This Spells Love

by Kate Robb

“I feel good,” I lie. She knows it, I know it. But to be fair, today, I’m showered, dressed, and wearing clean underwear, a significant improvement from the last three stinky, wallowy, underwear-optional weeks.

“Well, he kind of had the personality of a cardboard box, and you’re way better off without him.”

Eventually, you need to stop watering dead plants.”

“I’m already getting bad vibes from that thing. I’ve watched enough Harry Potter movies to know nothing good ever comes from reading aloud from a creepy old book.”

“Then we became friends and you learned the error of your ways?” He opens his mouth as if he’s about to say something, then stops and instead brushes a sweaty strand from my forehead and tucks it behind my ear. “I can say that after four years hanging out with you, Gems, there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re the real deal. If there’s a flaw in you, I can’t find it.”

“Goodnight, Daxon McGuire.” “Goodnight, Gemma McGuire.” “It’s Gemma Wilde, you drunk.” He shrugs, smiling. “Slip of the tongue.”

“Goodnight, Dax McGuire,” I call to him. “Goodnight, Gemma McGuire,” he calls back. “Slip of the tongue?” He shrugs and smiles. “Something like that.”

I realize two things. This very moment, here, might be the happiest of my entire life. And in my other one, it never would have happened.

“I love you, Daxon McGuire.” He turns, flashing my favorite smile in the whole world. “I love you, Gemma McGuire.” “Slip of the tongue?” He shrugs, the smile still on his face. “Maybe? Or maybe I have plans.”