Page 48 of Charmed, I'm Sure
“Oh,” she says as her shoulders droop. “Well, that’s good, I guess.”
“Yeah, I had a great time. I’m sure there are some things I could learn from a faerie about this town too? Just as friends?”
Her face lights once again. “Yeah.” She nods vigorously. “I would love to teach you some of our lore too. As…as friends.”
“Great.” I clap my hands together. “As my newest friend I have to ask…when you look at me do you see a powdered wig and blush on my face? Maybe a frilly shirt with a blue jacket?”
She turns her head from side to side slowly as if she’s checking all possible angles.
“Nope. But I can see the glamour shimmering around you. I’m guessing Bellamy hexed you to see yourself in that?”
Biting my lip, I feel my cheeks warm. “Yeah, I might have asked Matilda to have a ghost recite poetry to Bellamy. How was I supposed to know she was in a meeting with the leader of her coven?”
Clarissa laughs as she covers her mouth with her hand. “Tell me you didn’t.”
I drop my head back, staring at the ceiling, hoping maybe an alien will beam me up. “Yes, I did. I thought it was romantic.”
“You are a hopeless puppy. Where are you getting all this advice, and you better not say all of it is from Matilda? You have heard about her track record, right?”
“…she said that they were learning moments and that I shouldn’t hold it against her.”
“And you listened?”
“Maybe…”
“No wonder you are ending up hexed every day. Alright, I get off at 6 tonight. Come back by the shop and I’ll help you come up with some ideas that might actually work.”
“Alright, great.” I hold up the two coffees in a cheers. “See you then.”
I’m about to turn down the cobblestone path towards Curios & Curses when I hear a soft sigh from the windows lining Hex & Harken. I look over to see the same three faeries from the other day. All three of them have hearts in their eyes as they look at me. Each one is blushing and fanning themselves.
I smile and turn to walk down the path when the one in soft pink clears her throat.
“I think it’s sweet that you grab coffee for her every morning. Don’t give up, wolf, she’ll eventually see you.”
The one in pastel blue, silver hair glinting in the morning light, nudges the one in pink in the side. “If not…I’m not too old to take a young pup for a ride.”
Shaking my head, I smile at them before turning to head to the shop. I don’t want to be late, even if she isn’t aware that I’m coming again.
The door pushes open with ease, and I don’t feel the zing of the ward like I usually do. Does that mean it’s recognizing me or has she added me as an allowed person? Is that a thing? I have no clue when it comes to magic, wards, spells, or even hexes.
I find Bellamy with the sleeves of her knit sweater rolled up past her elbows, her forehead has a light sheen of sweat, and she looks as though she’s been running a marathon. It’s only nine in the morning, what has she been up to already?
She doesn’t even lift her head when I walk in, but I can see the smile she’s trying to hide from me.
“Good morning, Trouble. I hope you are in desperate need of this coffee. I practically had to fight three old ladies to get in line. There were so many witches at the cafe this morning. Is there a meeting or something? If so, shouldn’t you, like, be there?”
I walk over and place the coffee on the table between her grimoire and the bottles of dried herbs and questionable other items.
She’s aggressively stirring whatever that bubbling concoction is when she finally looks up at me. Little wisps of her hair are clinging to her forehead, framing her face.
“Good morning, Dog Boy.” She wipes her face along her shoulder, not slowing down her stirring. “I am definitely in need of caffeine, but I can’t stop stirring this spell. Otherwise, it will fail, and I’ll have to start all the way over again.”
“We can’t have that,” I say as I move around behind her.
She whips her head from side to side, trying to see what I’m doing, but she can’t stop to see fully . I wrap my arms around hers, my hands clasping the wooden spoon handle right below hers. Matching her rhythm, I hover right behind her. There’s only a breath of air between us. I can feel the heat of her body along my front, seeping into my soul. For the first time since I found her, I feel a part of me settle being this close to her.
“What are you doing?” she whispers.