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“You spin it around three times and then hang it in the window facing out to keep them out.”
I bet she's going to do it wrong
When no one was watching, I spun it around three times and hung it behind the curtain in the window, the cute little mouse face staring at me. This was fun—this quaint, little magic. Maybe this town was growing on me. I had just turned back to clear another table when someone shrieked, “Mice!”
Called it!
“Is now an inappropriate time to tell you you’re hot when you’re angry?” Wyatt whispered.
Pfft dudes got it bad
Billy extended his hand, and Harlow stared at it, mouth agape, before taking it in hers. Never in my life did I think an out-of-towner would shake Billy’s hand upon first meeting him. Most of the other paranormal inhabitants of Maple Hollow could pass for vaguely human, but certainly not Billy. It had taken weeks for Willow to emerge from her little café. Even now, she was still timid and cautious around some of us. But Harlow, while afraid, was willing to at least try. I didn’t know why that endeared her to me so much more, but it did. I was impressed.
“Sweaty palms,” Billy said with a chuckle. “But brave.” “Sweating is our family’s superpower,” Harlow said. “Not as cool as you hulking out, but . . .” Billy looked at me. “I like this one.” “Yeah.” I looked at Harlow, surveying her anew. “I like this one too.”
“We dated for about a year before we broke up.” Jordyn scrunched her eyes closed, and the muscle in her jaw flexed. “I mean, I broke up with her,” she corrected. “And she died a few months later and I just haven’t gone out with anyone since.” “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She glared over her shoulder. “I’m getting less and less sad about it by the day.”
“I can’t imagine there’s a lot of queer people in a little town like Maple Hollow,” I said. Jordyn shrugged and threw a look around the square. “You’d be surprised. There’s a pretty big overlap between the paranormal and rainbow communities.”
Her rambling was so adorable, I couldn’t help myself. I stepped in and slowly kissed her on those sweet, soft lips. It was the gentlest of kisses, a little spark that I already knew would eventually set me aflame. But right now, I protected that perfect little ember as she hummed against my lips. I reluctantly took a step back.
Lou sighed again. “You know what helps with a worried mind? Sex.” I choked on air, letting out a garbled half cough, half gasp. Iris clapped me on the back. “What did she say?” “Lou just said I should have sex,” I rasped, coughing into my elbow. “You cannot be serious.” “Oh, come on, don’t be a prude.” Lou let out a light chuckle. “There’s nothing more definitive in a relationship than the first big O.”
Iris stood and rubbed her hands together, blowing her steaming breath onto them. “Let’s get this over with. It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here.” Harlow laughed, and Iris looked at her. “Only we are allowed to make that joke.” “Noted,” Harlow said with a smile.
“One date,” Iris finally answered, and I practically fell over standing still. “At a location and time of my choosing.” “You’re a sharp one, witchling.” Ramona smiled with sly delight. “At a location and time of your choosing, so long as it is within a year from this night.” “Fine.” Iris held her hand out to shake on it. “Oh, little witch, you know that’s not how I seal deals.” Ramona tugged on Iris’s outstretched hand, pulling Iris in before dropping her head for a kiss. “Holy shit,” Harlow whispered. Lou whistled low. “Now, that is a thorough fucking kissing. Not that your girl seems to
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“There are so many unwritten rules in a place like this. I don’t think I’ll last in this town long,” I added bitterly. “Oh.” Jordyn sounded legitimately disappointed, and I wished I could take back what I’d said. I felt like a dick. None of this was her fault. “I mean, this is a town of the paranormal. I don’t fit in here.” Jordyn took my hand again, and my muscles eased at the warmth of her touch. “You fit,” she said quietly, eyeing me up and down. She looked back at the lake and added so quietly that I wasn’t sure if my mind was playing tricks on me, “You fit with me.” She cleared her
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Fuck me and all the moons and stars.
I’d thought falling for the first person I’d met here had been a bad omen, but now I knew it was fate.
“Harlow.” Jordyn grabbed my hand. “You captured my heart from the moment I first laid eyes on you. Maybe it took a few ghosts and cups of pumpkin spice to get me to realize it.” We both laughed again. “But deep down, I always knew. The moon drew me to you like the waves to the shore. A beautiful siren’s song, one I tried to pretend I didn’t hear at first.”
“But I knew when I had the courage to listen that you were always meant to be mine,” Jordyn continued, “as I was always meant to be yours. You are brave and funny and smart and full of life and adventure, and I want to spend the rest of my life by your side. You and me,” she finished with a hopeful smile.
She took a deep breath before dropping to one knee. The small green leather box was emblazoned with my initials in gold, and she opened it to reveal a giant emerald set in a ring of diamonds on a latticed silver band. I gasped. I couldn’t have picked a ring more perfect for myself if I’d tried.
I dropped to one knee across from her and opened the box. The ring was her grandmother’s. She’d given it to me three months ago when I’d gone to ask her coven for their blessing. It was a silver band dotted with delicate pearls that led to a square-cut diamond in the center. “Only if you marry me too.” Tears streamed down Jordyn’s face even as she laughed and nodded. “Yes.” “Yes,” I said at the same time.
“Are you sure you didn’t put a love spell on me? Because I love you more than I ever thought was possible. I love you like it’s magic.” Jordyn shook her head and kissed me again. “You’re more stubborn than my magic.” I tugged her close to my side, where she would always belong.
“Harlow is lovely,” Grandma whispered. “You’ve found someone just as special as you, my darling. I think some magic runs in her veins. There’s a perfect spark of mischief to her.” I smiled through welling eyes. That was one of the highest compliments a coven elder could give.
