“I’ll be right there,” Bootsy promised, and then the phone went dead.
Dropping her head back against the graffiti-covered wall, Ria stopped fighting the flow of tears.Her first chance at a real client, and not only did she clam jam destiny, but she straight-up stole Lissa away from her destined love.
How could she have done that?Witches never meddle with their own spell, magical mandate number one.How did things go so horribly wrong?Lissa wasn’t supposed to want to kiss her, and Ria really wasn’t supposed to want to kiss her back.Had she really screwed the spell up so badly it didn’t work at all?
“Oof, you look awful,” a sympathetic voice said, breaking through her wallowing.
Ria looked up to see Bootsy standing over her.She was pretty sure her friend had been fully dressed when they parted ways that morning, but aside from some very strategically placed rainbow stickers that couldn’t possibly be comfortable, Bootsy was basically baring it all.
Dang, Ria would kill for that kind of confidence.
She let out a sad little moan in response to Bootsy’s question, then gestured toward the pink boots.“I’m so sorry,” she croaked out.
“It’s all good,” Bootsy replied, holding out a hand for Ria to take.“You’re not doing Pride right if you don’t end the evening with at least one embarrassing story.”She giggled as she hauled Ria to her feet.“Besides, I have a closet full of shoes.Those are most definitely yours now.”
Ria let out a pathetic laugh as Bootsy slung an arm around her shoulder, guiding her down the street toward the public lot they’d parked in.
“I’m sorry I ruined your night,” Ria said.“I’m sure I interrupted something fun.”
“Nah,” Bootsy said dismissively, tilting her head to rest on Ria’s shoulder while they shambled down the sidewalk.“Witches before bitches, always.I got you, boo.”
Tears pricked at Ria’s eyes again, only this time they weren’t for shame.She couldn’t even wrap her brain around the fact this woman she barely knew was willing to end her entire night just to drag her drunk ass home.
So this is what it means to be part of a coven, Ria thought while Bootsy helped her into the car.She’d always refused to join one because she believed it meant giving up her normal life.If she chose magic, then that was it.She could never be anything but a witch.
Now, Ria was starting to think maybe she’d been wrong.
About so many things.
Goddess,killmenow.
Sunlight streamed through the curtain-free windows of Ria’s bedroom, pulling her from the fitful sleep she’d endured.Normally, she reveled in nature’s wake-up call, hence the lack of curtains, but right then she was tempted to burrow under her covers and take up residency in her bed.
After all, she couldn’t embarrass herself if she never left her room.Something to consider.
Her permanent relocation would have to wait until another day though.After speaking with Bootsy last night, she was convinced she’d messed up the handcasting somehow.Apparently the destiny spell didn’t just guide you toward your true love, but it specifically worked to prevent any distractions.Considering Ria had been one huge distraction yesterday, the magic was definitely not functioning correctly.
Dragging her butt out of bed, Ria pulled on her battered purple robe and trudged out of her bedroom.On mornings like this, she regretted not drinking coffee, but she’d settle for English Breakfast tea and maybe a tonic to banish the Irish clog dancers who’d been performing nonstop inside her skull.
Peering around the hallway, she sighed in relief at seeing her mom was nowhere in sight.She had zero patience for that basket of bananas this morning.
Moving as quickly as the headache would allow, Ria poured herself a mug of tea, then trudged out to her shed.Digging through her cabinet of potions, she found the one she was looking for and tossed it back with even more enthusiasm than she’d had when devouring the margaritas last night.
Better than ibuprofen, Ria thought as she felt the tingling magic slide through her body, taking the pain in her head with it as it faded.That was why she loved potions.You combine the right herbs with a spark of will to amplify them and voila!Instant relief.You screw up a potion, nothing happens.You screw up a destiny love spell, and you find yourself making out with a hottie you’re supposed to be helping.
Ria forced the guilt down to the pit of her stomach, where it would no doubt fester for days, then turned to the spellbook she’d shoved off to the corner of her work bench.
“Okay,” Ria muttered, “let’s find out where I went wrong.”
She’d just flipped to the page of the spell, when a flash of white came flying out of nowhere to drop onto her book.
“Hey, Nibbles,” she cooed, running her fingers over his light cream-colored fur.“How’s it going?Other squirrels aren’t making fun of your new look, are they?”
Nibbles stood on his hind legs and let out a string of highly animated squeaks and chirps.
“Okay, okay,” Ria assured the annoyed animal.“I’ll see if I can fix you.But I need to fix this other spell first.You understand, right?”
Nibbles glared at her for another second, then hopped off the book and curled up in a pile of mint leaves, keeping one eye trained on Ria.
