Page 107 of Howlin’ For You

I step back from the shop and turn to the town. My town. The streetlamps flood Main Street as people make their way home for the evening. There are a few cars on the road, but people mostly walk—even in the classic Pacific Northwest rain, of which we’ve had a small break from for the past two weeks.

I stuff my hands in my jeans pockets and start the ten-minute walk home. It’s shocking how just meeting Izzy has already infused a sense of optimism I didn’t have before into my life. My parents always told me finding a mate would bring a sense of peace they couldn’t describe.

How right they were.

If only they could be here to see the woman chosen for me by the Goddess. It’s been almost four years now since their car accident, the one that took them from me.

The one that left my older brother in the hospital, but breathing.

Once he recovered, he couldn’t stay. He said that he couldn’t walk past the sight of the accident, past the park our parents took us to as kids, without blaming himself.

He checks in every couple of months, but the distance grows with every year.

I shake my head. There’s nothing to be done about it now.

All too soon, I’m at my front door and stepping inside my childhood home. The place I’ve loved for years. The place I’ve spent every free moment crafting into my dream home because I couldn’t bear the thought of selling it.

The place that, for the first time, feels truly empty. I see now how it needs Izzy’s personality. Her touches.

Her scent.

I whip out my phone before I can talk myself out of it.

Nick: Can we meet up to talk about everything tomorrow morning? Tea Leaves?

The desperation to see her, to spend time with her, lodges itself thick in my throat. I want to know her. What’s her favorite color? Her favorite movie? Who is her best friend? Does she have siblings? Does she love to paint?

Isabella: I was just about to suggest that! Great minds *winky face* is eight too early?

Nick: Never, if caffeine is involved. I’ll see you then.

I exhale a relieved breath. Knowing I’m seeing her tomorrow is only a temporary salve, but it helps the anxiety all the same.

Isabella: I updated your calendar if you want to look it over beforehand.

That’s my girl.

I spend the rest of my evening going over her downright brilliant changes to my calendar and marveling at just how thorough she’s been. I could tell she was intelligent, but I had no idea how terrifyingly efficient she is.

The whole thing is color-coded. Color-coded! I thought she was joking about that.

Even this is a window into how her brain works, how her mind shuffles and organizes the things she’s forced to reckon with.

And by the Goddess, is she a force. Now I just have to convince her to give me a chance.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ISABELLA

My escapades around town lead back to Tea Leaves. It’s late, but despite that, I want another pumpkin spice black tea.

By the time I stroll up, Georgie is just turning the sign to closed.

I shrug, giving her a self-deprecating smile. I wouldn’t dream of asking her to open everything back up just because I have a caffeine addiction.

She opens the door just a crack. “My God, you’re a worse case than I thought.”

“It’s only five!”