“Maybe in some ways, but sometimes I miss the simple answers because I’m too busy trying to overcomplicate the issue,” Jeweladmitted.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Jewel,” Anna said gently. “You’ve been through a lot in the past few months. You can’t expect your brain to function at its full potential when it’s under such a huge amount ofstress.”
Jewel let out a small huff of laughter. “Again, a brilliant observation and explanation onyourpart.”
There was a knock on the door that joined their room with Sly and Z’s. Jewel walked over to it while contemplating the two warlocks. They had been nice so far, and even seemed to try and put the girls at ease whenever possible. But Jewel had noticed a melancholy sadness that overtook their faces when they thought no one was looking. It was this look that gave Jewel some hope that the pair wasn’t really in league with the evil fae. But even if they weren’t on Volcan’s side, that didn’t mean they were on Team Healer either. She unlocked and opened the door. The two, large males were standing inches from the door with a pair of identical grins plastered on theirfaces.
“What, exactly, are you two so happy about?” Anna asked, sounding alittlewary.
“Are you kidding?” Z asked. “We are in Los Angeles, the city that neversleeps.”
“I thought that was Las Vegas,”Jewelsaid.
“Las Vegas, Los Angeles, really what’s the difference?” Slyasked.
“Are you guys planning a sightseeing day?” Jewelasked.
Z and Sly looked at each other, and the expressions on their faces made Jewel feel as though they were dealing with two teenage boys let loose on their own for the first time, rather than two powerful adult supernaturalbeings.
“We just assumed all work and no play makes witches grumpy all the long day,” Z answered. The smug grin on his face made it obvious he was quite proud of his littlerhyme.
“Okay, first of all,” Anna said, her face scrunched up as she shook her head, “Never do that again. Warlocks do not make silly rhymes. I’m pretty sure it’s in some ancient book somewhere. Second, we have work to do, and if we don’t get it done, we will be gypsy healer stew, brewing in Volcan’s cauldron. So, you two”—she pointed at one and then the other—“need to get with the witch-productionprogram.”
Jewel grinned at Anna. “I’ve never seen you so takecharge.”
Anna raised her hands palm up in a what-can-you-do sort of gesture. “When there’s someone else who wants to be in charge, I’m totally okay with letting them take the reins. If no one steps up, I’m willing because I do not like feeling lost or unsure. I need plans and direction. I mean, if you’drather—”
Jewel cut her off. “No, no. I’m more the behind-the-scenes, researching nerd who attempts to avoid physical confrontation as much as possible. In short, I’m afollower.”
One of the warlocks cleared his throat. “So, do you two Wheelers have some sort of plan for this witch-productionprogram?”
“Here we go with that word again,” responded Jewel. “Yes, we are both witches and healers, but Wheelers?C’monon.”
“If the shoe fits,”retortedSly.
“As a matter of fact, we do,” Anna offered. “Just need to do a bit of research, which I vote we do overbreakfast.”
“I second that vote,” Sly said, raisinghishand.
“And clean clothes would be nice, too,” Jeweladded.
“So breakfast, planning, shopping,” Zconfirmed.
Jewel and Anna nodded and followed the two males out of themotelroom.
They hadn’t walked more than a quarter of a mile when they came to the first fast-food place—a burger joint. It looked less than appealing to Jewel, but then, they were sort of in a hurry and, she didn’t have time to be picky aboutthefood.
Jewel began to speak. “Did you know fast foodrestaurantshave—”
Anna held up her hand. “If you give me some fact about how gross, unsanitary, or unsavory fast food restaurants are that is going to make me want to puke, then I’m going to have to put a spellonyou.”
“Theme song,” Z and Sly sang at the same time. “I put a spellonyou.”
Jewel was quickly figuring out that they would have to ignore the warlocks at times in order to keep from encouraging their Weasley-brother antics. It struck her as funny that there she was comparing them to Harry Potter when she and Anna were indeed real-life witches. Pot, meetkettle.
Anna couldn’t stop wonderingwhat it was Jewel was going to say. She stared up at the menu, trying to determine what food would be the safest to eat. A sausage patty at least was cooked on the stove so that probably killed all the germs, right? By the time it was her turn to order, she still didn’t have a clue what she wanted so she just said a number. “I’ll take a number six, with a soda to drink.” She stepped away from the counter without looking up at what she’d ordered and tried to ignore the employees making the food. She figured it would just be safer for everyone involved that she remainedoblivious.
When they were all seated with trays of food in front of them, she discovered she’d order the chicken biscuit and decided it was acceptable. Hopefully the grease it was fried in was at least under ayearold.
