The drive to her cottage has me reflecting on what a truly amazing date this has been. This woman is everything I’ve ever wanted. She’s sassy and smart, and she’s beautiful beyond words, but most importantly, she’s kind in a way that not very many people are. She started to open up to me a little bit butthen quickly closed herself off again. I want her to trust me, but I admittedly don’t have a ton of experience in the getting-deep-emotionally department. With her, though, I don’t care what it takes. I want to see her smile as much as I want to keep breathing, and if that means talking through whatever she’s keeping locked away, I’m willing to do it.
We pull up to the curb, and she reaches to unbuckle her seat belt. “Don’t open that door,” I warn as I hop out and quickly circle the truck.
“Sam, I’m capable of opening my own door.” She crosses her arms and refuses my hand as she leaps from the truck.
“I know. But that doesn’t mean you should have to.” I reach for her sides, tickling her the tiniest bit as we walk up the porch steps, stopping at her door.
“Stop tickling me or I’m going to drop Boo,” she squeaks as she carefully sets the ghost and pumpkin down on the porch swing. “Thank you for an amazing first date.”
I grab her hand and pull her into a hug. “The pleasure was all mine.” I slowly drag my finger across her freckles. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me.” She peers into my eyes as our breaths mingle and our lips draw closer together. We are a whisper away from kissing when the door flies open, smacking the wall with a crack.
“Shit, oops, sorry. I thought it was just Olive. Didn’t see you, Sam.” Ariella Marino stands in the doorway in Snoopy pajamas with green goop dripping down her face.
Olive jumps back. “Ari, what are you doing here?”
“I’ll just give you two a minute. I needed to talk to you.” She slams the door in our faces, and I can’t suppress the chuckle that bursts from my lips.
“That was, uh, that was not where I thought this was going.” I run a hand through my beard, still fighting off the laughter.
“So sorry about that. She’s never been very good with boundaries. But I should go see what she needs. Thank you again.” She reaches out to squeeze my hand, and I take the moment to pull her in for one more quick hug.
I place a brief kiss on her forehead. “Thanks for a spectacular date. Please text me later.”
Smiling, she lifts her hand to the spot I kissed. “I will. I promise.” Olive opens the door and disappears inside, leaving me to head back to my truck and drive home.
thirteen
Olive
Some Roads are Dead Ends
“What in the heck was so important you needed to crash my date?” I scoff, stepping out of my boots and untying my shirt on the way to my bedroom.
“Hmm, let’s see. The fact that you have a tattoo that is clearly growing, by the minute I might add, and we still haven’t found Irina.” Ari crosses her arms.
“It’s not growing by the minute!” I shout from my bedroom while rifling through my drawer for a nightshirt and sleep shorts.
“You sure about that?” Ari leans against the doorframe looking me up and down suspiciously as if she chased me in here to prove a point.
“Wha . . .” I start to ask what she’s talking about, but a quick glance tells me she’s not wrong. Not only do I have pumpkins, candles, and a heart, but now there’s a cute little Boo added on, and the vines are longer, perfectly woven amongst the items. “No, how is this possible?” I didn’t feel it this time, maybe because I was distracted by the best first date I’ve ever had. My heart skips a beat as I’m thinking of how easy it was to be with Sam. He was completely different today, not grumpy at all.
Abandoning my mission to change, I throw the nightshirt over my shoulder and flop onto my bed, covering my face with my hands. What am I going to do if the tattoo keeps growing at this rate? I won’t be able to hide it forever.
I glare at her. “I can’t answer how it’s possible, I honestly can’t even believe it is. I grew up hearing about witches and magic and all the things you’re living, but I guess I always thought it was a load of crap.” Ari settles herself next to me on the bed and stares at the ceiling, careful not to get any of her face mask on my comforter.
“For me it’s even weirder. I mean, obviously because it’s on my body. But also, I didn’t grow up with any of this. I wasn’t even allowed to trick-or-treat.” I huff a little, not ready to face the mirror or the truth. I asked for this. It’s exactly what I wanted, except I don’t know how a book, a few pumpkins, some candles, and a ghost represent my heart.
“Are you going to ask me about my plan?” Ari shifts, bumping my arm with her face, green goop plastering itself to me.
“Ew! Go wash that off and then you can tell me.” I stand, walking to the kitchen to rinse my arm when my phone dings.
Sam
I had fun tonight. Thanks for going, I hope I can see you again soon.
I respond right away, part of me wishing our night wouldn’t have ended already and the other part glad that Ari intervened. I don’t know how I would’ve explained my arm and what’s happening to Sam. He made it clear he doesn’t believe in magic—it doesn’t get more enchanting than a potion induced tattoo that grows and changes.
You are so sweet. I had the best time, and I’m looking forward to doing it again.
