Cupid and Psych (Cupid Inc Book 2) Read online

  “No, no. I came alone. Well, I came with Amanda, a colleague, but she went off with a guy the minute we got here, so I’m not sure why I needed to be here. Looks like I was a Wingwoman.”

  “Ah, well I have a feeling that I’m the Wingman seeing as my friend Ger disappeared with a blonde on arrival.”

  He held out a hand. “Lachlan.”

  I tried to surreptitiously wipe my palm on my trouser leg before shaking his hand. I was nervous and my hands always sweated profusely when I was nervous.

  “Jessica.”

  “Well, Jessica. Seeing as we both have to wait for our friends to come back to tell us they’re going to ditch us for the night and is that okay, where we will say yeah sure and not mean it; can I buy you a drink? Then when they do ditch us, we can have a good bitch about it behind their backs.”

  I smiled. “Okay.”

  A middle-aged man appeared behind us and he smiled at me. A big beaming smile. He had big cherubic cheeks and a pot belly. Weirdo. He mimed shooting an arrow and the weirdest thing happened. I actually felt a tingle and I felt an outpouring of love for the world for a moment. I saw Lachlan see my reaction and he quickly turned around.

  “Excuse me.” He said and he set off after the guy, who was trying to escape. I watched a terse exchange between the two and then Lachlan headed back.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. That was my father. He’s so very nosy. Anyway, he’s gone now, so how about I get you that drink?”

  “Lachlan…”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not going to pester you with come ons. Just a drink between new friends, okay?”

  “Well, I can’t turn that down. I don’t make friends easily.”

  “Really? A lovely woman like you?”

  But I could feel the burning attraction between us and I knew we were going to be more than new friends.

  I came around from my daze. Luckily, my eyes were still fixed out at the view. As I turned, I caught Lachlan staring at me. His arm moved and he picked up my hand.

  My palm was sweating. Hurriedly, I pulled my arm away.

  “Good, you’re nervous. I am too.” He looked into the distance as he spoke. I was aware that eye contact between us was difficult to hold. “I’m not going to pressure you over what happened, Jess. I know it was a lot to do with my work and I accept that. I’ve had a lot of years to reflect on what I’d been doing. At some point I really would like to chat about it all; but if it never happens, well, that will have to be okay. For now, could we try to be friends? I could do with a running buddy for starters.” He patted a non-existent stomach. “Getting on a little now. It’s harder to maintain.”

  “Maybe.” I replied. But I doubted we could ever just be friends. We’d tried that before.

  We lingered near the exit together, not knowing how to say goodbye.

  “I was going to head to Jax’s coffee shop. Her instant and filter coffee is amazing, but I thought I might try the real deal.”

  Lachlan’s jaw dropped. “You’ve not been there yet? It’s a must-do.” He put his arm through mine. “Let’s go. My treat.”

  I stiffened at the contact and he let me go. “Sorry. I get a bit excited about going to Jax’s. It’s been one of the best things about the move.”

  I shrugged. “Don’t worry about it, but to apologise you’re buying.”

  As we walked in to the welcoming Jax’s with it’s cute little tables and bunting hung around, a small woman with a dark pixie crop came rushing over, a huge welcoming smile on her face.

  “Hello, Sergeant Hart. Take a seat.” She held out a hand, “and are you Jessica?”

  “I am.” I laughed politely, a little disconcerted. “Am I wearing a name badge I don’t know about?”

  She giggled. “No, Samara called me to say she thought I might see you today, although she’d taken a punt that it would be with you stomping in here in a temper asking for coffee and looking like you wanted to kill someone, namely her. I’m glad to see she got it wrong, although my coffee cures all ills.”

  “She’s in big trouble.” I said.

  “Yeah, that’s Sam’s MO. She’ll not care. Okay, menus are on the table, specials on the board behind the counter. Come up to the counter when you’re ready to order.”

