“Mmmm. Okay. I have to make a living. I can keep working at the restaurant, but that isn’t enough for upkeep on this house, taxes, and a car payment.”
“I can—”
“Stop,” Liz interrupted. “I’m not a charity case. I don’t want Ray’s money.”
Cia winced. Liz knew the wince was because she kept saying she didn’t want Ray’s money either. Except, Cia wanted nice things. And a cushy lifestyle. And so… Yeah. Cia wanted all that Ray could offer her. And she was willing to compromise everything she had been to keep him and live that life.
Liz accepted that because she had started making compromises too, to win and keep Eli Younger. To transform his interest in her into love and make him want to stay with her. To keep her around. And she’d move to New Orleans with him if he asked her.
So… So, she really had no right to be upset with Cia.Damn it.
“I want to make a living,” Liz continued. “I’ve been growing our magical investigative business.Myinvestigative business. A contract with the governor’s office, the contacts I can make on this gig, and a successful conclusion to this case, could help that a long way. I want this, Cia.”
“You want Eli.”
“Yes. I do.”
Cia looked around the house they had bought together and Liz didn’t know what she saw anymore. To her, it was comfy and cozy, and warm and worn with love, but the kitchen and bathrooms needed to be remodeled, and the hardwood floors needed to be refinished. The furniture was mostly old and frayed and soft, and held memories of their youth, and only Cia’s chair was new. But the house was theirs. They had fought for it. Bought it together.
Liz couldn’t keep it without an influx of cash, because she still had to buy Cia’s half from her. Money. She needed a lot of money.
“Liz,” Cia said, bringing her attention back to sister. “I haven’t said anything, but I’ve had my lawyer draw up the papers. I’m deeding the house to you.”
Liz’s eyes went so wide, she felt her eyebrows hit her hairline. “What!” Her tone was not pleased. It was downright angry. And Cia seemed to expect that reaction.
“As part of my prenup with Ray, we’re both giving away—not selling—our current homes and buying one together. Ray’s giving his old house to his mama. I’m giving you this place, and my half is paid for.”
“With what? You don’t have any money! Everharts don’tdomoney!”
“This Everhart does,” Cia said softly. “I’ve been working for the band, enhancing their music with workings I got Molly’s husband to teach me.”
Liz pushed back in her old lounger as if to put distance from her twin. “What kind of workings?” she whispered, as if PsyLED might be listening with an ear at the door. “It’s illegal for witches to bespell crowds.”
“Not anymore. Not if that’s advertised as part of the act. It’s a legal loophole Ray’s lawyer found. Now all the advertising promises a magical glow at the live concerts. It’s a huge part of Ray’s rising popularity.I’ma huge part of his rising popularity. So I get a bigger cut. Way bigger. And I can sell similar things to other bands and touring singers. I have my own money now. And Ray?” She smiled slightly, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “You know how you said that Ray wants me to be his kept woman? Well, that’s off the table. Now that I have my own freedom, my own power? His lawyer and my lawyer put their heads together, and not only am I protected, I’m likely to get rich. Like really rich. So I paid off this house and I’ve deeded it to you. The only catch is that if Ray ever pisses me off, I get to move back in, no questions asked.”
“You gave me our house.” Liz’s tone was emotionless, waiting for the ba-da-boom next line of this gag.
“I did. Remember when we used to play the game of ‘What if?’ back when we were kids, on long trips?”
“What if I won the lottery?” Liz smiled slightly, staring at her gorgeous twin, or this really good imitation of her. “I remember.”Where was the ba-da-boom?
“Do you remember my answer? It was always the same.”
“You’d buy us all houses so we didn’t have to share rooms and closets and bathrooms.”
“Finding Ray and learning how to use my moon magic to enhance Ray’s fans’ listening experiences has been like winning two lotteries. And yours is the first house.” Her words sped up, as if she was trying to convince Liz of their truth and validity. “Amelia and Regan get the next house. They want to live together, and are looking for a bigger house, which they say they’ll share and then sell in a few years, when they can parley it into two smaller houses, next door to each other, with a pool, and still make a profit. And Molly, since her house burned to the ground and she’s getting a new house anyway, said that instead of a house, she wants college funds for all her ankle biters. And Mama said she doesn’t want a house either but she’ll think about what she wants and tell me later.” Cia stopped, her eyes wide. She put her tea down and scooted out of her chair, over to the old recliner. She perched on the edge of the chair arm and touched Liz’s shoulder with tentative fingers, and gently put Liz’s cooling tea cup on the table.
“Liz?” Cia touched Liz’s chin, nudging her to make eye contact.
“That’s no ba-da-boom.”
“No. I’m not joking. What’s wrong? This is all good stuff. Different stuff, but good stuff.”
The weight of her twin’s words landed on her. Cia was giving her their house. But the words that came out of her mouth were about a different subject entirely and she didn’t expect them at all. “What if I fall in love with Eli?”
Cia chuckled and squeezed her fingers. “Then you can go live in New Orleans if you want. Sell this place or rent it out and follow your heart. Just like I’m doing.”
Liz grabbed her sister in a bear hug, her face in Cia’s middle. Her twin’s dress was soft, not silk but something just as fancy, fitted around Cia’s too thin waist. “You’re too skinny.”
