Page 34 of A Soul’s Awakening

Stella and Ivy froze at the sight of me standing there like a deer in headlights.

“What exactly happened while I was gone?” Disbelief shimmered through the question. When I left two months ago, I had just started this business. I was lucky to have a few sales a week. It was nothing like this.

A slow, knowing smirk tugged at Stella’s lips, full of quiet certainty. “Well, we weren’t sure what would happen with Ren gone or how long you'd be out there searching. We needed to make sure we had enough money to pay the bills. So, I took to the farmer’s markets to sell some goods, did a little advertising through social media, and, with Ivy’s super smart noggin, we were able to figure some things out.”

“I can’t replicate your magic.” Ivy lowered her head and rubbed her hands together. “But you left us a lot of powders and liquids imbued with your magic, so I spent a lot of time analyzing your notes. I’m sure the products aren’t as good as yours, but with Alyeesa’s help, I did my best to keep up with your standards. Things really took off. I expanded into making some other things beyond lollipops and gummies, like cookies and teas. I … I hope that’s okay.”

I rushed over and crushed Ivy in a hug. “You’re absolutely amazing, Ivy.” I then wrapped my arms around Stella, who groaned uncomfortably. “Thank you, both. Words aren’t enough to show how grateful I am that you did this.”

Stella pointed to the stacks of boxes. “Well, if you’re looking for a way to repay us, you can get your ass on Scootie Pie and deliver these. I’m done running all over town freezing my ass off in the middle of winter. And Ivy is done working fifteen-hour days. We do have regular jobs, you know.”

Ren hadn’t returned this morning and probably wasn’t even up yet. I couldn’t practice sending phantoms home or closing the veil without Alex. The most helpful thing I could currently do was grab my winter coat and head out.

17

I wasn’t sure what flattery Stella had worked on these customers, but their pure excitement had me briefly wondering if maybe the “enhancements” they’d made to my spells may have been slightly addicting.

It took more than half the day to deliver all the outstanding orders, and when I finally got back to the house, I found Ivy standing over the workbench in the basement, continuing to package products and orders.

I gently pried the bottle away from her hands. “Both you and Stella are working the closing shift at the grocery store tonight, right? Go relax for a while. I’ll finish up.”

“Aren’t you going out with Ren later?” She looked up at the clock. That wasn’t until later in the evening, but she knew I’d want to take my time getting ready.

“I have an hour or two to spare. Just go.”

Her exhaustion winning out over work, Ivy went to take a nap, and I was left there staring at my notebook and the comments she had scribbled over mine. None of the words actually filtered through my brain. I clenched my fist, wondering if this slowly corrupting magic of mine would affect my spells.

Holding the vial in my hand, I reached for my magic. The sandy-colored glow inside immediately brightened, then continued to intensify far beyond what it should have.

My breath caught. The light became blinding.

Panic shot through me, and I dropped the vial. It slipped from my fingers as I caught a glimpse of silver racing beneath my skin, tracing jagged paths up my arm before disappearing under my sleeve.

The veil, the phantoms, and my magic were a problem for tomorrow. Tonight, my focus was on Ren.

After about an hour, I gave up on the spells and retreated to my room, rifling through my clothes in search of something that said “effortless and put-together without looking like an overconfident jock trying too hard to impress his crush.” I settled on a silky red button down, complimented by a nice pair of dark-washed jeans and lace-up leather boots. I spent way too much time combing my hair, fretting over every strand that wouldn’t stay in place. Before I knew it, Ren was leaning against the doorframe behind me, staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror.

“Are you planning to enter a beauty pageant or eat dinner with me?”

I whirled around, my heart pounding so hard it thundered in my ears. “Ren! You’re here!”

He frowned, crossing his arms defensively. “Of course I am. Did you think I’d stand you up?”

Ren stood there in a dark, worn-in henley and a black leather jacket. His jeans sat easy on his hips, boots scuffed just enough to prove he actually lived in them. My chest seized at the sight of him before me, realizing how perfectly he filled the space. He shouldn’t have looked as good as he did, but damn did the sight of him still make my breath catch. He was flattering in that quiet, dangerous way that reminded me exactly why I was nervous in the first place.

“No, of course not,” I managed to reply in a somewhat steady voice. “You just … look really nice. I’m used to seeing you in pretty casual clothes.”

“Same.” His hungry gaze tracked my body up and down, eliciting a heat that crawled up my neck.

“Well, I’m ready if you are,” I said as I put down the comb and gave myself one final look over. “You’re driving unless you want to ride on the back of Scootie Pie.”

“Never happening.” He removed a set of keys from his back pocket. “Let’s go.”

The restaurant I’d settled on was in the center of town, only about a ten-minute drive away. Inside, the lights were dimmed, casting a warm amber glow over exposed brick walls and dark wood beams. A long bar stretched along one side of the room, its surface worn smooth by years of elbows and spilled drinks, bottles glowing softly behind the shelves. The low hum of conversation mixed with the clink of glasses and the sizzle of something on a grill somewhere out of sight. It wasn’t fancy, but it was nice enough to feel intentional and casual enough that we didn’t feel out of place. The hostess sat us down at a leather booth against the back wall.

“I hope this is okay,” I said as I slid across the shiny leather. “I know it’s nothing fancy, but I heard the food here was good. Well, Sam Adams told me that he overheard from some college kids that the food was good, but I guess that doesn’t mean much coming from a ghost, does it?”

I cut myself off before I stammered ‌any longer. I was sold off at an auction and strangled by a phantom, but somehow sitting across from Ren on a date was the most terrifying thing I’d ever experienced.