Page 15 of Minnie

The mouse doesn’t reply. For a split second, I worry the collar is preventing him from saying anything, but then one word echoes through my head. “Okay.”

Latte barks and wags his tail. “Happy.”

I reach toward the mouse and carefully touch the pink collar. The bell jingles but nothing else happens. I slip a finger underneath it. There’s definitely enough room for Tiptoe to breathe.

Julian chuckles nervously. “Guess we were all worried for nothing.”

“Guess so.” I giggle. And grimace on the inside. “Let me get this thing off.”

I slide my fingers along the collar, checking every inch of it. Twice. “There’s no clasp. I can’t open it.”

Julian shakes his head. “There’s one on the back.”

I bat my eyelashes and say a sugary sweet, “Thanks, Julian,” while wishing I could disappear. “You’re a lifesaver. I’m so glad you’re—”

Amber clears her throat. “Minnie, who’s watching the cafe?”

“I closed it.”

Her eyes widen. “We can’t just close in the middle of the day.”

“Whatever.” That’s what I tell her. Not ‘sorry.’ Not ‘I’ll go open it right away.’ ‘Whatever.’ If she were to fire me, it’s a good enough reason. Not to mention all the flirting I keep doing with Julian. Why would she ever want to keep me around?

But Amber, being Amber, just waves it off. “Don’t worry about it, Minnie. We all forgot about it with all the drama.”

Natty randomly starts singing ‘Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun’ in his usual, adorable way that brings a smile to my heart, and I finally relax.

“I’ll go downstairs and reopen the cafe,” I tell the group. Then, I bat my eyelashes and simper. “Any luck getting the collar off, Julian?”

He shakes his head. “The clasp isn’t there. I think we’re going to need scissors.”

“We’ll handle the collar,” Amber adds. “And Natty can stay up here and play with Latte.”

Natty claps his hands at the announcement, and I give him a kiss before heading downstairs.

Even though Tiptoe is fine, and everything worked out in the end, I can’t seem to get the image of the panicked little mouse fleeing the collar out of my head. It could have strangled him, and I did nothing to help.

What if Tiptoe was in danger again? Or Snowball? Or Natty, for that matter? What if someone tried to kidnap him, or he ran into traffic, or climbed too high and needed help? And what if Amber went into early labor and I was the only one around to help?

I know I can’t keep taking Formula M, but what choice do I have? I need it to function, and it’s not like there are many alternatives. Human anxiety meds would require an official diagnosis, and money, neither of which are options so long as I’m Natty’s guardian and Amber and her guys are going on that cruise. And getting a new formula has never been in my budget—only in Maude Montgomery’s—so it’s Formula M or bust.

As I step into the cafe proper, I yawn, examine my nails, and yawn some more as I head downstairs. Which is Formula M code for I’m freaking out. Then I look up and my eyes meet the gorgon’s.

Granted, his eyes are hidden behind reflective sunglasses, so he could be looking at literally anything else. But I know he’s not. I know he’s gazing into my eyes as surely as I know I’m gazing into his.

He’s lounging in the same spot where I left him, legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed, a bored look on his face. For a split second, I wonder if he’s on Formula G—for Gorgon, of course—but then I realize he can’t see what I see.

A rope of pink fiery magic connects us. Which makes the gorgon my fated mate.

Chapter 9

Minnie

I stare at my fated mate. My soulmate. The gorgon I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with.

He’s an objectively attractive guy, but definitely not the hottest man I’ve ever seen. Which is odd. You’d think the universe’s pick for me would at least make my top five.

I’m also not too fond of his snakes, which are lifeless and devoid of personality. And his wardrobe, which is less ‘romance novel cover’ and more ‘substitute gym teacher.’ The sneaker-jeans-beanie combo are casual and chill. He’s rude, obnoxious, and anything but.