A/N (Story contains y/n. I know not everyone is into the witchy woo so if that offends you, skip this one and I'll have a new story out in a few days!) [feel free to dm me prompts or ideas or to tell me I spelled something wrong, lol]
Owning a witchy shop in Nevada meant that you saw a lot of customers come in wanting good luck charms and such to better their odds at the casino. Not that you’re complaining, business is business. Your favorite type of customer, though, was someone who wanted to learn and grow in their practice. You held classes and workshops a few times a week and teaching was the highlight of your job.
“Welcome in!” you called from the back of the store when you heard the bell ding. You quickly finished restocking the last of your tarot cards and walked toward the front. “How are you doing today?” you asked the tall man looking at the smoke cleansing display.
“I…I’m not really sure” he laughed, adjusting his glasses and putting his hands in his pockets.
“Go on” you encouraged.
“This might sound crazy, but I think my friends…I think we may have brought some wonky energy back home with us.” He explained.
“I own a metaphysical shop. Nothing sounds crazy to me anymore” you replied.
He looked around and laughed. “Touche.”
“Can I ask where you think you picked up that funky energy?” you asked as you walked toward the smoke cleansing display.
“Well…So my friends and I are paranormal investigators and we just got back from a haunted house tour.” He explained that they’d been to four locations, but that the last one felt super heavy. “Ever since we got home we’ve had weird stuff happen at our house and two of our other friends said they think they picked up an ‘attachment’ at the same location.”
“Ah, I gotcha. I take it you’re not doing any protection work before you go into these haunted spaces?” you asked, reaching for the Juniper bundle.
“What does that mean?” he asked, looking at what you had grabbed.
“Well, you’re walking into high energy spaces trying to capture some sort of evidence. Even if you’re respectful, you’re trying to provoke a response. It’s like walking into a rainstorm. If you just walk into the rain, of course you’re going to get wet. However, if you grab an umbrella and dress appropriately, you can still enjoy the rain but you can stay dry and warm.” You handed him the bundle and a card explaining what it was, how to use it, and what spiritual properties it held.
“I guess I never really thought about it” he laughed. “It is kind of like walking into a storm.”
“I see you’re wearing a cross so am I safe to assume you don’t dabble in witchcraft that often?” you asked, smiling when his cheeks went pink.
He smiled and shook his head. “I’m learning a little bit from a friend, but it’s definitely out of my comfort zone.”
“Well here” you said, grabbing a notebook and writing down a few things he could do to cleanse himself, his friends, and his house. You noted the importance of uninviting the things they didn’t want welcome. Then you wrote down a few things he could do before going into another haunted location. Ripping the paper from the notebook, you handed it to him. “This should get you all sorted.”
He folded the piece of paper up and put the Juniper bundle on the counter. “Thank you” he said, fidgeting with the folded piece of paper. “You’ve been super helpful. I don’t know what I expected when I came in here, but my friend told me this was the place to go.”
“Of course” you said, putting the juniper bundle in a small paper bag and handing it to him.
“How much do I owe you?” he asked, reaching for his wallet.
“Don’t worry about it” you replied. “Just come back and tell me if it worked.”
“I have to pay you” he said, holding the bag in one hand and the paper in the other.
“Nope. This one is on me.” You knew a few of the paranormal investigators in Nevada and you were curious if one of them gave him the name of your shop.
“Well, thank you” he replied. He had a big beautiful smile. “I’ll definitely be back.” He grabbed one of your shop’s business cards and left.
A few hours later as you were closing up the shop, you got a notification on your phone stating you had a new Instagram follower. You quickly realized it was the tall customer from earlier and followed him back. You lived above your shop so you double checked the shop door and headed up to your home.
You scrolled through his Instagram page as you cooked your dinner, laughing when you made it back to his college era. You decided to watch one of the Project Fear videos while you ate and you realized they really didn’t do any protection work at all. You noted then that you’d put together a little kit for them with better instructions.
“Great ghost hunting, but you guys really need to read up on the witchy woo, lol. Pentagrams aren’t used to summon demons, haha. I promise.” “And if you really want to get specific, if it has a circle around it it’s a pentacle, not a pentagram.” you messaged him on Instagram.
