Jacques rolls his eyes. “And we know how that’s worked out for you.”
“I’m hoping if I start with the basics, something might work.” I sink my fork into my food. “And hopefully I don’t make things worse.”
“Test it on me,” Thomas offers. “If it makes me evil, they can stop me, and if you kill me, they can make sure you feel guilty the rest of your life.”
I give him a glare. “Thanks.”
He winks. “Thank me later.”
I plan to, and I think he knows it. “I guess I should say I’m trying to weaken the curse instead of break it,” I begin, and pick up my garlic bread. “It was laid with powerful magic, much more powerful than I’m capable of now, but I gotta start somewhere, right?”
Jacques meets my eye. “Right. We all have faith in you. You will break this curse.”
“No pressure or anything,” I reply with a smirk. “There’s one spell in there to get rid of negative energy. I’ll try that one first and see if it does something.”
“It will,” Gilbert assures me, having more confidence in my magic than I ever will. The sound of my ringtone echoes through the house, and I get up, hurrying to get it before I miss the call. It’s not someone from the station calling, but it is work-related.
“Bisset,” I answer.
“Hey, Ace, it’s Tiffany. Sorry to bug you after hours.”
“What’s up?”
“I have papers that need to be signed off on, and I’m hoping to get you to do it.”
“No problem, but I’m home and not at work.”
“I assumed so,” she says. “Which is why I have the papers with me and can stop by. It’ll just take a minute.”
I hesitate. There’s no way to tell her no without it being obvious. And it really will only take a minute. “Sure.”
“Great! Thanks, Ace. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Do you need directions?”
“I think I know where it’s at, and I’ve seen the pictures you showed me. I’ll just look for the creepy gargoyles. Can’t miss them, right?”
Oh. Shit.
9
“Shit.” I hang up the phone and turn around.
“What’s wrong?” Hasan asks.
“Someone from work is stopping by for a minute so I can sign some papers.”
Thomas cocks an eyebrow. “And that’s bad?”
“No, but this person just happens to be the only person in the world who knows I inherited a house with four creepy gargoyles on it.”
“You think we’re creepy?” Gilbert retorts, faking offense.
“The creepiest,” I shoot right back, looking into his blue eyes. I wonder if he knows just how much I need him. He and Thomas both have this way of lightening the mood and easing my tension without even trying. They balance me out.
“But in all seriousness,” I say, “she’s going to wonder. I’ll just…I’ll tell her you were too creepy and I had you removed.”
“That hurts, Ace,” Gilbert goes on, pressing his hand to his chest. “But it’s believable.”
