Bookstore princess

Chapter 6

Nadia

Jenny was early as usual, and after she had all of her coffee brewed, she helped with shelving all the books. It was getting close to opening time when Jacob walked in and his arms were black from the spray paint.
"All those nefarious deeds finally catching up to you?" I quip.
"No, my soul is being sucked out of my body through my arms" he quips back. The three of us share a small laugh. "Are there any of those apple fritters left?" he asks, heading towards the box by the cash register.
"Before you eat, go upstairs and wash up a little" I tell him, knowing I need to clean the bathroom anyway. He takes a fritter anyways and stuffs it in his mouth before giving us both a thumbs up and heads through the employee entrance and up the stairs.
"Coffee?" Jenny asks while I start bringing the boxes to the back to go to recycling.
"You are an Angel" I say, and I mean it. She just shakes her head and her long hair moves with her as she makes her way to potions. She has my mug there already. She carefully washes it while I'm putting the boxes away. I'm just coming back out when I hear a knock on the door, but it's still half an hour until opening time. It's Reita, Jacobs wife with her long blue hair and usual black ensemble. Jenny gets to the door before I do and opens it. She's on the shorter side with bright blue eyes and she does not take shit from anyone.
"Good morning ladies" she says as we let her in. Jenny locks the door behind her and she walks to potions and whips up another iced coffee for Reita as well. "Rough morning?" she asks, already knowing the answer. Jenny hands her a coffee and we each grab another fritter before heading to the seating area in potions to sit down.
"We of course got tagged again last night" Jenny rolls her eyes. "It's so frustrating. We didn't do anything to anyone in the community!" she adds.
"I'd help look into it, but Morgan's hogging it" Reita says with a frown. "Besides, he says the fraud task force has no business putting their nose into his side of business" she sighs and takes a generous sip of her iced coffee. "Ooh, caramel!" she says with a pleased smile.
"I really like the caramel syrup we bought," Jenny admits. "I might have added more to the next order we get in next week" she adds with a sly smile.
"Don't we have ten bottles of the stuff?" I asked with a laugh.
"We are down to eight" she pouts. "The customer's like it too," she adds with a hint of pride.
"You do know our customer's well," I smile.
"She gets my coffee order right every time" Reita grins. "Where's my hubby?" she asks curiously.
"My apartment. He has to wash up before we open. They used black spray paint again" I frown.
"We should do a stake out" Reita suggests and I light up happily.
"I said that! Jacob said no, we aren't the police and to leave it to them" I exclaim.
"Well, one of us is the police," she smirks. "When are we getting our new tattoos?" she asks, bringing up one subject that we all have in common. I have a nightingale tattoo on the back of my shoulder, surrounded by cherry blossoms. Jenny has two sleeves of wizard and magic tattoos up her arms, and Reita has two sleeves as well based on horror movies. We had discussed in the past the four of us going to get a tattoo together. Jacob has virgin skin, but he wants a ghost dog on his arm. I found a piece I really wanted like a book cover of a werewolf holding a plus sized woman in his arms like a princess and she has her arms around him and a book in her lap. It would be perfect.
"Soon" I say, not wanting to commit yet since we need to talk about when it's the four of us, and Jacob isn't here yet to give his input. I also really know I'll be sore for a few days, and we can't stop with the amount of foot traffic we get in the store and coffee shop. I want to spend my extra funds on going home to visit my mom for a day.
"I think we should book it," Jenny says with a smirk. "I'm getting a pride flag on my collarbone" she adds with a bit of pride.
"Let's get Jacob to book it" I suggest.
"I'll make him," Reita says with a smirk. "I can't wait to see if he cries," she adds with a giggle.
"I expect tears and snot" I burst out laughing.
"I don't think so" Jacob comes out from the back entrance. "I heard that" he adds.
"Oh I think so" I grin.
"I think the only one that will be crying is you, you and all your sensitive skin" he chuckles.
"It's not that sensitive" I retorted quickly.
"What I am curious about is this James guy" he sits down, and Jenny gets up to go get the box of apple fritters and him a coffee. We can see people waiting, but we have a few minutes until we officially open.
"Oh look at the time!" I fake looking at my non-existent watch.
"Oh no way, you are not getting out of this" Jenny says from the cafe.
"Fine, he's sweet. We have a date on Sunday after our meeting" I feel myself blushing at the thought of him.
"Ohh, a date?!" Reita bounces in her seat. "Details" she adds.
"I'm just going to show him around town" I feel my face is still hot under the three of their scrutiny.
"He's good looking for a guy," Jenny adds quickly.
"Have I seen him before?" Reita asks.
"No, he's new in town," Jacob shakes his head.
"What's his last name?" she counters, whipping out her phone.
"Grant" I say in a small voice.
"This him? Reita asks, showing me her phone and I nod. "Oh damn... and he's rich, rich" she comments. "Investment firms, security companies. He's from out west though" she adds.
"He said he was moving here," Jacob says with a grin.
"Why would anyone move here?" Jenny asks.
"Must be someone" Jacob teases. "No, the town is growing, it's only natural people are going to start flocking here. Better for us, more business" he said, as he took the last apple fritter and ate it.
"I'd better get to work" Reita stands up. "You guys gotta open, and fraud doesn't take a break" she adds. "Love you" she says to Jacob and they share a quick kiss before she's heading to the door. The three of us go and wash our hands in the cafe and Reita unlocks the door, leaving it open for the patrons. Jacob stays to help Jenny with the cafe first to deal with the morning rush while I head to the cash register because I already know quite a few of these regulars are coming for their morning paper.