“You need to visit,” she says. “See your family. Things might be different.”
My heart hardens. “They won’t be. You know that.”
But a proposal could actually change things. It’s been ages since I’ve seen my family, my town, and I miss all of it. I missthem.
“I’m getting tired, Addie.”
The tone of her voice strikes me as different from normal. She sounds weary, which makes me frown. Nana’s our familymatriarch. She’s always existed, and as far as I’m concerned, she always will.
“I’ll call you as soon as Edward proposes,” I confide. “You’re going to love him. He’s entering wizard law school soon, and after that he’ll join his father’s practice. Then he hopes to run for magical office. He’s perfect.”
“Hmm.”
She’s clearly not as enthusiastic as I am, but she will be once she meets him. “Oh, I’m here at the restaurant. I’ve got to go.”
Blair says, “Keep the phone on the table so we can hear everything.”
“Have you been listening to our conversation?” I accuse playfully.
“You’re loud, Addie. You always are when you’re excited. Just be sure to send a pic of the ring,” she adds, her tone softening.
“All right, all right. Gotta go. Love y’all.”
“Love you,” Nana says before hanging up.
When I open the door, a warm blast of air slaps me in the face. I quickly fix my bangs and spot Edward at a table in the center of the room.
My heart pounds against my chest as I approach, which is at the exact time that the scissored tag in my dress starts to scratch at my flesh.
It will pass, I tell myself. Just focus on Edward. On the amazing thing that’s about to happen.
The maître d’ takes my coat, and Edward stands to pull out my chair. He rakes his sandy hair from his face, and I take a moment to drink him in. He’s a little taller than me and has what I’d describe as a lithe build. His eyes twinkle and his lips, which perfectly fit mine when we kiss, break into a smile.
I press my mouth to his smooth cheek and inhale his cologne—it smells like fresh mountain spring water andrainbows. I know that rainbows don’t have a scent, but if they did, they would smell like Edward, woodsy and clean.
“Hi.”
“Hi, yourself,” he murmurs with a smile that makes his cheek dimple.So adorable.
I sit and smooth down my dress. “Sorry to be late.”
Edward takes his seat and grins at me sloppily. “You’re fine. Absolutely fine.”
A sigh escapes me. My heart is still thundering in my ribs. The urge to leap over the table, grab him by the lapels and beg him to get to his question is overwhelming, but I manage to bite it down.
We peruse the menu and the waiter appears. I order first. “I would like the wedge salad, but instead of blue cheese, I’d rather ranch dressing, and on the side, please. I’d also like to go lightly on the bacon, and please make it extra crispy but not burnt.”
After Edward orders, he smiles at me. “You’re so…you, the way you order so particularly.”
I fold my napkin into a compact rectangle and drape it over my lap. “Thank you.”
We do a lot of smiling at each other as we wait for our food. Edward is perfect. He’s handsome, funny, charming and a wizard, which is more than my family could hope for, considering.
After our meals arrive and we’re several bites in, he places his knife atop the plate. “Addie, like I said, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
This is it! I place my fork delicately beside the ramekin holding my dressing. “Yes? I’m all ears.” And fingers! One in particular.
“We’ve been seeing each other for a while, and we’ve gotten very close. You’re a wonderful woman.”