  “Thank you, Jax.” Lachlan said. He pointed to a seat. “Over there, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  I sat down, trying to gather my thoughts and emotions. I was sitting in a coffee shop with the ex-husband I still loved. What on earth was I doing? But he’d just told me he realised his mistakes and now I was feeling an emotion that had been missing in me for a long time. Hope. But I couldn’t risk it. Couldn’t bear to have my heart smashed to smithereens once more.

  When Lachlan went up to the counter to order, a dark-haired woman sat in his seat.

  “Oh, actually, someone is-”

  “I know it’s your husband’s seat.” The woman’s cut-glass accent told me who she was before she introduced herself. Samara’s friend, Ebony. A seer.

  “It’s good to meet you, Jessica. Samara speaks fondly of you. I’m Ebony. I’m a seer. I just had a vision, darling, and I need to pass it on to you. Now, sometimes things come to me very unclearly, but with you it’s crystal, darling. Crystal clear.”

  “It is?”

  “Yes. You have to tell your husband everything. Whether that’s now or at a future point. You two are destined and will find no other love. So you either embark on choppy waters where things will get difficult and challenging; or you never swim again. It’s your choice. Choose wisely.” She got up and squeezed my shoulder, and then walked out of the coffee shop.

  Lachlan brought my drink over to the table. “Our toasties will be about ten minutes.”

  I nodded and went to pick up my cup. It wobbled in my hand and spilled on the table. I couldn’t do this, not right now. Not with all these feelings of pressure I was experiencing. I had to get away.

  “I remembered something. Sorry, Lachlan. I have to go. Excuse me.” I pushed my chair back, the sound of it scraping against the floor making other customers turn around. Their gazes made me want to escape even quicker, my heart thudded in my chest.

  “Jess? Jess, what’s the matter? Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be fine. Please, just leave me be, Lachlan. I need some time okay? Time to think.”

  He stepped back and stood straight and formal. The policeman stood in front of me now. “Yes, of course. Okay, Jessica. Thank you for letting me accompany you on the lighthouse visit. Take care.”

  I dashed out of the coffee shop and headed straight for Jetty’s.

  I was hungry. The smell of cooking at Jax’s had been heavenly, but I needed space from Lachlan. I also felt a need to rebel against what Ebony had said; about Lachlan and me being destined. I sat down at the table and waited for the waiter to come over.

  “What can I get you?” He said as surly as ever. Could I really do this?

  I saw Max hovering near the doorway, and I beckoned him in.

  “Oh, he’s been hovering there for half the morning.” Waiter man said. “Strange dude.”

  “Max is lovely, just unusual. He just needs to find a boyfriend to keep him occupied.” I stated. I took a deep breath. “Anyway, could I have a waffle with ice cream and chocolate sauce; a hot chocolate; and your phone number by any chance?”

  “My phone number?” Waiter man looked shocked.

  “Yes, I wondered if you fancied a date?” I asked him. “Oh and knowing your name would be good too.” Max was on his way over, so I signalled for him to give me a minute.

  “Is he just really shy?” The waiter said.

  “No, he’ll be totally overexcited in a minute when he hears about the date. Oh.” I stuttered. “That’s if there is one of course.”

  “Oh, yes. Totally, I’ll go out on a date. My name is Brandon. Brandon Walsh. Let me write my details here. Now I must go or Jetty will be on my case, but maybe The Marine at eight tomorrow evening? It’
s my day off.”

  “Sure. It’s a date.” I told him, and he went to process my order while Max bounded over.

  “Sorry about that.” I told him. “Only I was just arranging a date with Brandon.”

  Max’s jaw dropped. “What? Brandon, behind the counter, Brandon?”

  “Yes. I’m meeting him at The Marine at 8pm tomorrow.”

  Max slumped in his seat. “Well knock me down with a feather. I was sure he batted for my team.”

  “Sorry, bro.” I smiled smugly. I couldn’t help it. I’d got up the courage to ask someone out and they’d said yes!

  “Oh, plenty more arseholes in Withernsea, I’m sure.” He winked.

  “What makes you think Brandon is an arseho— Oh, you were being very rude.”

