Page 34 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love (Paranormal Romance #2)
“That’s up to you. But before you decide either way, ask yourself if you’d resent him a month from now, or a year, or five years, for being the reason you turned down this opportunity.”
Would she? The thought of passing up the directorship made her chest tight with preemptive regret. But the possibility of losing Donatello created a hollowness that she wasn’t sure a job could fill.
“I’d resent him,” she admitted in a small voice. “And I’d hate myself for it because it’s not fair to blame him for a choice I made.”
“And would he resent you if he left SMPD?”
Andromeda nodded miserably. “He said being a cop is all he knows how to be.”
“Then the solution isn’t for either of you to give something up.” Sarah Michelle’s expression brightened. “What if there was another way? One where neither of you had to sacrifice?”
Andromeda sat up straighter, a tiny ember of hope flickering to life. “Like what?”
“I don’t know yet.” Sarah Michelle shrugged, but determination set her jaw. “But there’s always a loophole, especially in bureaucratic policies.”
“That’s the answer I wanted from him.” A fresh wave of frustration rolled through her. “But he couldn’t see past his black-and-white thinking. It was either him or the job. No room for creativity.”
“Malatesta, for all his merits, is still a man. And men can be so unimaginative sometimes.” She scooted closer on the couch. “But we’re witches. We can do better.”
“What do you suggest?” Andromeda didn’t smother the flicker of hope this time. “I’ve got three days left to decide.”
Sarah Michelle sniffed theatrically. “First, you’re going to shower.” She snapped her fingers, and the mini-cyclone that’d been cleaning the house attacked Andromeda. It whirled over her, disappearing just as fast and leaving her smelling of roses.
“You did not just cyclone me. I could’ve taken a regular shower.”
“This was faster,” Sarah Michelle countered, rising from the couch. “Up now. We don’t have time to waste.”
For the first time in four days, hope flickered inside her.
Along with the grime, Sarah Michelle’s spell had washed away most of the self-pity.
The living room was in good shape, too. The takeout containers were gone.
The blanket nest had been folded into a neat stack, and the scattered spoons had vanished.
Even Quill, perched on a clean cushion, seemed less judgmental.
“If you ever quit detective work, Shelly, you’ve got a future in disaster recovery.”
“Come on. You’re the one who needs a career change, not me.”
They spent the rest of the night plotting and planning between bites of take-out food from their favorite Thai restaurant.
Ideas were tossed back and forth like a tennis match—some practical, others outlandish.
Maybe King could be persuaded to make an exception, or they could find a loophole in the policy.
Maybe Andromeda could work remotely, or Donatello could transfer elsewhere.
For the first night in four days, Andromeda slept without crying into her pillow.
And when Sarah Michelle burst into her room at an unwizardly hour the next morning, already dressed in a sleek pantsuit, Andromeda blinked at the light filtering through the blinds, feeling like she’d just closed her eyes.
“Get up,” her roommate commanded, yanking open the curtains with unnecessary enthusiasm. “I’ve been thinking all night. I know how we’re going to fix everything.”
Andromeda groaned, burying her face in her pillow. “Can’t your breakthrough wait until after coffee?”
“Nope. The longer you and Malatesta sulk in separate corners of Salem, the harder it’ll be to make peace.” Sarah Michelle plopped onto the bed and started explaining her idea, bouncing with excitement.
An hour later, showered, caffeinated, and wearing clothes that weren’t pajamas for the first time in days, Andromeda paced the living room, chewing on her thumbnail. “Will it work?”
“Not without the big guns. We’re going to play dirty.”
A curl of apprehension twisted in Andromeda’s stomach. “How?”
“We need the help of the Chief’s wife.”
Andromeda stared at her roommate. “Why?”
“His gut reply will be no.” Sarah Michelle grinned. “But it’ll be harder not to fight for what you guys mean to each other in front of the love of his life. Come on. Mila agreed to meet us for breakfast in twenty minutes.”
“Now?” Andromeda’s voice rose half an octave. “I’m not prepared! I don’t even know what I’m going to say!”
“You’ll tell her the truth.” Sarah Michelle was already heading for the door. “That you’re in love with a stubborn, by-the-book detective who’s too conventional to see a third option, and you need her help.”
Andromeda grabbed her bag, hurrying after her roommate. “And she’ll put her neck out for two strangers against her husband?”
Sarah Michelle’s answering smile was confident as she pulled the door closed behind them. “Mila King is happily married to the most rigid, rule-following man in magical law enforcement. If anyone knows how to navigate the system while keeping love alive, it’s her.”
As they headed for the café, the hope she’d barely dared to acknowledge yesterday was blooming now, bold and certain.
Turns out, door number three existed. She could have both the career and the man she wanted. Love and ambition didn’t have to be mutually exclusive.
And if they needed to bend a few rules to make it happen? Well, that had always been her specialty, anyway.