Page 23

*honk*

M OVIE NIGHT WAS BLISS.

It was like a throwback to the “before,” where it was only the AT3, binge eating snacks while watching Enchanted (our favorite classic), talking nonstop about nothing and everything.

At eight thirty, when it was almost over, my phone buzzed.

Ken and Allie both looked at me as I took it out and read the message.

Jackson

Auntie Bev is early. Can you come now?

“Who’s texting?” Kennedy asked.

My face was instantly on fire as I tried coming up with a story. “I, uh, it’s my mom. She wants me to come home now.”

“Noooo,” she said, shaking her head. “I mean, at least we’ve seen this a hundred times already.”

“True,” I said, relieved that she wasn’t questioning my answer.

My phone buzzed again, and I gritted my teeth. What were the odds they wouldn’t notice?

“What is her deal?” Allie said, and they were both watching me.

“Is everything okay?” Kennedy asked.

“Who knows,” I managed, looking down at the message.

Jackson

Hurry before she starts laying on the horn.

“Ah, she said she doesn’t feel good and wants me home so she can go to bed,” I lied, my face hotter than it’d ever been.

“Okay, it’s hilarious how red your face is right now,” Kennedy teased. “You look sunburned with rage, Em.”

I sputtered a fake laugh. “It’s so annoying.”

I was putting on my backpack when the horn started honking.

It wasn’t a honk, or a casual beep.

No, it sounded like Auntie Bev was literally laying her entire body on top of the horn.

Come ON, Bev, gimme a break.

“What the heck?” They ran over to the window and looked outside. “ Who is doing that?”

“Okay, well, I’ll see you guys later,” I said, unsure how I was going to get into the honking car without them seeing me get into the honking car.

“Wait—hugs,” Allie said, running over. “I’m so happy things are normal with us again.”

“Me too,” I said as she hugged me. It really had been nice just being us together again.

“Hold up,” Kennedy said as she wrapped her arms around us, making it into a group hug, which made us all laugh.

“Okay, now I have to go,” I said, still laughing.

But as we pulled apart, I dropped my phone.

Kennedy leaned down and grabbed it, then held it out to me.

It felt like everything switched to slow motion when it buzzed and my display lit up with the message.

Jackson

LET’S GO, ROCKIE! The magic isn’t gonna reverse itself!

I snatched the phone and shoved it into my pocket. “See you guys—”

“You’re going somewhere with Jackson right now?” Allie asked, using the same tone she’d use if she were asking me if I’d stomped on her hamster. “Were you lying about your mom texting you to come home?”

“And what does that mean, the magic isn’t going to reverse itself?” The expression on Kennedy’s face—the narrowed eyes, the frowning mouth—told me she knew exactly what it meant.

“Nothing,” I said with a fake chuckle, waving a hand as my guilt engaged my word-vomit reflex. “He’s so weird. Like, the guy says the strangest stuff, like tells me about when he needs to clip his toenails or what he ate for—”

“What are you going to do?” Kennedy demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

“ Nothing ,” I said, louder this time. “We’re literally going to get hamburgers with his nutty great-aunt.”

“Then why would he say that about magic?” she asked.

“I have no idea,” I lied yet again, rolling my eyes. “He always thinks he’s funny when most people don’t even get him.”

“You wouldn’t do anything to mess it up, would you?” Allie asked, her voice quiet.

I looked into her eyes, the eyes I’d known as long as I could remember knowing things, and I felt queasy from how guilty I felt.

Guilty and so, so worried.

Because if we got our wishes fixed but somehow reversed Allie’s or Kennedy’s, they’d never forgive me.

I’d never forgive myself .

But how could I not try when my other best friend’s happiness was at stake, not to mention my mom’s? I told myself it was going to be okay because Nana hadn’t written anything about a firsthand knowledge of wish reversal.

“Of course not,” I said, swallowing and not looking toward Kennedy’s accusing stare. “We’re just getting hamburgers, so chill.”