  Max guffawed.

  “Hope it’s not our date making you hysterical.” Brandon said bringing my hot chocolate.

  “No, just my own wit.” Max said.

  “Are you wanting to order anything?”

  “Jessica, will you order for me.” Max once again slumped in his seat. “Only my processes are way off. Both professionally and personally I just can’t seem to get my point across right now.”

  “Well there’s always tomorrow.” Brandon said. “So what does he want, erm?”

  “Jessica.” I said. “My name’s Jessica.”

  God, I hope the date went smoother than our introductions.

  Samara

  I’d expected a call from Jess with her screaming down the line at me, but there was nothing. I started to get excited that things might be going to plan, especially when Jax texted to tell me that Jess and Lachlan had come into the cafe together and ordered lunch. But then she texted again to say Jess had left without eating.

  My phone buzzed once more.

  Max: Your Aftercare Cupiding is fucked. Jess just arranged a date with the waiter from Jetty’s.

  I quickly typed back.

  Samara: You’ve seen her? What happened with Lachlan?

  Max: We’re in Jetty’s having waffles and hot chocolate. I’ve not asked. Why should I find out and get aggro? You engineered this whole thing; you should suffer the consequences.

  Samara: Max!

  Max: Okay, okay. I want a horse and carriage to transport my coffin you hear?

  I waited a few minutes and then my phone buzzed again.

  Max: They went to the lighthouse, had lunch ordered, then Ebony said something to her about Lachlan being her future and she wigged out.

  Samara: FFS. Okay. Thank you.

  Max: PS she said to tell you that you’re so dead on Monday.

  Huh, Monday seemed a long way off. With Jessica and Lachlan’s get together in complete disarray, I needed to make sure tonight’s couple had no such interruptions or distractions.

  “Johnny, babes.”

  “Yes, love?”

  “Will you come to The Marine with me tonight? I’ve a matchmake to organise. It’d be good to have you there. If it all goes wrong, you can get drunk on my behalf.”

  “Sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.”

  “Yep, you can’t, but I asked nicely.”

  We arrived at The Marine thirty minutes before Julie-Ann and Holden were due to arrive. I was surprised therefore to find Julie-Ann at one table and Holden at the next one. Did they look so different they wouldn’t recognise each other? I sent Johnny to the bar as both of the others were already nursing a drink each: Julie-Ann a very large glass of red and Holden a pint of beer. I hugged Julianne and told her I’d be just a minute and then I went to talk to Holden. I wanted to double check it was definitely him. As I got near him he moved backwards.

  “Erm, Mr. Bisley? I’m Samara Leighton. We spoke on the phone?”

  “I’m not sure it’s a good idea we meet now.” His eyes flicked around the place as if looking for where he could run to.

  I looked over at Julie-Ann shrugging my shoulders, but she was also looking at me with a similar perplexed expression. I started to feel my face.

  “Do I look weird to you? Do I have something on my face?” I asked Holden.

  “You look weird in that you keep talking to someone at the next table when there’s no one there.” He declared.

  “What do you mean no one there? Julie-Ann is at the next table.”

  “No, no she isn’t.” He tried edging around the table.

  I put my arm up. “Okay, just suspend your belief that I’m completely cuckoo for a moment and hear me out. When you look at the table next to you, what do you see?”

  “An empty table.”

  “If I promise to sit with my husband at the empty table can you just stay here for like an extra half an hour? Finish your pint, and just give me some extra time. Only I don’t know if you’re aware of the strange happenings in Withernsea, but it would seem there’s a, let’s call it, a ‘problem’ with you and Julie-Ann getting together and I can sort it out.”

  Holden made a bolt for it, so I tripped him up and sat on top of his back.

  “Don’t try and buck me off, I’m a pregnant lady. We wouldn’t want me injured.”

  Johnny came running over. “Samara, what the hell are you doing?” He lifted me off Holden, who looked up at him, anger blazing on his face.

  “Can you keep your wife away from me? She’s been riding the train to Crazyland. No doubt a friend of Rebecca’s, aren’t you?”