Tanner’s POV
“What’s that smell?” Dakota hollered as he came in the front door.
“I’m getting rid of whatever the fuck followed us back from the Sallie House” Tanner yelled back.
He’d opened the bag when he got home and realized you’d thrown in a few extras without him noticing. He put the hematite bracelet on and put the selenite sticks above the front and back doors as well as his bedroom door. He was currently walking around with the smoldering juniper bundle, cleansing the house.
“Thank god” Dakota said, tossing his keys on the counter in the kitchen. “Not only was our ring camera freakin’ out yesterday, but every time I tried to open the garage door to go outside it would close before I could get out.” He picked up the paper you’d written for Tanner and started reading it.
Tanner laughed. “My PC kept turning itself on in the middle of the night.”
“If this doesn’t work, we’re gonna be ghost hunting in our own house.” Dakota replied, walking toward tanner with the paper. “Where’d you get this?”
Tanner blew smoke from the juniper bundle toward Dakota. “I, uh…I went and talked to Colby’s friend.”
“Ahhh, you visited the witch” Dakota teased.
“You aren’t allowed to make fun of me if this works” Tanner laughed, putting the smoldering bundle in a dish to burn out. “Plus, she wrote down some things we can do moving forward so this shit doesn’t happen again.”
“I saw” Dakota answered, looking at the bundle of juniper. “Didn’t seem like anything too crazy.”
“Definitely not” Tanner said, secretly happy Dakota wasn’t giving him more shit. He picked up his phone and saw that you’d followed him back and had messaged him.
“What’s got you smilin’ over there?” Dakota asked, starting to pull stuff out to make for dinner.
“Nothing” Tanner said, closing Instagram. “Just laughing at the comments on one of our tiktoks.”
“Mmhmm. Sure.”
Your POV
A bit later you got a response from Tanner. “Haha, how was I supposed to know the difference between a pentagram and a pentacle?”
You replied, “Google is free, ghost boy. Or you can let me educate you a bit next time you stop by.” You weren’t sure if he would, but you kind of hoped.
“I saw you had some classes at your shop. Maybe I’ll take the plunge and freshen’ up on my…what did you call it? Witchy woo?” Tanner was sitting in his room, scrolling through your shop’s Instagram page and was pleasantly surprised at how…not scary it all was?
You laughed. “You could! I don’t mind putting the basics all together for you, though. Might be a little less intimidating for your first go.” You’d continued watching the Project Fear videos throughout dinner and into the evening. “A little witchy packet read.”
“HAHAHA yes! I see you’re catching up on your Project Fear.” Tanner wondered what videos you’d watched. “Have you ever done any paranormal investigating?”
“I have! I grew up in a haunted house and I’ve been to a few cool local places” you answered. “I’ve got a few spirits who hang around the shop as well. Don’t worry, though. They’re friendly.”
“Wait, your shop is haunted?” Tanner asked.
“Yup. The building I’m in is like 100 years old. I haven’t looked up the history, but I’ve got a few ghosties.” You enjoyed the spooky shenanigans that happened in your shop.
“Have you ever used any equipment to talk with them?” Tanner asked.
“Not the kind of equipment you use, lol.” You used a pendulum and spoke out loud to them, but you knew that’s not what tanner meant. “You want to bring some equipment with you, ghost boy?”
“Oh, I’m definitely bringing something with me.” He sent back. “Do you have plans this Friday?”
“I’ll be at the shop all day! My friend is stopping by to drop something off, but other than that I’m free. Stop by whenever you want!” You were happy you had a few days to get the protection stuff together.
You put together some protection stuff for Project Fear over the next few days. A few sigils carved into a few stones. Some bracelets. Some instructions written down for creating a protection circle. A do and don’t list of things to say so they don’t accidentally invite any energies back home with them. Your favorite part was putting together a “history of witchcraft 101” packet so they understood what a lot of the terms they read in site histories actually meant.
Friday rolled around and you opened your shop. It was late in the day and you were finally filming a new tarot deck when Colby and Malia walked in.
“Y/n!” Malia called, skipping to the back of the store and setting a bag on the table.
