Page 6 of Little Howl of Moon

“Fuck you,” I muttered, turning my gaze back to the little cafe. I snorted as the door opened and a girl stepped outside. Even from here, her eyes blazed. “Is your daughter about Trixie’s height with a ponytail and eyes that look like yours when you’re angry?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, well, looks like Luca is taking her somewhere.”

The Barista sat up slightly, watching as the two of them got into a car. “Oh good.” He sighed and sank back again. “He’s furious with me and Lucy too, and I don’t even know why. Why is it so fucking hard to raise kids? Do you know how old I am?”

“A hell of a lot older than me. But since all of you areimmortal, I have no idea.”

He smiled. “Old. Very old. And I’ve fought a lot of battles in my lifetime, but this . . .”

“Children are tough,” I said. “All the gray in my beard and sideburns are from Amy and Jess. And god, I love them, but raising teenage girls alone is not for the weak.”

“I’m frightened of our youngest. Tana. I’m also certain she’s smarter than me.”

“That makes it even harder,” I chuckled. “But you have Trixie and Lucy. The three of you are a good team. It’ll be okay.”

The Barista nodded and then put his seat back up, regarding me thoughtfully. “I don’t normally talk to anyone before their date, but it’s different with you.”

“Because I’m not a bright-eyed twenty-year-old?”

He snorted, but didn’t disagree. He ran his fingers through his copper beard. “Your date . . . well,mateif you choose to take him. He can be rash and tough and bossy sometimes, but he means well. He always takes care of others. He’s also my nephew—Al, Quinn, and Luna’s son.”

My spine straightened. “You set me up with yournephew?How old is he?”

“I did, and old enough.”

“B, I don’t know about this.” I was already pushing it by going on a date. This was a whole other layer I hadn’t prepared for. Plus, while I was bisexual, it had been a long time since I’d been with another man. A whole new wave of anxiety flared through me.

He shook his head. “I know this is right for both of you, although admittedly, I’m not sure how. But I can see the connection.”

His gaze dropped to my chest, to my heart. I wasn’t really sure how his powers worked, and I’d never asked. I just knew everyone he helped find love always ended up happy.

And that’s what I wanted, right? To be happy?

More than anything, I believed in love. I believed that sometimes, a relationship could spark in an instant, and your life would be changed for the better.

This first date business still scared the shit out of me. Even knowing the Barista was matching me.

“I know that he’s younger than you and that might give you pause. But he’s . . . he’s wonderful, Oliver. I promise I wouldn’t match you with someone I didn’t believe in.”

All my nerves quieted and I relaxed. “Did you know I needed to hear that so I didn’t drive away?”

He nodded. “Yes. And I understand why. I cannot imagine . . . I cannot fathom losing Trixie or Lucy and what it would do to me. But you deserve to be loved, Oliver. You deserve to spend your life with someone who will cherish you.”

“Starting over at forty-eight . . . scares the shit out of me.”

“I know. But it’ll be worth it.” He reached for the door handle and cleared his throat. “Also, your date beat you here by thirty minutes. He’s been pestering all of us and Lucy isthisclose to smiting him. He’s even more nervous than you are, so . . . if you could kindly follow me into the cafe . . .”

Oh god. Was I doing this? I was doing this. “Okay,” I exhaled. “All right.”

I reminded myself how badly I wanted this as the Barista opened the door. I wrinkled my nose, turned off the car, and hopped out with him.

I hadn’t been this nervous in ages. Truly. I wasn’t used to feeling like this.

“Did I underdress?” I asked as I followed the Barista across the street.

“For a date at a coffee shop?” he asked without looking back.