  Julie-Ann came running over. “Why are you two acting so crazy? I thought I was meeting Holden?”

  “You can’t see each other. There must be a spell.” I took my phone out while still not letting Holden get past me. “Shelley! Whizz to The Marine, I have an emergency situation.” I put the phone down.

  “STAND STILL BOTH OF YOU.” I yelled. “Please, give me a few minutes then you can leave.”

  “I’m phoning the police, this is preposterous.” Holden said. Then the curtain behind him breezed and Shelley stood there.

  “Where the hell have you come from? Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m the crazy one.” Holden began tapping his head.

  “Shelley. These two can’t see each other. Can you check for spells please and quickly?”

  Shelley said some words of a spell and a white cobweb-like string wrapped round them both. “Right, first, let’s calm them down. Don’t worry, no one else can see this but you, Johnny, and these two.” I watched as the couple visibly relaxed. Then they became completely covered in what looked like a white bodysuit that cracked and fell away disappearing as it hit the floor.

  “Holden?” Julie-Ann said.

  “Julie-Ann.” Holden said.

  “Thank absolute fuck.” I said.

  “Right, just in case anyone saw anything they shouldn’t.” Shelley raised a brow, then using her part-vampire skills she addressed the room and used her power of suggestion to make them think they’d seen nothing strange here tonight. Johnny returned to the bar and ordered another beer, and wine for the couple.

  “I’m so sorry, I honestly thought you were a complete mental case.” Holden said.

  “It’s fine. Totally understandable if it looked to each of you like I was talking to myself.” I giggled. “It’s quite funny when you think of it.”

  “I didn’t think it was the slightest bit funny, Samara. You could have got hurt.” Johnny was not amused.

  “Well, thank you for taking this spell thing off us.” Holden said. “Who’d have thought some magic was real? But why did you not do the suggestion spell on us?”

  “You said Rebecca stalked you. It’s not fair to wipe your mind right now while I investigate further. I will raise the issue with Cupid Inc, but until then you need to be able to be aware of her. After that we will come and wipe away any memories of us and magic though. We’ll just leave you believing you met by accident here in The Marine.”

  They nodded but I could tell they were both disappointed that it would happen.

  “So we’ve lived less than an hour away from each other all these years and never knew. That bitch has a lot
to answer for.” Julie-Ann spat out.

  “Let’s not waste another moment of our time. Come on, let me take you on a date, for a meal and,” he dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me, Julie-Ann?”

  “Yes.” She gasped. “Oh my, yes. Yes, I will.”

  It was then that I realised—and I couldn’t believe it had taken me so long—that the single tingles I was feeling from them both were very strong still. I’d believed it was because they should have been together and had been kept apart for so long. But it wasn’t. It was because, and I sent my Cupid senses out once more to double and triple check. Yep. No arrows had been fired at them in the first place. Rebecca had not pointed and shot at them at all.

  As realisation dawned, the door burst open and the lady herself came hurtling through.

  “How fucking dare you?” She screeched. “Once again you’re trying to ruin my life. Do not fire those arrows at him. You hear me? Not until his single tingles come for me. Then you can fire them.”

  “It’s been years, Rebecca. When are you going to give this up?” Holden sighed. “I can’t live my life. I always have one eye open searching for her. She just won’t leave me alone.”

  I was actually at a loss for what to do. And then I thought about it a little. Why should I think what to do? Let the queen of chaos do it herself.

  “FATE!” I shouted.

  A boom appeared and then there she was, but then there was another bang and a guy appeared. He was tall and reed thin and his hair was blue at one side and black at the other. He and Fate looked quite alike.

  “What have you done?” she yelled at the guy.

  He shrugged his shoulders smirking. “Why should you always have everything your own way? I thought we’d take a chance, so I ‘helped’ Rebecca find them.”

  “They were fated to get together tonight and live happily ever after.” She yelled again.

  He shrugged his shoulders once more.

  “Anyone know what’s happening?” I asked a sea of agog faces.