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Whatever you need to tell yourself.

I stare at the message. There’s something different about her this morning.

Nothing dramatic. She’s always had a serious tone, and we’ve been talking long enough now that neither of us bothers with the polite customer-service version of ourselves anymore.

But this feels⁠—

I read it again.

No, of course not. I’m projecting.

I kissed a woman last night, and why would I now believe everyone is flirting with me? It can’t really go from zero to one hundred in a matter of weeks, can it?

The Third Fairy

Step three is ask.

Primavera1959

Ask what?

The Third Fairy

Something you want.

Primavera1959

This seems suspiciously similar to the last assignment

The Third Fairy

Last time you had to admit you wanted it. This time you have to let someone else know, open yourself up to the universe and manifest what you want, but loudly.

I stop smiling, because it suddenly feels considerably less fun.

Primavera1959

Can I go back to noticing leaves? That was easier.

The Third Fairy

No

Primavera1959

Bossy

There’s a long pause before her answer comes through.

The Third Fairy

You like me bossy

I choke on my coffee, and it’s not a delicate, feminine one either. It’s a full-on Merryweather Hawthorne cough, where the hot liquid goes down the wrong pipe so violently that I have to put the mug on the counter before I drop it, one hand pressed to my chest while my eyes water.

“What the hell?” Rose asks.

I hold up a finger. I’m fine.