The Ex Hex

by Erin Sterling

“Sure. I mean . . . we were just goofing around. None of that was real curse magic. That candle came from Bath & Body Works, I think.” Vivi studied the label. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure ‘Orchard Hayride’ isn’t in league with darkness.”

“Remember when we pretended to curse him?” Gwyn asked, grinning as she shuffled her cards, and Vivi snorted. “Something about his dimples and never being able to find a clitoris again.” “Which,” Gwyn said, tilting her head to one side, “now that I think about it was actually more a curse against any women he dated, and I kind of regret that. For the sisterhood.”

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and reminded herself of the mantra she’d come up with driving away from him last night. He is the worst, he is the worst, he is the actual, literal worst.

“Vivi, if we could actually place curses on people, that bitch who always gives me whole milk when I ask for soy at Coffee Cauldron would be a dead woman by now,”

It really was unfortunate how much of magic took place in dark, dank places. As Rhys helped Vivienne step over a particularly large rock just inside the entrance of the cave, he wondered why his ancestors couldn’t have laid down ley lines somewhere warmer, somewhere a little less damp. Beaches needed magic, surely.

“You . . . literally said, ‘I curse you, Rhys Penhallow,’ and now you’re surprised that I, Rhys Penhallow, am cursed?

Rhys, who’d been uncharacteristically quiet since they’d all retired back here, walked up to Elaine and took the T-shirt from her. “ ‘Never mix witchcraft with vodka,’ ” he read, then nodded. “Solid advice, that.”

“Good,” Vivi said. “So that’s it. We have a plan. A . . . kind of half-ass one, but a plan nonetheless.” “Quarter-ass, if you ask me,” Rhys muttered but then nodded at her. “But certainly better than nothing.”

“I do run a business, you know. I occasionally get up early, and have even been known to make a spreadsheet or two.” “Entirely too early for dirty talk.” Rhys smirked at that, leaning over to kiss the tip of her nose. “Go get dressed, and in the car, I’ll tell you all about my spreadsheets and the color-coded folders I keep in my office.”