Page 29 of A Barista's Guide to Love & Larceny
“Well,” Dani said, biting her lower lip, “no. I think I do. I’m just nervous, I guess.”
“Never fear,” McKenna said. “I’ll be with you the whole time—unless you don’t want me to be. When and where is the party, please? Is the dress code costumes?”
“It’s not technically a Halloween party, but he said a lot of people will show up in costume anyway,” Dani said, taking out her quartzpad. She navigated to Kass’s message and handed the device to McKenna. “This is the address.”
McKenna’s eyes doubled in size. “Dani, this is in Eunoia Park.”
Eunoia Park was the wealthiest neighborhood in town, the kind with chateau-like houses and expensive charms dissuading random people from walking their dogs there.
“Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that he’s way out of my league.”
“Now, that’s not true at all.”
“He’s a mage, McKenna. He writes papers for fun and he can turn into a dog. His dad is some kind of mogul. I dunno. I probably shouldn’t go.”
She didn’t want to tell McKenna that she’d never been to a party before, either—at least, not one like this. Sure, her parents had taken her to plenty of fancy events, usually at casinos, and she’d hung out with coworkers who drank cheap beer in their basements after a long day, but she’d never been invited to a proper party by a friend, much less by a crush.
Because McKenna had come close to the truth the other day: ThiswasDani’s first real crush. She hadn’t had time to get to know anyone during her brief stint at a real high school and had avoided anyone who expressed interest in her at the restaurants she’d worked at as a matter of safety. This was the first time she’d felt comfortable enough to even consider letting her feelings get away from her.
“There’s no way I’m going to let you talk yourself out of having some fun for once, just because he’s in spellcraft or has a rich dador something. Dogs aren’t unicorns,” McKenna said, adamant. “I think we should go to that party and have an amazing time. And who knows? Maybe afterward I’ll ask again if you made out with coffee boy and this time you’ll actually say yes.”
“Maybe,” Dani said as Oliver sat back down at the table. “I wouldn’t count on it, Kenz.”
But she couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Ten
After that night, it was official: Dani, McKenna, and Oliver were fast friends. They spent the rest of the evening together back at the apartment, Dani and Oliver spilling everything to McKenna about OneiroLabs, the dreams Oliver was having, and Silva’s intentions. McKenna, aghast at the situation, pledged to help in whatever way she could.
The next day, Oliver grabbed lunch with McKenna, then came by the café for a few hours during Dani’s shift. As they drank their cinnamon bun latte, they started research on oneirogenic plants with the books they’d borrowed from the library, and let Dani do a Celtic Cross on them for tarot class. Despite Silva’s charm, which Oliver claimed was helping, Dani couldn’t help but worry about them, especially as she watched them fight the urge to nod off in the middle of turning a page or when they zoned out in the middle of her explaining what the three of Cups meant.
They didn’t talk about it much, but what had happened at OneiroLabs still lingered in Dani’s mind, particularly the woman who had been so lost in her dream that she’d lashed out with her powers. The only thing that comforted Dani was knowing that Professor Silva was on the case, with Katya and Oliver helping out in their own ways.
Friday, the day of the party, brought with it a cyclone of anxious excitement. Predictably, Dani had trouble concentrating in class, and she was too nervous to eat her banana nut muffin from Quarter Cast. She breathed a sigh of relief when her professor dismissed themfrom her final class of the day; she was ready to go home and figure out what on earth she was going to wear, costume or otherwise.
She was crossing the OS lobby toward the exit when she heard someone call her name. Her head swiveled back and forth several times till she spotted the source peeking out from behind one of the curtained alcoves along the wall: Professor Silva, waving her over.
Dani’s heart sank. What could she want now?
Double-checking that no one was watching, she hurried over to Silva and ducked behind the curtain, where a velvet-cushioned study nook awaited.
“What’s going on?” Dani asked as soon as the curtain fell behind her. “Is everything okay? Did I forget to give you your notebook back?”
“No, no,” Silva said. “Everything’s all right. Would you sit a moment, Miss Lionet?”
Dani squeezed her lips together. This was giving her serious déjà vu. “I honestly need to get going.”
“Solo per un minuto.”
She didn’t want to—like, really didn’t want to—but Silva looked so plaintive that Dani caved. She slid into the booth that had been built for students to practice tarot readings and wedged her hands between her knees as Silva took the seat opposite her.
“Thank you,” the professor said. “I’m sorry to insist, but I—” She took a breath, then met Dani’s gaze with uncomfortable directness. “I need your help again, Miss Lionet. I know I said I only needed your assistance with the one task, but what you discovered at OneiroLabs was incredibly helpful, and incredibly concerning. I’ve communicated with the leaders at my organization, and they agree that we need to escalate our efforts to learn more about—and hopefully stop—what OneiroLabs is trying to accomplish.”
“That’s great. I think you should do that,” Dani said. “But why do you need me?”
“They’ve given me approval to move forward on acquiring more details about the formula for the lucid dreaming product,” Silva answered. “They’ve also given me permission to offer you a great deal more in compensation if you’re willing to assist in the matter.”
Dani felt a surge of annoyance, and with it, a spurt of boldness. “Can we cut to the chase?” she said. “I’d appreciate it if you just told me what you want.” Just like she had the other day at OneiroLabs, she imagined adding color to her words, this time a bright, forceful red.
