Chapter 7 Sam

S unlight spilled into the tiny guest cottage, and I stretched until my toes curled. I didn't need to see my reflection to know that my hair would be in a bun today, the frizzy curls tickling the back of my neck. I sucked down a full glass of water before pulling on some yoga pants and a tank top, assuming I'd be doing inventory and unpacking boxes all day. I looked in the full-length mirror on the front of the wardrobe and squashed my inner pessimist's urge to criticize my appearance. Instead, I began my ritual of saying nice things to myself first thing in the morning. I read something that said people could train their brains to be more positive by saying things out loud, even if they didn't mean them. I figured it was bullshit, but I was nothing if not dedicated to proving things wrong. Unfortunately, I did feel better at the beginning of every day, and now I talk to myself in the mirror each morning like a lunatic.

"Your hair is very healthy and looks whimsical in a messy bun."

No, it doesn't. I gritted my teeth.

"Your belly is cute. Handsome, non-douchebag-type-men are attracted to your curves."

What men? Where are these men?

"You are absolutely getting your life together, and today is the first day of the new chapter." I smiled to trick my brain into happiness and didn't roll my eyes until I'd walked away from the mirror. I already felt the little dopamine hit from my pep talk.

Annoying.

"Good morning," Zinnia called without looking up from the paper. She had a platter of fruit and bagels out, and nothing had ever sounded better.

"So, I'm ready to work today! Whatever you need me to get started on is fine. Laur even said she'd come by later and help."

"Oh, perfect. You'll be doing all the boring things I hate to do and have, therefore, put off for months and months." She grinned unapologetically at me before going back to the paper.

"Happy to do it."

"You say that now. But you haven't seen the shipments sitting in boxes taking up almost all of the back area."

I shrugged; it really didn't matter. I loved the shop; she needed help, and I needed a job. Swallowing down the shame of needing said job was becoming a more familiar feeling, even if it wasn't getting easier. I finished eating while she got ready, and we headed to Books and Broomsticks together. Walking in from the back parking lot into the office and storage space was like traveling in a time machine. It still smelled of the incense and essential oils and soaps that it always had, and the scent wrapped around me in a hug. I threw my bag onto the office desk, cringing at the natural disaster of invoices and receipts strewn about, but that was how I'd help. Zinnia was a genius at creating an aesthetic, stocking the coolest stuff, and keeping people interested. The paperwork to make all that happen? Not so much.

After vaguely gesturing to a mountain of boxes and handing me a spiral notebook with handwritten inventory numbers in it, it sunk in how much work lay before me. But for now, I would roll with her non-existent system and at least get shit unpacked so we could tag it and sell it. Mabon and Samhain, or the Golden Harvest Festival and Halloween to non-witch-people, were coming up in September and October, and those were two of the biggest tourist-attracting events to the shop. Zin went to the storefront and lit her candles, dusted, put on some Fleetwood Mac, and switched the sign to ‘Open.' As for me, I sighed and grabbed the box cutter.

"WERE YOU PLANNING TO help go through any of this inventory? Or just gaze at your own face in your phone?"

I shot an almost manic smile at Lauren, who looked quite comfortable sitting on the one folding chair in the storage area . I, on the other hand, was covered in dust and opening what felt like my twelfth box of crystal balls, which were heavy .

"Listen, I know we're in the middle of dealing with your existential crisis, and I'm with you, but this app is making me wonder if I need bangs again. Like they look sexy here."

She flashed her phone screen my way. I blinked, trying to remember why I'd agreed to her coming to ‘help' in the first place. Her face stared back at me from whatever app she was in, but her long red hair had a set of wispy bangs in the image.

"You hate bangs because they always touch the tops of your glasses when you wear them. Now start counting candles."

"Oh my GOD, I do hate that. This is why you're my best friend. And yes, counting candles, going now!" She grabbed the notebook from the ground and shuffled toward the other end of the back room. "But turn on music, please! You know I can't work in silence."

I grinned at that and flipped on the radio on the ancient boom box. It helped boost morale. I finished with the crystal balls and placed the last box on one of the shelves I'd cleared off for ready-to-tag items. It was slowly looking like there was a rhyme or reason to the piles of stuff I'd found in every corner of this room.

"There are one billion candles," Lauren deadpanned, pulling her hair up into a high pony.

"I know. That's why I got you to come count them."

"Rude."

I laughed in response. "Let's try to count boxes rather than individual candles for the colored tapers and skinny spell candles for now. We will only count the large charm candles on their own." We got to work listing products, making tallies, and filling up the cleared shelves. After the crystal balls, candles, herb bundles, and only a small portion of the crystals, it was almost six o'clock.

"Did you eat today?" Lauren asked as I shut off the lights and locked the doors.

"Shit. Not since this morning, I don't think. Well, there was the lollipop I found in my purse, but I don't think that counts."

