Page 16
Around me, Moonlit Grove buzzed with the same idea. Mrs. Holloway was trimming her hedges while loudly arguing with them. Mr. Peters was washing his truck for what had to be the third time that week. Someone, or some curse, kept covering it with something new every day. From the smell of it, today was maple syrup.
The shops were also taking their storefront decor to the next level. The usual cliché had shifted into gothic and spooky and I loved it. The change was a welcome one to break up the monotony of moonlit grove.
An older couple sipping coffee on their porch waved as I passed. I smiled and waved back, then promptly tripped over absolutely nothing.
I pinwheeled my arms, somehow caught myself before face-planting into the sidewalk, and kept walking as though I’d meant to do that.
Behind me, I heard amused chuckles. At least they were laughing with me.
My pride had packed its bags years ago. At some point you simply had to laugh at your clumsiness and move on with your day. I wasn’t the only one in this town making a fool of themselves on the daily.
I reached my shop just as Blake pulled into the parking spot out front, holding my coffee out like the hero she was.
Before I could accept it, a streak of very pale skin shot across the street.
Both of us froze.
“Were those... butt cheeks?” Blake asked incredulously, mouth gaping.
“I think that was the mayor,” I answered slowly, rubbing my eyes like that would reverse what I’d just witnessed. “Was he... naked?”
As if summoned by the question, two town enforcers came sprinting around the corner, both completely out of breath.
“Did either of you see the mayor?” one managed between gasps.
I pointed in the direction he’d disappeared.
“He ran that way. But… more importantly, was he naked?”
“That he was.” The other enforcer looked at me suspiciously. “Did you cast anything this morning?”
They didn’t always jump to conclusions like that. But, after yesterday’s chickens and explosion, I couldn’t really blame them.
“Why would I want to make the mayor streak through downtown? And no, I haven’t even had my coffee yet.” I accepted the cup from Blake with a grateful sigh and took a sip. “Coffee first. Then fuck around and find out.”
Blake snorted. They looked less than amused at my sarcasm.
“Not everything in this town is her fault,” she said with an eye roll. “We’re all cursed, remember?”
I could’ve hugged her. It was still hard to believe I had someone firmly in my corner at all times. The guards shared a look and Blake narrowed her eyes.
“Are you two going to let him traumatize the rest of Main Street?” I asked, pointing again before she could land herself in confinement. “Because here he comes.”
Sure enough, the mayor sprinted past us in the opposite direction, looking no less naked than before. Something about his face was off, as if he were in some sort of trance.
The enforcers exchanged a look before taking off after him. I watched them disappear, shaking my head.
“...You know,” I muttered, “it’s pretty fucked up that this isn’t even the weirdest thing that’s happened this week.”
“Prue?”
I turned to find Rook standing a few feet behind me. He looked from me to the fleeing mayor, then back again.
“No,” I said immediately. “It wasn’t me this time.”
“I didn’t say—”
“There is absolutely no reason I’d make the mayor streak through town. I didn’t want to see him naked before today, and I definitely don’t want to see him naked twice.”