“Hey!” you replied, standing up and hugging her and then Colby. “How was the trip?”
They sat at the table and talked about the beautiful places they visited on their vacation.
“Open it!” Malia pushed, pointing to the bag after telling you about a 150 year old apothecary they visited. “I can’t wait anymore” she laughed.
“Fine!” you laughed, getting up and grabbing a small bag with something you had bought her and Colby so she could open it at the same time. “Here.”
They had bought you an antique scrying mirror that had your favorite stone inlayed into the frame. “Holy shit this is beautiful!”
You had bought them matching amethyst necklaces and a dog tag for their pup that matched. Malia joked that they needed them since their dog kept barking at the empty corners of Colby’s haunted house.
You were doing a tarot reading for Malia when Tanner walked in.
Colby walked to the front of the store to chat with Tanner while you finished up Malia’s tarot reading.
“I swear he has the biggest man crush on Tanner” Malia joked.
You laughed and said “I can see the appeal” gathering the cards after Malia took a picture of the reading.
“Yeah?” she asked, looking between you and Tanner.
“I mean, he’s kind of adorable” you said, shuffling your cards. “He seems a little nervous around this stuff, but maybe I can be a bad influence on him.”
Malia laughed. “You can’t be a worse influence than Colby.”
“True” you laughed.
Tanner and Colby joined you in the back of the shop, Tanner putting some stuff on the table.
“I hear you two have already met” Colby said, sitting next to Malia.
“We have” you said, smiling at Tanner.
“She helped me un-haunt our house” Tanner laughed, pulling a folder out of his bag.
“I take it the Juniper did the trick?” You knew it would work, but you were still happy to hear it.
“It did! Thank you. Even Dakota had to admit that it worked. No more weird tech problems or things going missing.” Tanner answered, sitting down next to you and sliding the folder toward you.
“I’m glad!” you said, opening the folder. “Oh my god” you laughed.
“What is it?” Colby asked, leaning over the table.
“He put together a packet of information about this building after I told him it was haunted.” You explained, pulling the papers out of the folder.
While you were reading the packet out loud to the group, Malia leaned over and whispered to Colby about what you’d said about Tanner earlier. The two of them looked like grinning idiots when you finished the packet and looked up.
“I’m gonna go grab my curb sign and lock the door if you want to set up whatever equipment you brought” you said to Tanner, looking at Malia and nodding toward the front so she’d follow you.
“Will do” Tanner said, starting to pull stuff out of his bag.
“You told Colby, didn’t you?” you asked her while you were locking the store up.
“You know he can keep a secret” she laughed, turning your “open” sign off.
“He can, but his face can’t” you said, looking back toward Tanner and Colby.
“If it helps, Tanner stared at you with a huge smile the entire time you read the packet” Malia said before grabbing your hand and pulling you toward the back of the store.
“If you say so” you laughed.
Tanner explained what the different pieces of equipment did. You noticed he seemed a lot less shy when he was in his element, nerding out about ghost hunting.
“Y/n, you should use your pendulum when he turns the yes/no box on” Colby suggested. He’d seen you get answers with it before and knew it would freak Tanner out.
“Ooo, good idea” you said, grabbing your Tiger’s eye pendulum.
“How does it work?” Tanner asked, grabbing the yes/no box and putting it in the middle of the table.
“Well…” you held the pendulum in one hand and held your other hand out below it. “You talk to your pendulum. You ask it what yes looks like…” your pendulum gently rocked forward and backward. “You ask it what no looks like” your pendulum gently rocked side to side. “And you ask it was ‘I don’t know’ looks like” and the pendulum gently swung in a circle.
“So….you’re not moving it?” Tanner asked, skeptically raising his eyebrows at you.
“You try it” you laughed, handing the pendulum to Tanner.
He looked over at Colby like ‘is she for real?’
“Do it, brother. It’s the real deal.” Colby was laughing.
“Oh god” Tanner laughed. “Okay. Am I holding it right?”
You moved the chain in Tanner’s hand so he could relax a little more while holding the pendulum and then moved his other hand to rest a few inches underneath the pendulum. “Close your eyes for a second and take a deep breath. Try to relax and feel the motion of the pendulum.”