"Right. I'm going to grab food from The Bar, and then we can eat at my place?" Lauren asked.

"You're amazing. But can we go to Zin's? I wanna hop in the shower and change to get the whole day's worth of dust off of me. It's going to be permanently stuck in my hair."

"You got it."

She gave me a cheesy finger-gun motion and set off toward The Bar. Its actual legal name was "The Bar." It was the only one in town for decades, and I didn't think it had an official name back then. When the town grew and other places popped up, they just slapped on a big sign that said The Bar , and that was that. I'd sent Zinnia home earlier but stayed so I could clear at least one corner of the storage room. I let myself sink into the green velvet chair in the front of the store, feeling the soreness in my muscles from packing and unpacking the boxes of my life and at the store. Life had changed a lot in a very short period. I wasn't sure if I was failing or succeeding, but I was doing something anyway.

I took out my bun and shook out whatever dust I could from the waves before double-checking that everything was ready for us to open tomorrow. If Lauren wasn't coming over, I might have just gone home and fallen into bed, dirty or not. But when she returned with burgers, wings, and beer, I rallied.

I hopped in the shower to de-dust-ify myself, and my brain was swirling with questions about how I was going to work on my portfolio, find another job, and make sure I was working enough for Zin to repay her for taking me in. Did I even want to stay in graphic design if I had to start all over again as an assistant to someone? Could I be okay with freelancing and the uncertainty of where my next job would come from? I forced deep breaths into my lungs. For tonight, I decided to let the water and steam absolve me of any more adult-y thoughts.

Just for now .

I wanted greasy food, cheap alcohol, and a rom-com.

A pair of sweats and an old t-shirt brought me to the promised food and Lauren—already on her second beer.

"Pace yourself. We have a plethora of movie possibilities. Most of them starring Matthew McConaughey."

"I will not. You catch up," Lauren replied, pushing a drink into my hand and a plate full of food across the little round table in my makeshift kitchenette. "And it is interesting how many romantic comedies he managed to star in within a span of, like, five years."

"Agreed. And thank you for dinner. I didn't know how hungry I was," I explained while shoving fries in my face."

"Girl, same."

We ate in silence for the three and a half minutes it took to consume an unholy amount of food, but my brain was functioning again. I resolved to fix that with several more drinks.

My face was fluffy and warm from the alcohol, and my body had become one with the bed. It wasn't the worst way to feel, especially after the past few weeks.

"What am I going to do with my life, Laur?" I mused between movies.

She only sighed. "You're going to find something that you're wildly excited about, meet an adorable man who worships you, and it will be fantastic. Obviously."

"Easy as that, huh? I guess I have plenty to keep me busy at the shop. But I might have to find help to figure out what software I need and how to bring Zin's business practices into this century." I groaned. I had hoped my brain would shut off, but here it was, chugging along like a goddamned choo-choo train.

Lauren sat straight up with a gasp. "Sam!"

"Oh my god, don't DO that. You scared the shit out of me."

"Sorry, sorry, just, I have the exact solution to that problem!" I stared at her, and yet no words came out. "You're going to hate the solution. But before you say no, recognize that it is a solution."

"Okay? Why would I hate it if it solves this problem?" My eyebrows pinched together.

She ignored my question. "I know someone who's great with the computer and business-y stuff but needs graphic design help to modernize his logo, branding, whatever. You could do that in your sleep."

She was right, I could. "What's the catch?"

"Ummmmmmm. It's my brother?" She smiled her most winning smile as my face fell.

"You're right. I do hate that solution. I am not working for Jesse under any circumstances." My stomach twisted at the inevitability of seeing Jesse. I had accepted it as a byproduct of having Lauren as my best friend, but the idea of sitting down alone with him was something else. The thought of it had me blinking far too quickly and warmth creeping up my neck. "I didn't even know he was living in Emberwood! I assumed he was in Toledo."

"Oh, well, that's kind of a longer story. But you wouldn't even have to see him. Not really, anyway. It could all be done over email, mostly! And you could get the help in exchange for the designs, and it wouldn't cost Zin anything."

I glared at her. "I don't even want his energy to be allowed in my inbox." She was sneaky. Lauren knew I'd do almost anything for my aunt's benefit. But this was too much.

"I know. I also know that I'm right. And you will, too, once you think about it long enough." She cleaned up plates and napkins. "I'm gonna go home and crash. I'll leave you to come up with reasons why you can't possibly be in the same room as my brother before eventually deciding it's still the best solution."

"I am thinking of reasons. Good reasons. Mostly about how awful it would be," I called after her on her way to grab her bag and leftovers. I reached blindly next to me for the remote to shut off The Wedding Planner. The whole idea of the happily ever after was now making me want to vomit. Jesse fucking Garrett.