“Not during a new moon, you can’t.”
He opens his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. “Are you a witch? I did not think so.”
A laugh that is half cry lodges in his throat. “And you are?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.”
“You defy all science. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I don’t care how you mean your congratulations, I will take them however I want to.”
I watch him struggle to form a reply, then turn away. Shake his head. “I don’t see it. Makes no sense, the two of you together.”
“What?” My mind’s still on flora fortunes.
“You and Trevor. Did you see him in there at Mozzi’s? I watched him drink ranch out of the bottle.”
“He’s fun. Why do you care? Who would you pick for me instead?”
“You should stay single.” Alex molds his hand into a fist. “Female empowerment.”
“How empowered areyou?”
Alex leans on one elbow, analyzing me. “You asking if I’m single?”
“No. Ew.” I jump to my feet, rounding the campfire.
“Where are you going?”
My legs have unexpectedly developed a jittery condition. Walking is involuntary. “Wherever I want.”
His features turn sly. Calculating. “Does Trevor know about your jumpy heart?” He spreads his fingers like a firework exploding. Chants lowly,“Ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom.”
“You’re not as much of a know-it-all as you think.” I’m itchyall over. “You—” I stop. My phone is resting on the log, screen lighting up.
He sends me a mildly censorious frown, as though I am betraying Team Yellow somehow to receive a call from Team Red (Trevor and Teyonna). I don’t have time to work out the inner mysteries of Alex’s mind, though, because he answers my call before I get the chance to, then taps speakerphone. “What do you want?”
“Let me talk to Ro,” Trevor’s overly loud voice demands. “Y’all’ve been gone for hours. I want to make sure she’s still alive.” A woman is giggling in the background.
Alex lifts the speaker close to his mouth, each word deliberate. “Bring a box of fresh donuts to the red bridge in fifteen minutes or you’ll never hear from her again.”
“What’s taking you so long? Kristin won’t hand out prizes till everybody gets back. T and I got second place, which means we scored gift cards for Shoe Sensation. I want to see if they make insoles that massage your feet as you walk.”
Alex makes a face at me, like,This guy? Really?His lips purse as he sweeps me from top to bottom. I think he partially dissolved my bra with his eyes. “Maybe we’re taking so long because I’m busy seducing her,” he replies at length.
A weird burble of laughter emits from my throat. “As if youcould.”
Alex wings a brow. “Let’s not pretend I can’t.”
“Hurry up!” Trevor chirps. “And just so you know, T helped me break into your truck and we ate your bag of Rolos. Why the hell you keep Rolos in a hot car, son?”
In the background, Teyonna releases a giggling scream. “Why’d you tell him?”
“He deserves it for mistreating chocolate.” Then to us, Trevorsays, “T and I are going back to see if there’s any more candy in the truck. Don’t let him seduce you, Ro, or I’ll respect you less.”
The screen flashes.Call ended.
Alex closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Please help me understand, Tempest.”
