Chapter 7

7

Harlow wokethe next morning with a pounding headache and a hollow pit in her stomach. After her run-in with Cash, she’d just felt defeated. As if she’d done something terribly wrong and there was no way to make it right.

She knew she was being hard on herself. Anyone would be upset to find their ex intruding on their ritual cleansing, but when Cash had said that Shaun had a vision she was in danger, Harlow knew Cash had done the only thing he could. He’d tracked her down to make sure she was okay.

Of course he had.

It was who Cash was. He’d have tried to track down anyone who’d been in one of Shaun’s visions because they both knew that Shaun was the real deal. No doubt he’d witnessed the scene back at her apartment. Harlow knew that Cash would have gone there first and then tracked her to her new place. Likely with the help of technology.

Harlow sat up in bed, grabbed her phone, and opened the Find My app. There he was. Cash Moses showed up as a dot somewhere across town. He hadn’t turned that feature off. Just like she hadn’t.

She’d thought about it. More than once. But for some reason, she just couldn’t make that change in her settings. Was it that she’d wanted him to find her? Or was it just that after all the changes she’d made to her life, that was just one step too far?

Harlow knew the answer. She hadn’t turned it off because it felt like the final nail in the coffin of the most important relationship she’d ever had. Likely the most important one she’d ever have. Severing that final link felt like a death she just couldn’t face.

She shut the phone down without making any changes, rolled out of bed, and shuffled into the kitchen, grateful that the house had come furnished with the basics, including a coffee maker. After fixing herself a cup, she shuffled back to the bathroom and hoped the shower combined with the caffeine would help her feel human again.

Forty-five minutes later, Harlow was dressed but only slightly more functional. There was no doubt that fighting off a couple of spirits and then skipping dinner had taken its toll. She’d have to get some food in her soon, or the headache would only get worse.

While the solstice hadn’t turned out the way she’d hoped, there was one thing she was grateful for; no spirits had bothered her at her new home. Once she’d come back from her interrupted cleanse, she’d gotten ready for bed and then climbed into the cool sheets. She’d lain there for more than two hours, listening and waiting.

But nothing had shown, and eventually she’d drifted into a fitful sleep. She’d stayed up far too late, hadn’t eaten enough, and had worried too much. Now she was paying for it.

Still, there was no time to be sitting around. Her sister was due in town later that day, and she needed to get the house ready. First up were groceries for the fridge. At least enough to last the next couple of days.

Harlow made a list, grabbed her keys, and headed to town. Before making her way to the grocery store, she pulled into an empty parking spot right in front of Incantation Café. If she didn’t get something in her stomach, she’d never make it through the aisles without buying out half the store.

The window display featured flower-shaped sugar cookies that were being magically decorated with bright colors of frosting and then arranged into a large bouquet of edible flowers. The magical window displays of Keating Hollow’s storefronts never failed to make Harlow smile. Even on days like today when all she wanted to do was hide under the covers and sleep the day away.

The bell chimed as she walked through the door and the scent of spring hit her full force. Someone at Incantation Café was just as ready as she was for the new season. Feeling better already, Harlow made her way to the counter and greeted Hanna Silver, the owner.

“Good morning, Harlow. How are you doing this wonderful spring morning?” the cheerful woman asked. Her dark curly hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and her dark eyes glowed with happiness. It was just the sort of infectious energy Harlow needed.

“Better now that I’m here,” she said truthfully. “Did you have a good solstice?”

“Absolutely. Rhys and I spent most of it out at the family winery taste-testing the blends we bottled last fall. There are some really good ones this year.”

“I can’t wait to try them,” Harlow said. “Let me know your favorites and I’ll order them for Equinox next time.”

“You got it.” Hanna took her order for an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich along with a chai tea latte. “Have a seat,” Hanna said. “I’ll bring these out when they’re ready.”

“Thanks.” Harlow paid and was still tucking the change into her wallet when she turned and spotted Cash standing near the front window, two cups of coffee in his hands. Suddenly all of her good cheer seemed to drain right out of her.

“Harlow,” he said with a curt nod.

“Cash, I—” Harlow started but was interrupted when Shaun appeared in front of her.

“You had me worried yesterday, angel,” Shaun said, pulling her into a hug.

“Sorry about that,” she said with a slightly nervous chuckle. “You know how much I hate to worry people.”

He pulled back but held her by the shoulders as he stared into her eyes. “I know you’ve given up on the ghost hunting, but it appears the ghosts haven’t given up on you. Is there anything we can do to help?”

Harlow looked past him at Cash, who had taken a seat and was pointedly not looking at them.

“He was out of his mind with worry, you know,” Shaun said gently.

“Yeah. I can imagine,” Harlow said, her voice so low it was barely a whisper. “I handled it though.”

