Chapter Nine

Rayan

"How are things going with Mr. Hottie?" Astrid leaned back with her elbows on the counter. "Did you convince him to stick around here for good yet?"

"He is still going over his options for the future. We are just having fun. If there weren't a good chance he would leave soon, I could fall for him." I thought about the night before and how his touch ignited me. "He is everything I ever wanted in a man."

"Rayan, stop with the bullshit." Astrid glared at me as if to dare me to disagree. "You are already so far in love with him that if he does leave, you will be heartbroken. So, stop pretending you are just having fun while he's in town and start thinking of how you will make him want to stay."

"You're right." I sat down on one of the stools behind the counter, my back aching a bit from standing all day. "But I can't force him to stay, and I need to protect my heart somehow."

"Or you could just jump in and ask him to stay. You told me he said his work can be done freelance, and he doesn't need to live in the city to do it. Maybe the only thing keeping him from committing to staying is not knowing that you want him to. Just tell him."

"I will. Eventually." I rolled my shoulders, working out the kinks that built up from the morning rush. "But, let's talk about you now. What's new in your love life?"

"Nothing." Astrid straightened the displays on the counter. "That's why I am so invested in what's happening in yours."

"I thought that guy from the other night had potential."

"I did, too." Astrid planted herself on the stool beside mine. "Then I received a text message from someone claiming to be his wife."

"Another one of those guys?"

"Seems so." Astrid huffed. "I must have a loser magnet implanted in my heart or something."

"Or in another area of your body." I gestured toward her lap. "I'm not judging though. We both know I have no room to talk. Maybe that's why I'm falling for Vince. He's the first decent guy I've met in a while."

"Don't try to convince yourself what you feel is only because he isn't a dick. There is a connection between you two. I can practically feel the heat radiating off you guys when I see you together. That's why I want you to tell him you want him to stay."

"Excuse me." An older woman with a sleek blonde bob and oversized sunglasses stopped before our counter. "I saw an adorable necklace and earring set here the other day. I wanted to get it but didn't have my wallet. I'm hoping you still have it available."

"I can definitely help you find the set if we still have it." Astrid left me to think about my situation.

She was right. I needed to tell Vince how I felt and see if I could convince him to stay in Mystic Beach.

"Rayan?" Astrid returned with the customer and started looking through the counter display. "Do we still have the silver and turquoise set? I thought I saw it earlier, but it's not here now."

"Oh yeah. I was showing it to someone earlier, but they got the amethyst pieces instead." I checked my pocket and found the jewelry inside. "Sorry, I must have put it here instead of on the display."

Chuckling, the woman reached for the necklace. "I was the same way when I was pregnant with my twins. I kept finding random things in my pocket or leaving my glasses in odd places. It was like the baby was taking all my brain energy."

"I'm not pregnant." I laughed. "I am just getting distracted too quickly lately."

"Are you sure?" The woman took off her glasses, and the startling blue of her eyes revealed she was one of the witches from the town coven. Being that it was composed of members from a single bloodline, they all had penetratingly beautiful blue eyes. Eyes that saw beyond the physical plane. "I'm sorry for overstepping, but I must tell you what I see. There's another life connection leaving your body, and I also see the Fate connection line. You have met your fate and been blessed with new life."

"Well, fuck." Astrid placed a hand on my shoulder. "I guess you know how to convince Vince now."

"But is this really how I want Vince to decide to stay?"

"Go talk to him." Astrid wrapped her arms around me, and I relaxed into her embrace. "He is willing to stay even without knowing about the little bun he started baking."

"Shut up." I punched her side. "But you're right. I need to talk to Vince. I need a few more minutes to build up to it."

"Don't worry, sweetie." Astrid patted my back and rocked side to side. After years of friendship, she knew this movement calmed me best. "Everything will work out. Trust me."

With every inch of my being, I wanted to believe her.