Colby chimed in. “Now open your eyes and ask it what the answers look like.”
Tanner opened his eyes and took a deep breath. “Can you show me what yes looks like?” The pendulum started to gently swing forward and backward. “No shot.”
“Don’t overthink it” you said.
“I swear to god I’m not moving it” Tanner replied.
“We know” Malia answered.
“Can you show me what no looks like?” Tanner asked, his eyes growing huge when it gently rocked side to side. “Holy shit. Can you tell me what ‘I don’t know’ looks like?” The pendulum stopped moving entirely before gently swinging in a circle.”
“We should pick you out a pendulum before you leave” you said, reaching your hand out for yours. “Not everyone has a knack for it.”
“Iiiiiii…..don’t know if I’m ready for that but my mind is blown” Tanner laughed, placing the pendulum back in your hand.
“Let’s ask your spirits some questions” Colby said, turning on the yes/no box and looking around. He’d been there to witness a few of the odd spiritual shenanigans that had happened in your shop.
“What do you want to know?” Tanner asked, smiling as he watched you get the pendulum back in position.
“Hmm…Do you like that I opened a witchy shop in your home?” you asked, watching the pendulum move forward and backward. “Yes.”
The equipment said “yes” about 2 seconds later.
Tanner shook his head back and forth in disbelief. “Is there more than one spirit that lives in the building?”
“Yes” you said, watching your pendulum.
“Yes” the equipment said a few seconds later.
“You said you think there’s three here, right?” Colby asked you.
“I think so” you answered. “Theres an older guy that smells like cigars and likes when I make tea or coffee, a young energy who likes to move stuff and play pranks, and I hear a woman singing.”
“Your pendulum is saying yes” Tanner pointed out right before the equipment spit out the same answer. “I’m still mind blown that you’re getting the same answers.”
Malia grabbed her bag and stood up so her and Colby could head out. “If you think that’s impressive, you should see her do it without the pendulum.”
“Don’t scare him” you laughed, standing up to hug Malia.
Tanner looked at you and then at Colby. “What does that mean?”
Colby went to hug Tanner. “Our friend has a few gifts” he laughed. “Always good to see you brother.”
Colby and Tanner talked about plans the guys had next weekend while you walked Malia up to the front.
“You guys didn’t have to leave” you said, giving Malia a look.
“We already intruded on your date enough” she laughed.
“It’s not a date” you retorted, unlocking the door and stepping outside with Malia. “Now that you spilled the beans about me being able to talk to ghosts I doubt there will be one anytime soon” you laughed.
“I don’t know” she said, a mischievous smile on her face. “He hasn’t taken his eyes off of you since he got here. I think he’ll warm up to all of this” she said, gesturing toward the shop as Colby walked out.
You rolled your eyes and hugged them both again. “You two drive safe. It’s supposed to storm tonight.”
“Have fun with Tanner” Colby teased, pulling his keys out.
“Not you too” you laughed, waving goodbye and going back into the shop.
Tanner was holding your pendulum, looking at the pattern in the stone.
“You really should pick out a pendulum” you said as you sat back down at the table.
“I was considering it” he laughed.
The two of you used a few other pieces of equipment including a thermal camera, the SLS camera, and a REM pod, before Tanner asked if you wanted to use the spirit box.
“That’s what you use with headphones, right?” you asked, remembering it from a video.
“You can!” he answered, pulling them out. “It’s called the Estes Method.”
“You have to go first” you laughed, getting up to make some tea.
“I’ll go first if you do it after me” he said, bargaining with you. “I used the pendulum, you have to try to Estes Method.”
“I’m good with that” you laughed, making tea for you both while he got everything set up. The two of you chatting.
“What is this?” Tanner asked, sipping the tea. “It’s actually really good.”
“Ginger tea with a little bit of peppermint in it” you answered, smiling over at Tanner.
He took another sip and blushed when he realized you were still smiling at him. “You’re making me nervous” he laughed. “Why are you smiling?”
You laughed. “I’m just thinking of questions to ask” you answered. “Plus, I’m having a really good time. Nothing to worry about.”
“Me too, actually.” His cheeks stayed pink while he finished his tea, asking you random questions about various things in the shop.
