Page 26 of Charmed, I'm Sure

“Got it!” Miles announces, bounding in like he just ran a marathon and wants his gold medal. His hair is windblown, his cheeks are flushed, and yes—he’s grinning like a labrador that brought the ball back.

I blink at him. “You…ran?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I? You said it was urgent, so I wanted to make sure I got it to you quickly.” He sets the paper bag down on the counter like it’s a sacred offering. “Anything else you need me to fetch?”

I resist the urge to send him on an impossible mission that doesn’t exist. You know, maybe a dragon eye or something like a ghoul testicle. That one might actually have been funny to watch.

“No. And for the record, it wasn’t urgent.”

Miles shrugs. “Regardless, you have them now and we have time to work on the scavenger hunt clues.”

I groan. “No, we really don’t.”

“We really do,” he says cheerfully as he pulls out one of the maps she left us. “Plus, you kind of owe me.”

“Owe you?”

“Yeah, for the tour around town that you never did. Remember, day one when you were supposed to take me around town?”

I just stare at him. He can’t be serious. It’s been four days. Surely he’s walked around town and knows where things are now.

“Plus, we have a whole list of weird magical landmarks to look at. Think of it as the long, overdue tour and a chance for you to get to know me.”

“Who said I wanted to get to know you?”

He smirks as he holds out the map to me. “You did when you didn’t hex me today.”

Damn it. He’s got me there.

Nyx flops down with a long-suffering sigh.“Here we go.”

Chapter Ten

This Is Not a Date

Bellamy

Miles is standing proudly outside the shop, waiting for me to come along, and honestly he is far too bright. He’s holding the map like he’s about to lead an expedition for buried treasure. “You ready?” he asks, grinning like this might be the best day of his entire life.

“No,” I say flatly, locking the shop door. “But apparently fate says I don’t get a choice.”

Nyx sits down beside me, snickering.“You could pretend you like him and see what that does.”

I give Nyx the side-eye.“I like my sanity more.”

Miles unfolds the map dramatically. “Alright, first stop…” he runs his finger across it. “Harvest Square. Seems we have a giant pumpkin to meet and pay homage to.”

“It’s a gourd, not a god,” I mutter, but he’s already walking down the path towards Harvest Square. His shoulders bounce with far too much enthusiasm for an early morning. Well early for me, but semantics.

The streets of Pumpkinridge are alive with bustling activity as everyone prepares for the Samhain festival. Bunting is being draped along the storefronts. The enchanted lanterns float in above the doors, and a squirrel carrier flies by with a canvas tote bigger than him.

Miles slows to watch it scurry into The Whisper Post.

“Do they…actually deliver the mail?” heasks.

I smile as I shake my head slightly. Grasping him by the arm, I pull him down the path.

We cut through the square, passing the witches casting spells to bring pumpkins to life. The air smells faintly of damp soil, crisp air, and a hint of cinnamon. The giant pumpkin looms ahead—six feet across, glowing faintly even in the daylight. Miles stops dead in his tracks.