Amber (Jewels Cafe Book 1) Page 2
“How about you grab the pumpkin spice while I heat the milk?” I suggest. “Our sign is bound to bring in customers.”
“Will do.”
“And don’t you dare use magic!”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, boss.” Julian gives me a wink and a salute, and I feel all warm and gooey inside.
Why?! Why do I react to him this way?
I don’t want to be attracted to Julian. Not when he just sees me as Bean.
I promised myself I’d get over him when we bought this place. I’ve reminded myself countless times that I can’t risk ruining our friendship and making things awkward. So why do my feelings for Julian keep growing stronger?
If anything, moving to a supe town and opening a cafe together has made everything worse. Knowing that Julian’s room is a few doors down from mine has meant a lot of sleepless nights. Nights spent lying alone in my giant bed and waking up from Julian-filled dreams that even now make my cheeks flush.
“Hey, Bean? Have you seen those sample cups we ordered?” Julian calls, his voice echoing from the back room.
“Top shelf on the left!” I snap, because yeah, definitely just Bean.
Think about the cafe, Amber, I berate myself and head behind the counter to start on my portion of the lattes. I crouch in front of the mini fridge when the front door chimes, signaling we finally have a customer.
“Welcome to Jewels Cafe!” I pop up from behind the counter with a grin.
“Thanks, Amber, sweetie,” Minerva Montgomery shouts, each word like nails on a chalkboard. She sounds like she’s got invisible headphones in and is blasting music. Or she’s spent so many nights clubbing at Vee her ears are still ringing. It’s not out of the question, but I’d bet my bankrupt ass she just wants Julian to overhear how she’s being nice to me.
My smile falters.
Minerva gives all witches a bad name. She’s been anything but nice since the day I tried, and failed, to shift into her. She’s never missed an opportunity to make fun of me. Before I shed the extra pounds, she’d make snide comments about my weight. Now that she’s lost that ammunition, she likes to remind me of all the embarrassing ways my chameleon magic has failed me. Yet despite all that, what I hate most about Minerva is how, unlike me, she always manages to look perfect.
Not one strand of her red hair is out of place, despite the fact that she supposedly baked all morning. She’s got on a fresh coat of lip gloss and a pair of pink heels so high, I wouldn’t be able to walk in them, let alone serve customers all day. She also has the top two buttons of her blouse undone, and the major cleavage she’s got going on is definitely not for my benefit.
“Hello, Minerva.” I smile sweetly. I know she’s been going by Mini since we finished senior year and started classes at the academy’s college campus. I just don’t care.
Minerva’s eyes narrow, but her voice stays sugary sweet. Sugary sweet and loud as hell. She practically shouts her next words as her eyes scan the cafe, looking for Julian. “I just dropped by to grab a latte! You know, support my neighbors and all that!”
“Mini?” Julian pops out from the back room. “Thought I heard your voice.”
As if there’s any way he could have not heard her crazy shouts.
“Julian!” Minerva’s face lights up, and it’s like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. She twirls a strand of red hair around her finger, and I fight the urge to break something. Or a few somethings.
Julian doesn’t miss my scowl, and he sends me a questioning look. When I respond with a breezy smile, he shrugs and turns back to Minerva. “How’s the bakery doing today?”
“Oh, you know.” She waves a dismissive, perfectly manicured hand, and my urge to break something grows. Because unlike our cafe, her bakery is always overflowing with customers.
“So... what brings you by?” Julian asks, like he doesn’t know he’s the reason she’s here.
“I made this for you.” Minerva holds out a paper bag with a purple witch’s hat on the side, and I decide her head is worth sacrificing a Jewels Cafe mug or two over. Maybe even the entire coffee maker. “It’s a chocolate chunk muffin, obvi!”
“Just one?” I ask sweetly, even though I’d rather die than eat her stupid muffin.
“Don’t worry, you and I can share,” Julian says quickly, and Minerva and I both fight the urge to scowl. I do a much better job than she does, but hers comes with a triumphant glint.