“So I just ask questions, right?” you asked before he put the headphones on.
“Yup, ask whatever you want and I’ll say anything that I hear from the spirit box” Tanner answered.
He put the blindfold on and put the headphones on, giving you a thumbs up to start asking questions.
You thought for a second about what to ask first. “Who is your favorite customer that regularly comes in?”
Tanner was silent for a few seconds before saying “Gaia” out loud.
“Mine too” you laughed. She was an older woman who had been a tarot reader for like 60 years and she was the sweetest human on the planet. “I leave you guys treats on my alter in the back. What is your favorite thing I leave out?”
“Chocolate” Tanner answered, a few seconds later adding “Cigar” and “Roses”.
“Noted. I’ll make sure to keep putting those out. Do you like Tanner? The man in here with me right now?” You were curious. You knew they liked Colby and Malia and a few of your other friends.
“Cute” Tanner answered. “I think one of them is making fun of me” he laughed. “I just heard a little kid say ‘bald’.”
You laughed. “He is cute, isn’t he?”
Tanner said “Anxious” next.
“Be gentle with him. He’s a little intimidated by the witchy woo” you scolded.
“Sweet.” He said. “Empress” followed a second later. “I just heard the kid laugh again.”
“Ooo, interesting. I wonder what his life path tarot card is.” You noted that you’d ask what his birthday was after this.
Tanner took his headphones off and slid the blindfold up. “Is any of this making any sense?”
“Yes” you laughed. “All very direct answers except for the last one.”
Tanner turned the spirit box off and removed the blindfold. “It’s so crazy being under because you have no clue what questions you’re trying to answer.”
“It all made sense on this end” you said, grabbing the headphones when he handed them to you.
“Are you ready?” he asked, handing you the blindfold.
“I guess we’ll find out” you answered, putting the blindfold on and waiting while he turned the spirit box back on. “It’s so loud” you laughed before going under.
“Hello. My name is Tanner” he started, looking around the shop.
“We know” you said. “It sounded so like…robot-ey.”
Tanner laughed. “Are you guys okay with us using all of this new equipment in here?”
You answered “fun.”
“I’m glad” he answered. “You seem to be happy here with y/n.”
“Safe” you said next. “Respect.”
“She seems pretty great.” Tanner smiled, nodding his head.
“Blush” you said, wondering if he was blushing again.
Tanner laughed, rubbing his cheeks. “Is all of this witchcraft stuff as dark as people make it out to be?”
“Nature” you answered next.
“Like, it’s all part of nature? From nature?” He asked.
“Balance” was what you heard next. “Circle.”
“So it’s not all bad?” he continued.
“Intention.” You were worried when the next thing you heard was “you’re scared.” You pulled the headphones off your ears a bit to make sure Tanner was okay.
“I’m good” he answered. “Are you okay?”
“I just heard ‘you’re scared’ and I wanted to make sure everything was okay.” You explained.
“Ah, no I’m good.” He answered. “I have a few more questions if you’re okay with it.”
“Of course” you said, putting the headphones back on.
“I admit, all of this is a little new to me but being scared isn’t always bad” Tanner said. “Should I be scared?”
“No” you answered. “They said my name” you laughed.
“You said y/n’s name.” Tanner said. “What does that mean?”
Your last answer was “guide” before the power in your building went out scaring the crap out of Tanner. “I heard a woman laugh and then say ‘cute’.”
Tanner gently patted your shoulder to let you know to take the headphones off. “The power went out and I jumped a foot out of my chair” He laughed, taking the blindfold and headphones from you. “I think your ghosties thought it was funny.”
You laughed. “The storm is really picking up out there.” You walked to the front and saw a few downed trees in the parking lot and noticed that the traffic lights had also lost power.
“Holy shit” he said, following you up to the glassfront.
“You’re more than welcome to stay until this clears up” you said, grabbing a few towels to put inside the front door. Sometimes it flooded a bit if the rain picked up too much.
“Thanks. Probably for the best” he answered, helping you wedge the towels tight against the door. “People here already drive like idiots.”
“Truth” you laughed, pulling out your phone to use the flashlight. “Lets go get settled upstairs. I’m sure we’ll find something to eat that we don’t need power for.”
