Page 54 of A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love

Until the Store Closes

Christina

Two nights ago, the town of Clover Creek celebrated Halloween.

Two nights ago, we had a record number of people come through the haunted house.

So many, in fact, that we blew past our fundraising goal, and we ended up staying open later to accommodate everyone.

The kids were hyped, and since we’d done such a great job, Principal Wilkson said we could delay starting breakdown for a couple of days—and that he’d even come to help.

As glad as I am that the event is over, part of me wants to rewind time to do it all again.

Putting on shows or events like this is difficult and stressful, but there’s nothing like the rush of the final curtain call.

This Halloween will go down in the record books for sure.

Or at least it will in my own mind—as long as I get to keep all these memories.

As she promised, Pepper talked to Kevin. The way she told the story of that interaction implied she was a little skeptical that he would show up—even though he had seemed to say he wanted to do it. “He’s unreliable,” she told me. Which may be true, but he’s our only hope.

That’s why on the last night, Pepper and I are having a picnic in the store—complete with candles and wine, and a circle of monsters leering at us from the shadows.

Not real ones, of course, just the decorations from the store that have been shifted around.

Today is the official last day it’s open, but still, there’s something spookily romantic about being watched over by a ten-foot-tall skeleton.

“This reminds me of our first date,” she says as she pours prosecco into two stemless plastic wineglasses.

“Really?” I say. “Tell me about it.” My idea and her idea of our first date will be totally different, won’t they? For me, I’d probably count the time we went and got tacos, or maybe that time I ran into her at Déjà Brew—which she has since told me was no accident.

She smiles and sets the bottle down. “I took you on a picnic in Whispering Woods.”

“And I let you have a second date?” I tease. The idea of me agreeing to a date in a cemetery is laughable, but with Pepper asking, I could easily see how I was persuaded.

“To be fair, I didn’t tell you that’s where I was taking you.”

“That makes more sense.” I take a sip of my wine, the flavors of green apple and honeysuckle flooding my mouth while little bubbles tickle my tongue.

“I didn’t bring wine, though, just Italian soda.”

So she was being chivalrous—didn’t want to make assumptions or make me feel pressured in case I wasn’t a wine girl. Smart. “What flavor?”

“Blood orange.”

I scrunch my lips together. “I would’ve preferred straw—”

“Strawberry,” Pepper says with me. “Yeah, I know that now. But you still kissed me.”

“I kissed you on our first date?” I pretend to be aghast, but I could see how I’d want to get lost in her stunning blue eyes, or just be closer to her.

Even now, sitting here, knees touching isn’t enough.

Pepper has this aura, a spirit that pulls me in, and I want to be caught up in her orbit. “You must’ve done something right.”

“I was so nervous. I had no idea what I was doing. But”—she shrugs—“it ended up okay. Better than okay actually.”

“I’m glad you asked me out.”

“Me too.”

I reach over and lay my hand on top of hers. “What do you think will happen tonight?”

Her lips pull to the side in a kind of sad half smile. “I don’t know. We’ve been here before. It was the first year, and we weren’t waiting for anyone exactly—just happened to be nearby when the rain started to fall and, well…you know.”

I finger the place on my arm where the skin is smooth. “And last year?”

“We were at your place. You made fettuccine Alfredo, and we lay on the couch watching some rom-com you’d picked out.

I admit I didn’t pay much attention to it because I wanted to memorize the way we felt there together, you in my arms. The way your chest shook when you giggled. Then we went to bed and…”

She doesn’t have to fill in the details.

Even without my memories, I know what she’s going to say.

I might not have remembered her, but I do remember waking up one morning in early November and feeling incredibly lonely just like I had felt the year before.

It was as if I’d lost something—but I could never figure out what it was.

As the days passed, the ache in my chest eased, and then before I knew it, it was August and I met Pepper and, well, here we are—again.

She takes a sip of her wine and sets the glass down.

“What do you want me to do if it doesn’t work out this time?