“I know it’s your favorite, Julian,” she gushes. “And it’s still warm. Right out of the oven. Nowhere near as good as the ones your mom bakes, of course, but I know how much you miss home.”
And the worst part is, she’s right. While we were at the academy, we used to spend every holiday with his family. Every solstice and equinox. Every spring break and summer vacation. Julian would always look forward to seeing his parents and sisters, counting down the days until we’d be back. And every time we were there, his mom would make him chocolate chunk muffins.
Minerva’s words are a reminder that she and Julian grew up together. That she’s known him much longer than I have. That their parents are friends. That she’d always drop by like she owned the place, while I always felt like I didn’t belong even though everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome. And even though we’re all twenty-one now and legally adults, it still seems to matter.
Julian glances at me, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Does he regret opening our cafe all the way out here, so far from his coven? Is he hoping we have to sell to that land developer so he can go home as soon as the check clears?
“I’m sure this muffin is perfect, Mini,” he says, making me want to gag. “Let me make you a drink before you head out? On the house, of course.”
“Of course...” I mutter, and Julian shoots me a look.
“I’d love one. Thanks, Julian!” Minerva cries, saving me from his perusal.
“Maybe you could taste test our new pumpkin spice lattes?” Julian suggests. “What do you say, Bean? Should we let Mini try our first one?”
I try not to scowl and fail miserably.
“Oh, I'd love to!” Mini cries before I can tell him there’s no way in hell I’m letting her have the first latte. Or any latte. “Do you remember the PSLs back at the academy?”
“I thought you only drank skinny vanilla soy lattes,” I tell her sweetly. Because I haven’t forgotten the time she told me if I kept drinking PSLs I might blow up like a balloon and explode.
“I'm sure I'll love your pumpkin spice, Julian.” Minerva bats her eyelashes at him, and I feel like I might throw up.
I may be able to handle just being friends with Julian, but I cannot stomach the thought of him dating perfect Minerva Montgomery. Even her spells fail perfectly. She never ends up with metal wires sticking out of her head, unwanted junk between her legs, or hot chocolate splattered all over her face. No, all her spells fizzle out with pretty pink sparkles as giggles escape from her perfect pink lips. It’s bad enough she’s always been popular and gorgeous, but now she’s running a successful bakery and flirting with Julian, while nothing I do for our cafe seems to work.
“So, how about it, Amber?” Julian gives me a pointed look.
“Fine.” I sigh. “We should let you get back to the bakery, but I’d be happy to bring you your latte.” And pour it over your head.
“If you wouldn’t mind doing that, Julian? Maybe we could grab some lunch afterwards?”
“Sure thing.” Julian grins. But right before I can decide if I want to strangle him, or Minerva, he adds, “Amber and I don’t have anyone to watch the cafe, but we could all eat here.” Like Minerva would actually want to have lunch with me, or me with her.
The two of them spend a few minutes agreeing on takeout, and then Minerva finally waves and takes her perfect high-heeled self back across the street. I hope for at least a wobble, but nothing.
When the witch is finally out of sight, Julian turns to me. “I know you and Mini don’t get along, but can you try a litt
le harder, Bean?”
“Me?” I scowl at him.
“Look, I think you two could be friends. She’s really not that bad, just lonely. And I promised Mom I’d look after her.”
“You did? Why is this the first time I’m hearing of it?”
“Because I knew how you’d feel about it?” Julian raises an eyebrow. “Look, I know she wasn’t always the nicest at the academy, but she’s really matured since opening her bakery.”
“If that’s what you call it...” I shrug, and then throw my hands up. “Okay, fine, I’ll be nicer to her.” Because at the end of the day, I would do anything for Julian if he asked.
“Thanks, Bean.” Julian gives me a smile, the one that makes my heart melt.
Then, he leans on the counter next to me, and my heart starts to race. He’s suddenly close, too close. He towers over me, and then, ever so slowly, his gaze drifts down to my lips. My pulse instantly spikes. My breath catches in my throat, but then I remember one other time this happened and cringe.