“You live upstairs?” he asked, following you toward the staircase in the back.
“Yup” you answered, wondering what he’d think of your home.
“That’s so cool” he replied, taking in the space once he made it to the top of the stairs.
“I’ve got a few power banks if you need to charge your phone” you said, handing him a small tech bag. “I’m going to get out of my work clothes and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
“Thanks” he answered, heading back downstairs to grab his stuff from the table.
You stripped out of your clothes from the day, including your bra, and put on a baggy hoodie and a pair of leggings. You text Malia to make sure they got home safe and to let her know you and Tanner would be watching movies on your iPad for the foreseeable future.
“It’s fate” she text back. “We got home safe and you get more time with tall, cute, and smitten.”
“shut up” you text back, grabbing a few blankets for the couch since it would undoubtedly get cold.
You could hear Tanner on the phone in the other room when you made it back to the kitchen.
“Nah, I’m good. It looks like the power is down for about a square quarter mile but she said she’s good with me hanging around here until it’s safer to drive home.” You didn’t know who he was talking to but assumed it was his roomie.
“Peanut butter and jelly or cold cuts?” you asked him from the kitchen. You lit a few candles and turned on a flashlight and set it on the counter so you could see.
“Hold on” he told the person on the phone, walking up to the counter. “I’m totally fine with anything. I’m not picky.” He smiled and told the person on the phone once more that he was fine and not to worry.
“Is that the famous Dakota?” you laughed, pulling out the ingredients to make turkey sandwiches.
Tanner put him on speakerphone and nodded ‘yes’.
“Dakota, I promise I won’t turn Tanner into a toad and I don’t even own a Ouija Board.” Tanner had told you earlier in the day that Dakota had teased him a bit about the witchcraft thing.
Dakota and Tanner laughed. Dakota responded with “Hey, you can turn him into whatever you want but make sure you film it so we can get views on YouTube.”
“Cross my heart, hope to die” you laughed. “We’re just going to watch movies on my iPad and eat fat sandwiches.”
“Well now I’m jealous” Dokota said in one of his funny voices.
“You should be” Tanner replied. “Her building is haunted and the spirits here are super talkative and kind of funny.”
“Alright, stop rubbin’ it in.” Dakota said. “Just be safe. I’m gonna go annoy Alex since you left me here all alone with nothing to do.”
“The storm was headed your way” Tanner reminded him after taking him off of speakerphone. “Don’t go too far.”
You finished making the sandwiches, grabbed some chips and the flashlight, and took it all to the living room.
“Make yourself comfortable” you said, running back to the kitchen to grab a few drink options and to grab your favorite tarot deck. You also snagged your Life Path book.
“Thank you, again” Tanner said, kicking his shoes off and settling down on the couch. “When I asked if you had plans today, I didn’t intent to take up the rest of your night” he laughed.
“Don’t worry” you said, handing him a drink. “I’ve had a blast and shit happens how it’s supposed to happen.”
“True that” he replied.
“So I do have one more witchy woo thing to ask you” you said, pulling out your tarot deck.
“I’ll admit. I did have my cards read in New Orleans” Tanner confessed.
“I mean, when in Rome, right?” you laughed. “But actually, I wanted to know your birthday.”
“My birthday?” Tanner was Confused. “October 26th.”
“Year?”
“1992” he answered.
“Okay. Give me a second.” You pulled out your phone and added up each individual digit to get his life path numbers so you could find his Tarot life card.
1+0+2+6+1+9+9+2 = 30 and 3+0 = 3
“So, earlier you heard the word Empress on the spirit box, right?” you asked.
“Yeah, right at the end I think” he answered.
“Well, your life path number is 3 which I think fits you incredibly well and that means your Tarot life card is The Empress.” You explained.
“What does The Empress mean?” he asked.
You grabbed your Empress card so he could see it while you explained. “The Empress is one with nature. Don’t get caught up on the gender thing. Tarot is about archetypes, not what’s in their pants. She is the definition of having an open heart and isn’t quick to judge. She is creative and nurturing and sensual and kind and empathetic. She’s also connected to the divine so you probably have some gifts you either don’t know about yet or haven’t accepted.”
