Rylan: Imogene stole your phone, didn’t she?
Me: YES!
Rylan: I miss you.
Me: I miss you too.
One Day Later
Me: You need to give those bodyguards trailing Remy, Imogene, and I a pay raise.
Rylan: You noticed them?
Me: They don’t exactly fit in. I was about to call and tell you to take them back, but Remy said this is your way of protecting people you care about. So, I’ll let it slide.
Rylan: Why do they need a pay raise?
Me: Imogene thought they were secret admirers, so she’s been flirting, and having “accidental” wardrobe malfunctions around hers. They are likely scarred for life.
Rylan: I’ll bump up their hazard pay.
One Week Later
Rylan: I could really use one of your hugs right now.
Rylan: Fuck, my head. I need to get back to the castle and control my powers.
Rylan: What are you up to today?
Chapter Thirty-One
You’re such a chicken shit, Tempie
“Okay, so it’s how I’m flicking my wrist.” Sheamus twirled his wand trying to find the right way to make the cup in front of him turn invisible.
“I think so,” Ethan answered beside me.
In the past few weeks, Sheamus, Ethan, Remy, Emily—the blue haired girl from registration day— and myself started a study group that met once a week. Turning objects into another wasn’t my strong suit, unlike potions.
“Let me try again.” Sheamus moved his long beard out of the way and pointed his black metal wand at the cup. “Invisium,” he said, and the cup disappeared. The spell would only last about five minutes, but it was cool that he finally got it right.
“Thanks, y’all.” He smiled and packed his things.
Remy and Emily were at a history club meeting so when Sheamus left I looked to Ethan.
“Thanks for coming tonight. I know the nurse wing keeps you busy.”
Ethan wasn’t so bad. I think I must have gotten weirdo vibes on that first day because I was nervous. He was an introvert who was trying to be more outgoing.
We’d talked about his pre-magic life as computer nerd. He claimed he didn’t have much going for him and always wanted a second chance. A do-over to be cool and make better choices than the ones he did in high school.
“I’m glad I could make it too.” He flashed me a smile, but it didn’t make my magic rattle like a certain billionaire’s did.
“So, I was thinking,” His gaze dipped to my lips, then back up to my eyes.
My chest sank. Ethan was nice, and relatively handsome. He just didn’t do it for me, and I didn’t want to break up our study group over that.
Please don’t ask me out. Please don’t ask me out.