” She’s not looking at me—her gaze fixed somewhere on the blanket we’re sitting on, maybe on the amulet that’s attached to the hearse keys that are lying next to the bottle of prosecco.

They look so insignificant, and yet they hold so much power. Our fate, more specifically.

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Because it’s your life, too. Your parents made you an amazing offer, and I…I don’t want to stop you—”

“We try again.” My voice is clear and strong.

Her gaze connects with mine—eyes glassy. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“I’m sure.” Because this is the kind of thing you fight for—a person who’s willing to watch you fade away and keeps coming back no matter how hard it has to be for her.

That quote—if you love something, let it go—rushes through my mind.

I’ve never given it much thought before until this moment.

That’s what Pepper has had to do—she’s had to let me go over and over—but she’s had so much hope, determination, and most importantly, love to help us find a way back to each other.

She has sacrificed so much for me, and I’m willing to do the same.

“I won’t tell you how to do it, but if there’s a way we could have more time…

” I don’t blame her for how she’s handled this.

I don’t know what I would do in her position.

“I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will.” I lean forward and kiss her—under the watchful eyes of a giant werewolf, a space alien, a grim reaper, a ten-foot skeleton, and a large tree with an empty swing that moves when you get too close to it—and it’s the most romantic thing ever.

I want to memorize her lips, the taste of apples on her breath, the smell of her perfume.

I don’t want it to be our last kiss, but if it is, I need it to be perfect.

For her, since she will have to remember it for us both.

I reach up to stroke her jaw, and a loud bang has me jumping back before I get the chance.

I quickly glance at my phone. If that isn’t Kevin coming in, I don’t know what’s about to happen, but we’re really close to midnight. How did I lose track of the time?

“I’m surprised he showed,” Pepper says as she stands.

“Hello.” Kevin’s voice echoes through the darkness. If I didn’t know the monsters circling us weren’t real, I’d be terrified right now.

“We’re in here,” Pepper calls back.

The light from his phone comes into view before he does. “So this is one of the perks, huh? Can I bring dates here, too?”

“Probably,” I answer.

“It’s not all fun and games,” Pepper says.

“Cool. This gives me even more ideas.” He stumbles over to one of the giant monster statues—the werewolf with glowing red eyes and ripped jeans, claws extended like it’s ready to attack. “Did you know that giraffes are thirty times more likely to get struck by lightning than people?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Pepper asks, and I’m thinking the same thing.

“Just a cool fact.” He bops the monster on the nose. “I’m going to make some changes around here.”

Pepper gives me the look—like I-can’t-believe-this-guy. I can’t either, but I take a deep breath and steady my nerves. He’s about to make it so Pepper and I can be together forever, so the least I can do is be nice.

“It’s not your problem,” I whisper to her.

“Do you hear that?” he yells at the monster. “I’m going to be your boss.” He punches the monster statue, and it rocks back and forth.

“Hey, come on, don’t do that.” Pepper goes to step forward, but I grab her hand. “Are you drunk or something?” she asks him.

“Celebrating my promotion,” he says, walking toward another monster statue before punching it, too.

It’s not super aggressive or anything, more like he thinks he’s playing a game—plus he’s been drinking, so there’s that.

I take a step behind Pepper just in case.

If this is how he is when he’s happy, I don’t know if I want to see him if he’s upset.

Oh shit. Will we have to move away from here?

He will remember us, but we won’t remember him, will we?

I didn’t think this through well enough—or leave myself proper notes that would be big enough clues without breaking any of the rules.

“I told you, it’s not exactly a promotion,” Pepper says.

“But it’s not not a promotion either,” I say, even though my adrenaline is pumping. We need him—need this. It’s a necessary evil.

“I said I wouldn’t trick him.” She pivots so that her gaze can connect to mine.

“And you aren’t. It’s not really anything. So we’re both right.” It’s a slippery slope, but I’m not letting this opportunity go. I snatch the keys off the blanket. “All you have to do is take these.” I hold them out to him.

