Page 6 of Unmarked Magic

At this time of night, it was eerily quiet, save for the continuous creak of the boats pulling at their moorings. Beyond them, a cloudless sky presented a crescent moon that streaked ribbons of silver over the cove suffocated by fog. I loved the dreary lull of Cutters Cove. Call me strange, but I felt its energy as one would a secret, woven tightly against my heart.

“Red.” I turned at the sound of Reid’s voice from the kitchen that spread against the back wall of his apartment. In his hand was a glass of red wine. “It’s new in. What’s your verdict?”

I made my way over to him, took the glass from his hand, and sipped. The thick liquid slid over my taste buds like velvet, dancing on my tongue. I swiped its dewy residue off my bottom lip with my thumb. “That’s really good.”

“Yeah?” He took a sip of his beer, watching me closely, hanging off my every word. “Better than the last one?”

I loved a glass of red, and Reid often had a new one for me to try before he added it to the beverage list at Jinxed, the local bar he owned.

I hummed my appreciation. “Absolutely, this is top tier. A definite yes from me.” I swirled the liquid, watching as it clung to the side of the glass. It was a deep red, the same tint as the polish on my nails. “Honestly, I’ll taste-test anything you give me, but this is next level delicious.”

A wide smile spread across his face, creasing the corners of his eyes. “Always the wine connoisseur. I’ll add it to the beverage list.” He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over the back of the leather couch, revealing a gray dress shirt underneath.

I didn’t see Reid much outside of the bar. He looked so different in clothes that were not his standard black-on-black work uniform. Between my hours at the apothecary and his hours at Jinxed, we didn’t cross paths as often as we used to.

My gaze dropped to the collar of his shirt where the top button splayed open, revealing a peek of the tattoos I knew covered the top half of him. Not that I had seen them in the flesh. Reid never went topless, even when the guys were sparring.

It was a known fact that Wesley had started his tattoo business practicing on Reid, and Wesley had quickly become popular in town because of it. I’d never wanted a tattoo myself, but appreciated the art form on others.

That was one thing I didn’t get about Reid: I didn’t understand why someone would tattoo themselves if they didn’t intend to show them off.

Wasn’t it self-expression?

My thoughts were interrupted when Tyler and Morgan entered the apartment, and the room erupted into whoops of celebration.

Colton quickly got them drinks. “Congratulations Morgan, you deserve it.” He clinked his beer on her cider and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

She smiled. “Thanks. You guys really didn’t need to do this.” Her humbled appreciation never went amiss. She was so much like Tyler that it was scary. The two of them were like two peas in a pod and were happy to downplay their achievements.

I approached the group, wrapping my free arm around her and pulling her in for a hug. “Yes, we did. We’re all so happy for you, and I can’t wait to put my new piece of art on my wall.”

Her cheeks flushed. “Thank you. I still can’t believe you brought it. Sometimes my vibes get darker, and that was one of those times. I wasn’t sure if it would sell.”

I laughed. “Well, I love it. And that’s saying something, because art is not usually my thing. No offence.”

Morgan held a hand in the air. “None taken. In fact, it’s more of a compliment than anything.”

A loud cheer came from the pool table off to one side of Reid’s apartment. I wasn’t sure how they got it in here, but it didn’t surprise me in the least. Reid was one of those guys who didn’t flaunt his money, but he seemed to have it. The modern apartment overlooking the water, the sports wagon, the bar. He was one of those guys who had his finger in so many pies that you never knew exactly what he did for a living. He always had a new venture he was working on, jumping from one thing to the next.

“Red, you want a go?” Reid leaned over the pool table, racking the pool balls. He looked up at me, momentarily breaking his concentration.

I cringed, shaking my head. “Trust me, you don’t want me on your team.”

Skye wrapped her arm around my shoulders, nudging me toward the pool table. “It’s happening. We can be shit at it together.”

My stomach twisted into a knot. Gripping the table, I watched as Reid moved the triangle into position, lifting it carefully from the table. “Honestly, I’m terrible,” I said. My experience in the game equaled playing precisely once.

Wes wrapped his hands around Skye’s middle and pulled her close. “It sounds like you two are as bad as each other. Pick a side.”

“Hey!” Skye pinched him and he yelped and pinched her back. She shrieked before he hauled her into him, whispering something in her ear that earned him a giggle.

I groaned at the love-struck couple.

The group split into teams. Reid, Ty, Morgan and apparently me on one. Wes, Skye and Colt on the other.

“How is this fair?” asked Skye, rolling the pool cue between her hands. Her brows drew down.

Colt dipped his head at her, then at Wes. “Because I’m king of this table.”