Page 37 of How to Flirt with a Witch

I nod. She’s not wrong. “And that’s rare?”

“I’ve never heard of it before.”

I blink, astonished. A special ability?Me?

I’d be honored, except I still don’t get what’s going on. This ability seems to concern her—or at least interest her. I search the side of her face. “What do you think this means?”

The light turns green, and we start moving again.

“I have no idea. Maybe your family history includes some—” She breaks off as if to concentrate on changing lanes.

“What?” I press, filled with a sensation like teetering on the edge of a cliff.

“I’m taking you thrift shopping.”

The change of topic ignites a spark of annoyance, but I’m too intrigued by where we’re going. “Why?”

“I want to see if you can find a cursed item. We can test if you have an ability or if it was a fluke that you found the other two.”

My pulse picks up. This feels like a weird job interview. She’s testing my skills. “And if I find one? Then what?”

“Then…” She scowls at the road, as unreadable as ever. “I’ll worry about what this all means if we’re successful.”

My heart misses a beat. If her job is to find curses, and I can find curses… It’s only logical that I help her, isn’t it?

“And if we fail?” I ask, unsure I want the answer.

Her expression turns solemn. “Then I’m making a pretty huge mistake right now.”

A pause. The way her face falls, I have to wonderwhomight discover that she’s told me stuff. Who does she report to, and whose rules is she breaking? Will she have to cut me out of her lifeif I don’t have an ability?

Cold trickles through me at the thought of her disappearing from my life. She’s been the most exciting thing to happen to me—possibly ever.

“Is a thrift store the best place to find a curse?” I ask into the tense silence. That news article about Natalie working at one suddenly checks out. She probably pretended to be a piano tuner at one time too, if a piano was cursed.

“You’d be surprised,” she says. “An item isn’t sitting right with someone—they get a bad vibe from it, or don’t love it anymore, or it isn’t working the way it’s supposed to—and they ditch it. Our other option is to go to the dump.”

I pretend to consider. “Tempting, but thrifting sounds nice. I could use some kitchen stuff, anyway.”

“Waffle maker?” she murmurs.

I laugh, which makes her cheeks lift.

I like this side of her. The side that jokes a little and teases me with half smiles.

Mission: Accepted.Though Natalie claims she’s not sure what comes next, I think I know, and it sends my heart racing. This skill I have would be an asset to her. We could work together, get to know each other… and take it from there.

She parallel parks and turns off the car. With a firm nod, she opens the door. “Time to see what you can do, Miss Alexander.”

Chapter 10

Just Call Me a Sniffer Dog

Ready to pick upon the slightest hint of a curse, I ground myself as if meditating, checking in with all my senses. The thrift store buffets me with a kaleidoscope of household items and clothes, the smell of old books and dust, and a radio ad playing over the PA.

This is my chance. If this goes well, Natalie will have to accept my help—and the possibility of herneedingme sends a thrill through my veins from head to toe.

Behind the till, a guy and a girl about my age pause mid-conversation, their gazes locking onto Natalie.