My heart swells. He's always thinking of me. Seeing him like this makes me giggle.

He raises an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s just knowing who you are, and how,” I whisper the next word, leaning in close and cupping the side of my mouth, “blood thirsty you are, it’s cute to see your soft side, especially with how on edge we both have been.”

He reaches across the table, intertwining our fingers. “I’ve always been soft for you, little vixen.”

Blushing as he kisses the back of my hand, we don’t shy away from each other even as Lena returns, placing our cups in front of us. My mouth waters. Both have whip cream with red drizzle on top and a little knife sticking out.

“Enjoy!” Lena beams, walking into a set of doors I assume leads to the kitchen.

On my glass is a cartoon Chucky holding a bloody knife with the words ‘Wanna Play’ written in dripping letters with a bloody handprint and red splatter around him.

Perfect for my collection. I take a sip of the drink, forgetting what was in it until my taste buds are consumed by caramel, mocha, and pecans.

The flavors have me closing my eyes and moaning my approval.

Opening my eyes, I’m met with the hungry vision of Aster staring intently at me.

My breath catches in my throat and I slowly swallow down the liquid as I lick my lips and push my glass towards him, taking his while he tries mine.

He hasn’t tasted his drink yet, most likely waiting for me to decide which I prefer.

His glass has a cartoon Ghostface in a bloody mask, holding a bloody knife with the words ‘What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie’ around the image and blood splatter.

I wrap my lips around the straw and am hit with flavors of toasted marshmallow, cinnamon, and toffee. I groan again, my eyes fluttering closed at the taste. I don’t know which one I Iike more.

Taking my cup back, I slide Aster’s slowly across the table, not wanting to give it up.

He pushes his coffee back towards me with a smirk. “They’re both good, not too sweet either.”

“The perfect amount,” I grin.

Lena returns, dropping the food in front of us with a wink and walks away.

We eat in comfortable silence, the food too good to interrupt with talking.

Everytime Aster cuts into his food, his sweater tightens around his chest. When he put it on this morning, I made a comment about it getting warmer, and he said he needed to hide the evidence of last night's escapades.

Which made us both second guess even leaving the house, but my need for coffee won over my need to be ravished.

Once we’re done, Lena comes back and pulls up a chair to sit with us.

“What did you guys think? Can we keep this up?”

“Lena, I say this as your friend…” I trail off and her eyes drop, her mouth tilting downward. I grab her hands, too excited to pretend anymore. “Everything was delicious; my only complaint is that you didn’t do this sooner.”

Her eyes light up. “I’m so happy you love it! I was hoping when I saw you again it would be a great surprise.”

“It was.”

Her knuckles go white as she looks out the window, a grim look darkening her features.

Aster and I look where she is and see nothing.

We turn back to look at one another, my brow dipping in concern as Aster shrugs just as confused.

She looks at me, pursing her lips and mouths a word I can’t make out.

“I’ll be right back.” She bolts from the table, leaving me and Aster sitting there alone and confused.

I shrug, answering Aster’s silent question.

Lena has never acted like that before, but she looked like she saw a ghost with how her face paled and her energy alone made the feeling in the room chill.

I rub my arms slowly, the feeling of dread washing over me like a phantom wrapping its hand around my throat and slowly taking away my oxygen.

Aster tenses as he sits up straighter and pins me with a concerned look.

His body twists to the side as if he is about to get up and come to my side, but I look at him and shake my head, mouthing the words, ‘I’m okay,’ which has him relaxing a little.

Lena runs back into the room, out of breath with a manic spark in her eyes, and places something into my hand. “Keep this with you. I don’t know why, but I have this overwhelming feeling you are going to need it.” Her eyes plead with mine to listen.

Confused, I look down, opening my hand to see a small box cutter that has a wrist attachment to it. She slides the cord around my arm, slipping the blade up my sleeve. “Keep it hidden.”

Her words cause a dread of wary to skitter across my skin. Does she know something I don’t? The only logical answer, I refuse to believe, is she knows about the hit list and what is coming. I look at her, trying to find any crack in her features, but she is truly scared for me.

Nodding my head, I whisper, “I promise.” She smiles, relieved, squeezing my fingers briefly before walking away, and I look at a not too happy Aster.

He is on edge, his knuckles white around his nearly empty coffee.

Before I can assure him everything is okay, my phone goes off.

Only two people call me regularly, and one of them is sitting across from me.

I answer without looking, hearing a crying Sharon on the other end.

“Serena.” Every cell in my body freezes, the feeling I had multiplying tenfold as my breathing stutters in my lungs. I feel Aster’s hand grip my arm as my vision blurs.

“Sharon, what’s wrong?”

“It’s your dad, he… he was in an accident.”

A sob escapes my lips, my eyes meeting Aster’s in fear. “Is he okay?” I ask, my lips trembling.

“No, he’s in the hospital. I’m outside the coffee shop. Hurry.”

Not thinking, I jump to my feet, toppling my chair in the process.

My brain is thinking of all the horrible possibilities.

Does Dad’s accident have to do with me? Did someone hurt him to get to me?

Is he okay? Fuck. Please be okay. I hear Aster screaming my name as I run out the door and jump into Sharon's car.

Clicking the seatbelt, I turn to Sharon, tears streaming down my face. “What happened to my dad?”

She’s eerily calm for someone whose fiancée is in the hospital.

Before I can process why her mascara isn’t running down her face, I hear Aster banging on the back door trying to get into the car.

I go to unlock it for him, but feel a cloth cover my face.

I don’t register what is happening as my vision darkens and my head hits the window.

The last thing I see is an evil smile crossing Sharon's features as Aster screams my name, the tires screeching away.