Lissa glanced down at Ria’s grip on her.She didn’t dare imagine what all this meant for them.For their relationship.But if Ria went to all this trouble for her, then maybe…
“Voila!”Ria announced, dropping Lissa’s hand to gesture grandly at the new signpost shaped like an arrow pointing toward the last block of Main Street, the area no one ever wandered down because they thought the touristy shops had ended.“Smooth Expressions Art Studio this way,” the sign read.
“Do you like it?”Ria asked nervously.“The sign maker worked really hard to get it ready in time for today.The city council approved my request to make it permanent, so the studio should start seeing more foot traffic.Although, after all the coverage of today’s event, I’m not sure you’ll need it.”
Lissa looked around at the large crowd streaming in and out of Smooth Expressions.Even from her spot a block away, she could see a line of people out the door.
“Your staff has also been busting ass to make as many pieces as possible to fill the shelves so customers will have plenty of options to choose from.Pretty sure they’re going to clean you out though.Guess you’ll have to get back to work making more.”Ria winked at Lissa.
“But…”
Lissa knew how to talk.She knew how to shape her mouth to form words, and yet, there simply were no words for what she was witnessing.There were actual customers in her studio.Alotof customers!
“And I know you’re worrying about Art, Inc., but you can relax,” Ria continued.“I convinced them that if they gave you a few extra days they would be pleasantly surprised.And again, only the tiniest magical nudge was needed there.Apparently Marge has been aggressively trying to negotiate a lower price and was pissing them off.They said they’d swing by today, and I’m confident they won’t be signing any sales paperwork after they see all this.”
Lissa dragged her gaze away from the crowd to focus on Ria.Her brain was screaming that she should be jumping up and down.That she should be dancing in the street, since she wouldn’t have to give up the job she loved and could stay in Seacliff.Her heart, on the other hand, was standing shyly in a corner, wringing its hands and trying to gather up the courage to ask the only question that really mattered.
“Well?”Ria asked, chewing on her lower lip.“Say something.Do you like it?”
“It’s incredible,” Lissa breathed out.“You’re incredible, Ria.But this,” Lissa gestured at the crowd.“None of this means anything without you.I’m trying not to get my hopes up that you might have forgiven me, but I have to ask… Is there any possibility you’d consider giving me, giving us, another chance?”
“No,” Ria replied, stepping closer and taking Lissa’s hands in her own.“I don’t need to consider anything.I know I want to be with you, Lissa.I’m sorry I was so short-sighted I didn’t give you a chance to explain before.The lies hurt so much, but I understand now why you did it.I’ve met Daria and Penny and Roger and even Lexi, so I get it.Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything,” Lissa said.Ria could ask her to strip naked and dance in the street with all these people around, and her panties would be airborne before the witch even finished talking.
Leaning in close, Ria whispered, “Next time you need help with marketing?Just ask.”
A huge grin spread across Lissa’s face, and her damaged heart started stitching itself back together.No matter what happened, as long as Ria looked at her like that—with love shining in those brilliant green eyes—then everything would be okay.
“You bitch,” an ear-piercing voice shrieked from behind Lissa, shattering her perfect moment.Whirling around, she groaned when she spotted Marge stomping down the sidewalk.
“How dare you ruin my purchase?”the angry woman snarled, jabbing Lissa in the chest.“You think this little charade is going to make any difference?In two weeks, everyone will have forgotten about your pathetic little studio.You’re only delaying the inevitable.It’s sad, really, that you think anything you do matters.”
“Oh, hell no,” Ria growled behind Lissa, coming up beside her.“I don’t know who you are, lady, but you have five seconds to back the fuck off unless you want to spend the rest of your life as a dung beetle.”Ria’s hand shot up, her fingers curling like she was holding an invisible ball.
“It’s okay,” Lissa said, placing a hand over Ria’s to prevent the witch from doing something unnecessary.“She’s not worth it.Marge here is just angry she finally met someone she couldn’t steamroll over.That’s it, isn’t it?Your whole life, you’ve gotten everything you wanted by being a bitch and a bully, but I never cowed to you.You can sling insults all you want, but at the end of the day, I have the love of a good woman and the friendship of fellow artists who actually like me.What do you have?”
“I… You…” Marge sputtered, her face turning redder than Ria’s hair.“You can’t talk to me like that.I’m a pillar of this community.People respect me!”
“No, Marge,” Lissa replied, shaking her head.“Not a single one of them respects you.They’re afraid of you.So you can bluster all you want, but Smooth Expressions isn’t going anywhere, and neither am I.So go get laid or something and stop making everyone else’s lives miserable just because yours is so pathetically empty.”Taking Ria’s hand, Lissa turned her back on Marge, determined to never give that woman another moment of her time or energy.She had more important things to focus on.
Twining her fingers through Ria’s, Lissa strolled off down the sidewalk in the direction of her studio, ready for the next chapter of her life with the most perfect witchy woman at her side.
Epilogue
Ria
Six(ish) Months Later
“Hurryuporwe’regonna be late,” Ria called as she dug around in the couch for Lissa’s keys.She thought they’d been tossed somewhere in this general direction last night when they got home from dinner, but she’d been too busy tearing Lissa’s clothes off to see where they landed.
“I’m coming.I’m coming,” Lissa muttered, emerging from their bedroom, yanking up her jeans as she bobbled down the hallway.
Grinning, Ria danced over and gave Lissa a quick kiss.“Not yet you aren’t, but if you play your cards right, that can be arranged for later.”
Laughing, Lissa wrapped her arms around Ria’s neck.“I so do not deserve you.”
“Yeah, you do,” Ria replied, slipping out of Lissa’s embrace.“But I still love hearing it.Now help me find your keys.”
