“The poor guy was obsessed with you.”
“Tell me about it. Greg followed me everywhere. Even tried to go to the girl’s restroom with me. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t stepped in and undone the spell.”
“You’re too powerful for your own good.”
Skye regarded him thoughtfully. She’d never thought of it that way.
The image of Tiffany the Cheerleader reared its ugly head. In high school, Tiffany was the ‘It Girl.’ Perfect hair, expensive clothes, the one all the guys chased and the other girls followed. Tiffany and her clique made constant digs at Skye. Everything about her was wrong in their eyes. The way she talked, walked, ate, the clothes she wore, her friends – everything. All Skye wanted was to bring her down a notch. More of a witchcraft Public Service Act than a personal vendetta. So she cast a teensy weensy little spell that Tiffany’s hair be cut off in a ragged style that looked like a lawnmower had run over it.
Next morning, Tiffany showed up absolutely rocking the haircut. She gelled and spiked it, creating a chic biker look as her own signature style – until several other cheerleaders got identical cuts.
Skye gave it one more go and cast a spell for Tiffany to ditch the fashionable clothes. This time when Tiffany came to class, she sported ripped jeans and t-shirts that looked adorable on her and matched the new wild hairstyle. Sure enough, ragged jeans became the rage at Piedmont High School.
Skye gave it up.
Tanner’s laughter broke up her musings. “Did you just say something?” she asked.
“Yeah, that I bet you’ve cast all kinds of flopped spells Michael and I know nothing about.”
If he only knew the dozens of botched love spells she’d cast for him. “I’ll never tell,” she said with a slight smile. A girl has her pride after all.
Tanner’s cell phone rang and Skye heard a female voice on the other end. She waited for the familiar twist of jealousy in her stomach, but it was gone. Thank the goddesses for that miracle. She headed to the kitchen for a Diet Coke. By the time she popped the tab on the can, Tanner walked in, stuffing his phone in his jeans.
“Saved by the bell?” she said.
“Something like that.” The easy grin was back. “Gotta go.” He gave her a bear hug and held it a beat longer than usual. “We’re cool, right?” he asked.
“Like ice,” she said.
This time when Tanner made his exit there were no tears. Disappointment, sure, but mostly relief the drama and angst were over. Next time she had it bad for somebody she wouldn’t wait so long to open up.
Chapter 9
Absinthe Again
“Did you see the fairies?”
Skye whirled around, even though she half-expected to see him again, the voice from the shadows caught her by surprise. Kheelan emerged from the dark alley behind The Green Fairy and stood beneath the streetlamp. The light cast flickering shadows on the sharp plains of his face.
“Do you only come out at night?” Skye asked, wanting to coax a smile on his serious face. She walked toward him, drawn to Kheelan’s energy, the need she sensed in him. She drank in his dark eyes with their golden flecks of sparkling sunshine trapped in a black hole. “I don’t know how I ever mistook you for Kyle. You’re totally different.”
Kheelan shrugged, but she could tell from his quick half-smile this pleased him.
“You have a good eye.”
They stood in silence as the wind whipped through the dark street. Somewhere in the distance, a cat screeched, breaking the spell.
“I saw them, the fairies.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “They were –” she stopped, struggling to find the right word. “Incredible, gorgeous, dazzling, not like anything I’ve ever seen before.”
Kheelan nodded. “I knew you’d be impressed.”
“More like blown away.” She frowned, and dug into her purse. “Guess you want this back.” She held out the hagstone. She’d hoped to see the fairies at least one more time before returning it, but it belonged to Kheelan.
“Keep it, it’s yours.” His hand closed over hers, wrapping the hagstone in her palm.
She should be afraid. Alone in the dark with a mysterious guy who cracked open a door to an invisible world. But she wasn’t afraid. Just the opposite, she felt safe with him. Her heart raced with the pleasure of his touch.
“We need to talk,” said Kheelan. “Have you had dinner?
Skye flipped open her cell phone to check the time. “Let’s pick up some Dreamland Barbeque sandwiches and go to my apartment. We can talk there.”