Page 31 of Made to Be

And it had only been two days.

“Yeah, but why today?” I questioned. “Cam and I have big plans that you’re asking me to put on the back burner.”

We didn’t. I wasn’t sure what we were going to do today. Cam was giving me a curious look mid-bite, and I smiled, mouthing “we don’t” before plopping another pancake onto his plate.

“Big plans?” she echoed disbelievingly. “He’s been reanimated for two days, Vic, you proposing already?”

I snorted, “Town Hallisopen until five today. Never too late.”

That made Cam drop his fork with a clink, and I chuckled, picking it up and handing it back to him.

“Please,” she pleaded. “Mandy saw Wicked Wares posted some new pics on their social media. One of them had the vintage Cochura dining set she’s been looking for for years. They have it; it’s genuine, and the shop’s owner guarantees it’s haunted! We both work and I’m swamped today. It’s sure to be gone by the time we get off. If you do this for me, I’ll consider your favor paid.”

“Wicked Wares? Is that a thrift store?” Cam asked, interest piqued.

He seemed eager, almost excited. We didn’t have anything planned anyway, and I loved thrifting. Cam might find something he liked too, so it was a win-win. Thrifting, especially at Wicked’s, came with its risks.

But that was the fun of it.

Like cursed-heirloom roulette.

I sighed dramatically, loud enough I knew Alice could hear it. “I don’t know, Ali Cat. I don’t feel like getting cursed again.”

“Again?” Cam parroted. I gave him a charming grin.

“You’d love it and you know it,” she accused. “You’re a slut for cursed objects.”

I shoved a big bite of pancake into my mouth, talking through a mouthful, “Rude, but not incorrect.”

“Come on, Vic,” she pleaded, no, whined.

I hummed as if in serious mental debate. I had already decided to go, but I enjoyed making Alice squirm. What were best friends for?

However, I underestimated her. I hadn’t anticipated that she would resort to dirty threats.

“If you don’t do this, I’m telling Cam right now about the time I drove you to the doctor because you managed to give yourself a three-day boner when you tried that botched Viagra potion-”

“Hey hey hey,” I interrupted, rushing to turn my phone off speaker as Cam became very interested in what Alice had to say.

“Wait, I want to know-” he began before I cut him off,

“Fine. Just pleaseshut up. And never bring that up again.” I took several steps away from Cam before hissing quietly so I was certain he couldn’t hear, “And it was anaphrodisiactonic.”

Her answering cackle made me pinch the bridge of my nose before she wheezed and asked, “So, you’ll go then?”

“Maybe,” I said before she squawked in outrage and I hung up the phone. I strode back over and plopped into my seat across from Cam.

A text notification immediately pinged, and I read Alice’s message: “I’ll tell him. Try me, bitch.”

Chuckling, I sent her a quick heart emoji with a message saying that I would go get her Mandy’s fancy cock chura dishes.

She replied with, “It’s an antiqueCochuradining set, you uncultured swine,” followed with a kissing face emoji and a picture of the dishes. I couldn’t see the appeal; they looked like any old-fashioned dishes. They were black though, so I guessed they were kinda cool.

I looked up to find Cam watching me.

“I like her,” he said with that teasing grin.

“Just wait till you meet her,” I grumbled. “You’ll be singing a different tune.”