I can feel Raya’s eyes burning into me, so I simply respond, “Depends on the wish.”
“Honestly, I’d just like one of those old Polaroid cameras—to take pictures of all the things around town.” She grins, holding out the money. “The kind they don’t make anymore.”
An item like that would retail formuchmore than one hundred dollars…but I can make it happen. This is the perfect chance to show there’s more to me than Raya thinks.
I nod, taking the bill from her and putting it in my pocket. “Okay, hands out, and close your eyes, and say what you wish for.”
Excitedly, she shuts her eyes, doing a little dance on the spot as she puts her hands out. “I wish for an older Polaroid camera.”
Does she really need to close her eyes? No, but it’s part of the fun.
Channeling my magic, I bring her wish to fruition. In her palms, an older—but in perfect condition—Polaroid camera sits. Her hands lower slightly as the weight of it sets in.
The woman’s eyes fly open, and she lets out a squeal before hugging the camera to her chest. “Oh my gosh, thank yousomuch. This is amazing. You just made my holiday!”
“No problem at all. Pleasure doing business with you.” We watch as she scurries away, still clutching the camera close to her chest.
Well, that wasn’t my most profitable moment, but I’m hoping I profit in the love department—gaining it from Raya, that is.
As we turn to continue our walk, Raya’s hand nudges mine. This time, though, it doesn’t graze on past—it slips into mine.
I’m holding her hand right now. Thank the Gods for sending that woman to me, wanting an easy wish. All right in front of my Pinky.
“So, you actuallycangrant wishes for real,” she remarks, her thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand.
I lean to the side, putting my head lower and closer to hers. “I told you I could.”
“And now I believe you.” She smiles up at me, her cheeks glowing with a faint pink hue.
Relief floods me. I’m making progress gaining Pinky’s trust. I may actually convince her that my intentions are pure. At least, with her.
The draw I feel to her, the connection already…it’s supernatural. Stronger than the magic that flows through me, stronger than the gravitational pull of the universe.
“What do you want out of life, Pinky?” I ask, the sand of the beach now beneath our shoes.
She hums for a moment, as if she’s never thought of her answer. “Well, I guess…happiness? Maybe a family one day, if I meet the right guy.”
The side-eye she gives me paired with the smirk that I see creep onto her lips makes my heart do flips inside. Oh, Pinky, don’t you see yet? Iamyour Mr. Right.
“I never thought I wanted kids,” I admit before quickly continuing, “but my opinion on that has definitely changed recently.”
Her eyes are wider now as she shoots me a look. “Really? What changed?”
Now, if I’m too blunt, I risk scaring her off. Though if my point isn’t clear enough, she may think that I’mnottalking about her.
“I guess you could say that this town changed me.” I wink, giving her a safe answer.
It seems to go over well, as she rests her head against my arm and gives my hand a squeeze. “There is something about Harmony Glen that has the power to do that.”
Before I can say anything else, she raises her free hand, pointing out toward the water. “Look how pretty the sunset is today.”
I turn in the direction she points, taking in the breathtaking colors of the sunset. While the top of the sky is still a shade of blue, the bottom, near the water, glows pink. A slight bit of orange emits from what remains of the sun.
Where the pink and blue meet, a lovely purple shade is made. The meshing of two great things together to create one much more beautiful thing.
“It’s like us,” I tell her, my heart beating so fast I fear she can feel it through my arm.
She lets out a little laugh, wrapping her other hand around my arm. “It is.”