We’d been studying together in my room, sitting on my bed cross-legged, poring over books. Julian’s eyes had suddenly drifted to my lips, and I could have sworn he was going to lean forward and kiss me. And that’s when he told me my lip was bleeding. Thank you, braces.
So, what is it this time? Do I have chocolate smeared on my lips? Spinach from my breakfast wrap stuck between my teeth? And was it there the whole time pretty, perfect Minerva was here?
“Did you get the pumpkin spice?” I spin away from Julian and open the fridge. When my back is to him, I wipe my lips with the back of my hand and run my tongue over my teeth, just to be safe. Nice going, Amber.
“Not yet.” Julian’s tone sounds a little bit odd, but by the time I look up, he’s gone.
I set out the milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and spices—save the pumpkin spice—on the counter. I know it’d be a whole lot easier to order the premade syrup, but ours is no average pumpkin spice latte.
Julian and I perfected this recipe over Thanksgiving breaks in his dad’s kitchen, always trying to replicate the lattes from our favorite cafe. We never did figure out the secret ingredient, but everyone agrees ours tastes like magic.
“Julian?” I call out once I’ve made the double shot of espresso and mixed all the other ingredients. “You coming?”
“Yeah! Just a minute!” he calls back, sounding frazzled. A crash rings out from the back as something shatters, and he utters a very un-Julian like curse.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just... dropped something!” Julian calls back. I’m about to go check on him, but he rushes out holding out a measuring spoon over an open palm.
“Why didn’t you just bring the whole jar? Careful, Juli!”
“It’s fine, Amber. I got it.” He makes it safely to the counter and uses the measuring spoon to mix the ingredients. But the sprinkle of pumpkin spice on his cheek and the way he refuses to make eye contact is a dead giveaway.
“You used magic, didn’t you?”
“No! Of course not! I just...” Julian’s eyes widen, and his cheeks flush an adorable scarlet.
“Used magic to measure out the pumpkin spice?”
“Oh, um... yeah.” He quickly looks away.
“Right. So, what did you break?”
“Just the jar.” I don’t miss the obvious guilt in his tone, or the way he keeps fidgeting and refusing to look at me.
“It’s just a jar, Juli. We’ll buy another one.” I place a gentle hand on his arm. “I’ve done way worse, and you know it.”
“True.” Julian tries to laugh, but it sounds forced. He looks uncharacteristically nervous, and I wonder what it is about this particular failed spell that’s getting to him. Does he think it’s some sort of bad omen? The beginning of the end for our cafe?
“This is going to taste amazing,” I tell him. If the pumpkin spice smell permeating the air is anything to go by, it really will be. “And the sign you made for us is perfect. It’s going to bring tons of customers, I just know it.”
Julian doesn’t say anything, so I finish heating the ingredients and pour them in a to-go cup with an amber-colored jewel on the side. I add the whipped cream, sprinkle the spice, and it looks absolutely perfect.
“Want the first taste?” I ask, holding it out to Julian, who shakes his head, eyes wide. I start to frown, but then I remember. He wanted to give the first cup to his precious Mini.
I don’t feel proud of what I do next, but I move the cup to my lips and take a huge gulp.
The drink tastes sweet and perfect and magical. Julian watches me the entire time, and I suddenly notice how much space he takes up behind the counter. There’s barely any breathing room with both of us back here, and my body reacts to his nearness in a way I’ve mostly managed to hold off until I was alone in my bedroom.
“How is it?” Julian asks, his deep voice like a caress.
My heart pounds wildly in response. My nipples tighten painfully in my bra, wetness pools between my legs, and a wave of panic courses through me.
Why here? Why now? Can Julian tell?!
What if it freaks him out? Or he realizes I have feelings for him and tells me he just wants to be friends? What if it ruins our friendship? What if he can no longer be roommates with me or run a cafe together when my body reacts like this around him?
The panic escalates until I suddenly feel like a caged animal. My chameleon magic comes to my defense, and I flicker through several shapes. The giant bouncer from Vee, the fairy from earlier, the grumpy werewolf who came into Jewels cafe when we first opened, and then my worst nightmare: Minerva.