“He said as much.” Shaun glanced over his shoulder and then back at her. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks.” Harlow took a step back just to reclaim a little of her personal space. “It’s good to see you.” She smiled at Cash’s younger brother, who was practically a twin version of her ex. Shaun was just a few inches shorter than Cash and a tad thinner, but he had the same dark eyes and devilish smile. The pair had always been easy on the eyes, and before Harlow had come along, they’d also been the most eligible bachelors in town. “What are you doing in town? Looking for trouble, like the old days?”

He frowned and cut his gaze to his brother for just a moment. “Cash didn’t tell you?”

“He told me about the vision, but I didn’t know you were here.” That unease was back. The one that told her she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.

“Oh, uh, well, I’m staying for a bit. You know, to help him fix up that house our aunt left us.”

Harlow immediately turned her attention to Cash. “Your aunt left you a house here in Keating Hollow? That’s why you’ve been here for the past three months?”

He nodded without even looking at her, and that, more than anything else, infuriated her.

“No way, Cash Moses. Just no way. I don’t—how does that even happen? You never told me you had family here,” she sputtered before she collected herself. Her tone turned emotionless as she added, “And now you’re just staying here… in the town I chose for a fresh start?”

Cash finally lifted his gaze and stared her right in the eye. “Our great-aunt owned a house here and passed about six months ago. She left it to me and Shaun. I know you think that everything I do revolves around you, Harlow, but not this time. I didn’t even know you were here when I came to town three months ago to check on the house.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to accuse him of staying because of her, but she swallowed her tart reply. Somehow, she just knew he was telling the truth. They never had been very good at lying to each other. But the information was unsettling. Was the universe trying to tell her something? Why else would they have both ended up in the same small town at approximately the same time? “But that night you came into Equinox you told me you were here to search for that ghost. Was that a lie?”

“Yes… and no. I saw you outside of Equinox earlier that day and was shocked as hell. I decided it was a sign that we were supposed to reconnect, seeing as we both ended up in the same town. And to move forward, we’d need to expel that spirit. But you shut me down repeatedly, so I let it go.” A small frown claimed Cash’s lips before he said, “And I would have told you last night that Shaun was staying for a while, but you didn’t exactly give me a chance. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some work to get done on the house.”

Shaun glanced between the two of them before stepping in close and giving Harlow a hug and whispering, “It’s good to see you.”

Tears stung Harlow’s eyes, but she blinked them back as she watched the two of them exit the café. Cash, Shaun, and her sister Imogen were her family. Her only family. Or at least they had been until their lives imploded last year. When she moved to Keating Hollow, she’d thought she was on her own. And now, just six months later, they were all coming back to her.

Sort of.

Only now everything was different.

“Harlow?” Hanna said, appearing beside her.

She turned and spotted the gorgeous woman holding her breakfast sandwich and chai tea. Harlow eyed the plate and ceramic mug and instantly regretted not asking for them to go. Gesturing to the table that Cash had just vacated, she took a seat and said, “Thanks.”

Hanna placed the items on the table and hesitated for just a moment. “You know what I’ve learned after living in Keating Hollow for so long?”

Harlow just looked at her, uninterested in any quips of wisdom.

The woman gave her a sympathetic smile and patted her shoulder. “I always hated it when my mother would say things like this, too, but I’m going to say it anyway and you can decide from there.”

Harlow let out a tiny sigh and nodded.

“I could lecture you with something cliché like everything happens for a reason, or the day is always darkest before the dawn, but I won’t. Instead, I’m just going to say that the best thing about Keating Hollow is that there’s always a friend here when you need one. And you, Harlow Thane, look like you could use a night out with the girls. No ghosts. No ex-boyfriends. No anything that’s putting that look on your face. Just a night of golf carts, to-go cups, and tarot.”

Harlow blinked up at her. “That sounds like trouble.”

Hanna gave her a slow grin. “It is. The best kind of trouble. You’re off tomorrow night, right?”

“Yes.” Equinox was closed on Monday nights, so it wasn’t hard to figure out Harlow’s schedule.

“Perfect. It’s time to let off some steam. Tomorrow night. Meet me and the girls here at eight o’clock.”

Harlow opened her mouth to protest. As much as she appreciated the offer, Imogen was coming to town, and she didn’t want to ditch her sister.

But Hanna raised her hand and shook her head. “No excuses. If you can make it, just show up. If not, we’ll catch you next time.” She winked and then retreated back to the counter.

Harlow stared down at her sandwich, grateful for the invitation but not at all sure how to handle it. Then she glanced up and called, “Hanna?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I bring my sister?”

Hanna’s lips curved into a pleased smile. “Absolutely. The more the merrier.”

Harlow nodded and let out a slow breath. Maybe it was just the sort of icebreaker she and Imogen needed after their year of tension.