Tanner stared at the card, taking in the details. “That all sounds so flattering” he laughed.
“It sounds accurate to me” you said, “and your life path description fits too.” You flipped past the ‘romantic’ section and the ‘struggles’ section and read the general traits. “Charming, romantic, charismatic, and full of creative energy. You see the opportunity in everything and embrace life to the fullest. Great communicator, warm and inviting, and original in thought. Emotionally intelligent and always reminds you of the silver lining.”
“Again, it all sounds very flattering.” Tanner handed you back the Empress card.
“So you think they’re all written just to blow smoke up your ass?” you laughed.
“I mean, it’s like daily horoscopes, right? Such broad descriptions that it applies to everyone if you try hard enough” he answered.
“Well, why don’t you read some of the other life path numbers and see if you identify with any of them?” you challenged him, handing him the book.
He read through a few pages before going back to 3. “I hate to say it, but you’re right” he laughed. “Especially the stuff you didn’t read out loud.”
“Romance or struggles?” you asked, watching him read the page from the top again.
“Both” he said, finishing the page. He pointed to the bottom of the page. “So you can see who you’re compatible with?”
“You can, but it mostly points out the areas both people differ so you make sure you communicate and fulfill each other’s needs” you explained. “Like a ‘don’t forget this means a lot to the other person’ list.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” He said, handing you back your book. “What’s your birthday?”
You laughed, grabbing your plate and putting it in your lap. “I’ll tell you next time we hang out.”
He smiled and nodded, following your lead and getting comfy and grabbing his dinner. “I think I can get on board with that.”
“Pick a movie” you said, pulling up what you had downloaded on your iPad. “I’ve got Hunger Games, The Fall, Immortals…”
“Ooo, I haven’t seen Immortals since it came out in theaters” Tanner said, taking a giant bite of his sandwich.
“Immortals it is!” you said, hitting play and setting the iPad up in it’s stand.
The two of you ate and finished the movie, getting jump scared by a boom of thunder after the credits had gone quiet.
“Holy fucking shit that scared me so bad” Tanner said, his hand resting against his chest over his heart.
“Yeah, I don’t think the power is coming back on anytime soon” you laughed, taking your plates to the kitchen.
Tanner grabbed one of the power banks and plugged your iPad in so you two could watch another movie. “What is The Fall?” he asked.
“Ooo it’s an incredible Tarsem movie with Lee Pace in it!” you answered, kind of explaining the plot briefly.
“I’m down” he said, getting up to use the bathroom before settling back down on the couch and hitting play.
About 30 minutes in you could feel your eyelids drooping and you realized you were slowly leaning toward Tanner.
“Sorry” you said, rubbing your eyes and sitting back up.
“Come here” he said, moving to slide down the couch a bit so he was laying down and opening his arms for you to cuddle in next to him. “It’s getting super cold in here anyway. I can’t let you freeze.”
“That was smooth” you laughed, throwing the blanket over both of you and snuggling into his side. “Please wake me up if I’m crushing you or talking in my sleep or doing any other embarrassing thing.”
“Oh, absolutely not” he laughed, reaching to turn the iPad toward where you two had moved. “I’m bound to do ten times more embarrassing shit than you so I’m going to enjoy yours.”
“Rude” you laughed, “and I doubt it.”
“I don’t know, Colby already pointed out a few things and even your ghosties made fun of me tonight.” He said the last part louder into the room like he was sassing the ghosts.
“First, my ghosts like you. I asked.” You looked up and realized he was still wearing his hat. “You don’t have to sleep in your hat. I told you to get comfy.” You smiled when he tossed it on the table. “And second, Malia has been giving me shit since you walked into the shop” you laughed.
“We’ll have to figure out a way to get them back somehow” Tanner laughed. “Why was she giving you shit?”
“What was Colby pointing out?” you rebutted.
“Touche” he laughed again.
You startled awake around 3am when various electronics and appliances in your home turned back on.
“You okay?” Tanner asked, his eyes squinted now that a bright light was on in the room.
“Yeah” you laughed, stumbling your way off of the couch to turn the light off. “Something in the kitchen beeped loud as hell and scared me.”