Finally, I catch the look on Julian’s face. The hope, the desire... but not for me. Because I still look like Minerva Montgomery.
“I need to go,” I cry, transforming back to myself, shoving past him, and running toward the front door.
“Amber, wait!” Julian shouts after me, but I keep running. Away from the cafe. Away from Julian. And away from the hurt and the pain. Because seeing the desire on his face while I look like the witch from across the street is just too much to bear.
Chapter 3
AMBER
I dump my pumpkin spice latte in the nearest garbage bin and race down the cobblestone sidewalk. I don’t pay attention to where I’m going. It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s away from Jewels Cafe.
Once I’ve cleared our small block, foot traffic picks up. Turns out there are a bunch of people out and about this afternoon, enjoying the unusually warm October weather, just nowhere near the cafe. Cat shifters race by in feline form, tripping up everyone in their path. Winged supes hover several inches above the sidewalk, and bird shifters fly above the crowd. And humans go about their day, completely unaware of the supernatural things around them, thanks to the wards in place throughout Silver Springs.
I glance over my shoulder, half expecting to find Julian chasing after me, but there’s no sign of him. He’s probably still back at the cafe daydreaming about Minerva.
I don’t know how I’ll ever work up the nerve to see him again, so I let myself get lost in the crowd. I circle the block and pick up a Silver Springs Special from Shanna’s, a street food vendor I’ve seen around town. I choose three items off the menu, watch Shanna mix them all in the to-go box, and proceed to eat away my feelings.
When I’m done and back on Main Street, heading toward the cafe, I come to a realization: I’ve got nowhere else to go. Julian and I only moved to Silver Springs a few weeks ago. We haven’t had a chance to get to know any of the other shop owners or make any friends. I’m not sure we were ever planning to. It’s always just been Julian and me since our first days at the academy, and for the first time in my life, it’s not enough.
I wish all my chameleon friends hadn’t started avoiding me when I came into my wonky powers. I wish my sister hadn’t ghosted me since I left for the academy. And I really, really, wish my mother would call me more than once a month, and not just out of duty.
The memory of Julian with his eyelids hooded and eyes filled with desire sends a wave of longing coursing through me. I’ve only ever seen that expression on his face once before, when I’d been examining my body in the bathroom mirror, wondering if Julian could ever be attracted to me. Then, next thing I knew, my chameleon magic had acted up and I’d accidentally shifted... into Julian. A very naked Julian who was in the mirror, staring back at me.
Naked Julian was everything I’d ever imagined. Tanned skin. Perfect pecs. Rock hard abs. And a steadily growing erection between solid, muscular thighs. The sight made me so flustered, I’d instantly shifted back, but not before I caught that look filled with desire on Julian’s face.
I’d nearly died of mortification the next time I saw him, and I spent weeks avoiding him after that. But I got over it. Just like I’m going to get over what just happened in the cafe. I just wish the first time I saw real-life desire in his eyes hadn’t been because of Minerva. What does that witch have that I don’t?
A lump forms in my throat, and my heart squeezes painfully in my chest. The thought of seeing Julian and Minerva together makes me sick. A painful vise wraps around my heart. I’m fighting back nausea when I look down the street and see him.
I don’t mean Julian. He’s probably back at the cafe having lunch with Minerva and wondering what the chameleon got into me. No, the him I’m looking at is a bear of a man with brown eyes filled with specks of molten honey. They meet mine across the crowd. It’s like a punch to the gut.
A completely unexpected wave of desire courses through me, and my lips part in shock. I’ve never felt this way for anyone but Julian in my entire life. I’ve definitely never felt it like this, in public, with other people around. Which proves that whatever’s happening to me right now can’t be real. It’s probably just my subconscious trying to make me forget about Julian.
I try to look away from the man and pretend I haven’t noticed him, but the urge to look at him is overwhelming. I long to take in every detail. His strong jaw. The way his cheeks are lined with dark stubble. How full and tempting his lips are.