I knew these were questions that Jade had asked herself. I remembered her going over them so many times because it just seemed wild. I never thought I would step into those same shoes only so many months later.
“Do you have any idea how many times I wished I had magic? How many times I wished I could fight, how many times I wished I could prove to everyone that I wasn’t just a witch without a gift? That I was just a witch, but I had nothing to back it up? And I did! I had magic! This entire time!”
Kaleb tilted his head, giving me a sympathetic look. “I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.”
I sighed, wanting to change the subject. I shook my head. “So, are we still going to do that date tonight?”
Kaleb nodded. “Yeah, we can meet there for dinner, unless you’re not feeling up for it.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I’m down.”
“Alright. Well, I have a busy day. I’ll meet you down there tonight.”
Kaleb took another sip of his mug before placing it into the sink. He was out of the house ten minutes later, and I sat with my coffee. I stared at my hands, trying to feel what Jade spoke so much about, but I felt nothing. I didn’t feel anything that I felt the other night, and I was sure it might all have been in my head.
I spent my day at the shelter trying to put everything behind me, or at least put it aside for the day. I cleaned the floors and walked the dogs. I helped feed everyone and did poop pick up. I was doing everything that I could to keep myself busy.
I ended up home a little before four and took a hot shower. I scrubbed every part of my body and grabbed the dressI had hanging in my closet. I slid it on and stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d dressed up like this. It made my stomach do flips.
“Hey, Nora, you ready?” Kaleb opened my door and stepped inside. He froze as his eyes landed on me, growing a little wide. He looked stunned with his mouth hanging open. “Wow…you look wonderful.”
I blushed. “Thank you.”
“You sure you want to go to a bar wearing that? You’re going to attract a lot of attention.”
“Isn’t that the point? The more people that notice us, the more that this will get around.”
“Well, I want to take you somewhere nice first instead. I made a reservation at the West Point Restaurant.”
My eyes widened. “That’s an expensive place to eat at.”
He nodded. “You deserve to go somewhere nice besides a bar.” He stepped closer. “You’re dressed for it anyway, so why not?”
I swallowed as he stared at me, and I felt it stir something I thought I had shoved down. I thought of our make-out session in the alleyway. I had been tempted to ask him about it, but was afraid to find out what he would say. I wrote it off as both of us wanting something in the moment, and that it wouldn’t happen again, but the look in his eyes right now argued that.
“Are you ready?” I asked, cupping my hands together.
He nodded, seeming to pull himself together. “Yeah, yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Kaleb drove us downtown and took a left after the bank. I froze as I took in the little Italian restaurant. The park lot waspacked, and you could see just as busy it was from the streets. I swallowed, suddenly nervous. I knew people were going to be looking at us.
“You nervous?”
I nodded. “Yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a place this fancy.”
“Really?” Kaleb looked surprised. “How is that?”
I glanced at him. “Kaleb, I think you forgot your sister and me weren’t exactly part of the popular group growing up. That hasn’t changed.”
Kaleb nodded. “Ah, well, I don’t want you to worry about that tonight.”
I smirked. “You are aware of what is going to happen, right? People are going to stare.”
He smiled. “I am. Let them. They are only going to be jealous because we look like the perfect couple.”
I rolled my eyes. “You sound a little full of yourself.”
He chuckled. “No, I just know what I see.”