“I wonder if the street lights and stuff are back on” Tanner pondered out loud.
“You’re more than welcome to check, but you don’t have to leave. There’s still going to be downed trees and shit. I’m going to go brush my teeth” you said, adding a ‘blech’ sound after realizing you hadn’t brushed them after dinner.
“Can I steal some mouth wash?” he asked, finding his glasses and following you.
“I have an extra new toothbrush” you said, pointing to a cabinet in the bathroom and starting your normal nightly routine. You washed your face and brushed your teeth, moving so Tanner had access to the sink. When you went into the kitchen to grab water bottles, the power went out again. “I bet they have to fix a downed power line or something” you called out.
“It’s really awkward brushing your teeth in the dark” Tanner said with a mouthful of toothpaste.
You laughed, going to the living room and grabbing your phones. “Here” you said, turning on the phone flashlight.
“Much better” he said, rinsing his mouth out.
“Come on” you said, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward your room. “You’re a giant and my couch isn’t that comfortable.”
“Hey, I was sleeping great until you got jump scared by the power coming back on” Tanner replied.
You crawled into your comfortable giant bed. “You can sleep wherever you want, but I’m not opening the shop tomorrow so I’m going to crash in my comfy bed and hopefully sleep like a baby.”
“I think I like your plan” Tanner said, walking around to the other side of the bed and climbing in.
After a minute you turned over and scooted over toward Tanner. “The couch did have its perks” you said, snuggling into Tanner’s side.
“I’m glad you agree” he replied, wrapping his arm around you. You could feel his laugh in his chest.
The next morning you woke up and noticed Tanner wasn’t in your room. You brushed your teeth and walked out into the main living space and heard him coming up the stairs.
“Good morning” you said, noticing the bag and cup holder in his hands.
“Good morning, sleepy head” he said, eyeing your crazy bed head. “Your power is still out so I ordered breakfast to be delivered.”
The two of you talked and ate. Tanner explained what him and the boys were doing later with a live stream and you shared your plans to go hang out with your friend since you couldn’t open the shop. You finally gave him the protection kit you’d put together and answered all of his questions.
“Before you go, you’re picking out a pendulum” you said, walking him downstairs after he’d packed up all of his stuff.
“How do you pick one?” he asked.
“I normally tell people to hold them and try to ask them questions they know the answers to so they can find one they vibe with, but I’m pretty sure I know which one you’re gonna like” you answered.
“What one?” he asked, looking at the display of pendulums. “Oh” he said when he noticed only one was gently swinging back and forth. It was made of smoky quartz.
“Try it out” you encouraged him.
He asked it for it’s ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘I don’t know’ and then told you to cover your ears and close your eyes.
“So secretive” you teased, closing your yes and covering your ears, humming so you couldn’t hear him.
He looked around the shop. “Ghost buddies, I need your help.” The pendulum answered yes. “God, I feel like a middle-schooler. Does y/n like me? Because I think she likes me and I definitely like her and all of this witchy stuff is still new territory for me but she’s kind of incredible and I just….” Tanner was rambling until he noticed the pendulum swinging a wildly obvious yes. “Thank you” he smiled. “I’ll be back soon.”
Tanner reached out and pulled your hands away from your ears. “You get the answers you needed?” you laughed.
“I think so” he said, showing you that he’d picked the smoky quartz pendulum.
“Perfect.” You added it to bag you were holding and walked him out to his car. “Please drive safe. That storm really ripped through town.”
“I promise to drive like a grandma the entire way home” he laughed. “We need to plan something else soon.”
“I’m here almost all of the time and you are always welcome.” You pulled him to you and into a hug. “You don’t need an excuse to drop by or call.”
“Good to know” he said, holding you tight to him for a moment. “I have to drive up north by myself next week if you want to join me.”
“I have a few people who can cover at the shop” you answered, going up on your tip-toes to kiss his cheek. “Text me the details and I’ll make it work.”
“I absolutely will” he said, ducking his face for a second. “I had an amazing time and if I don’t leave we’re going to be standing in your parking lot for an hour.”
You laughed. “Like I said, you’re welcome any time.”
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