“You hear that, big guy? I. Am. The. Boss. Now.” He punches the plush statue again, and the plastic nose caves in. “Holy shit.” He laughs and spins around, but his feet tangle up, and he slams into the monster’s legs, making the statue fall on top of him.

Oh shit.

Pepper and I rush over. Kevin is knocked out cold.

I grab his arm so I can shove the keys in his hand.

“He has to be awake,” Pepper says. “He has to agree to take the job.”

“What?”

“It’s a rule. He has to agree,” she tells me.

My heart stops. She never told me about this before. “But he did. He’s here.” I yank on his arm, and a snore escapes his mouth. “Wake up!” I yell at him, but it’s no use. He smells strongly of alcohol and weed.

“I’m sorry.” Pepper holds her hand out. There is sadness in her eyes. She tried to warn me this wouldn’t work, but it was so perfect.

“No.” We have only a few minutes left, but I’m not giving up. I glance at the amulet still clutched in my hand.

“Christina, give me the keys.”

Something so small, and yet it holds so much power. It’s not fair. This is my life. And I should get a say in how I live it. I shake my head. “No. I won’t do it. I’m not going to lose you again.” A rush of anger surges through me

“So what? You’re going to take my place? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Why is it ridiculous? You’ve done it. Maybe it’s only fair if I take a turn, and then we can switch back and forth until we figure out how to break it for good.” That’s an idea we haven’t tried before, I bet. It could work. Couldn’t it?

“I can’t ask you to give up your life—”

“You aren’t asking me. I’m choosing to. I agree to it—for you. I agree to take the job. I agree to keep my memories of you. They’re all I’ll have, and I’m tired of them being ripped away from me.” I say the words out loud in case it matters, which I am guessing it does.

“You have a family.”

“So do you. I bet they’d love to see you.”

“It’s not the same,” she says. “I’ve done it before. I promise I will find you again. I can’t let you leave all of this behind for me. I will take the job,” she says even louder, her voice echoing around us.

I cup her cheek. “Don’t you get it? I’d do anything for you.”

She cups my cheek back. “And I would do anything for you.” Then she kisses me with a fierceness she hasn’t before—or at least I haven’t remembered.

She pulls my body into hers and runs her fingers down my arm, grabbing my hand that’s holding the keys.

The ring is still looped around my finger, and she closes her hand around mine—so we’re both holding on.

I wrap my other arm around her waist. “I won’t let you go.” I don’t want to. And we were so close, it’s cruel that it won’t work out for us.

“I’ll see you again soon.” She presses her forehead to mine.

A tear slips down my cheek. “It’s not enough.” My chest clenches so tight, I can barely breathe. A sadness so intense overtakes me that I don’t know how I’ll ever recover.

“It’ll be okay,” she says. “Just give me the keys.”

The keys. These stupid keys. I clench them tightly in my hand. I want to chuck them across the room. But that won’t stop what’s coming. “I’m coming with you.” That’s all I want. To be with her no matter what. I can’t lose her. Not again.

“Christina—”

“No. I’m coming with you.” I squeeze her hand tighter. “I won’t give you the keys, but you can hold on to them with me, and we can see what happens.” I have no idea how the magic works or how it will choose which of us to take or if it will take both of us, but I don’t care. I have to try.

“Together? Are you sure?”

“I got you,” I tell her as more tears slip from my eyes.

“I got you,” she says back.

This time I take the lead, and I kiss her with everything I have.

My heart slams against my ribs, and my skin tingles.

This is love. It’s sacrificing everything, and I’m ready to do it.

Pepper has already had to do it more than once.

She is my person, and no matter what happens, we will find our way back to each other. I have to believe that.

I hold on to that thought, that hope, and all the love we share as the world seems to vortex around me—and while we stand there, hands, bodies, and hearts connected, it must become midnight, because everything goes black.