Page 73 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

“Thanks,” I say.

“So, it was like a ceremony?” Carter asks. Referring to a ritual Teagan performed before I left for Kendall’s.

“Yeah, a ritual. Teagan, Nora, Sophie, and the Zamboni driver from the rink.” I turn to Carter. “Did you know he’s Teagan’s cousin?”

Carter nods. “Rhys. Yeah, he’s a dragon shifter from Wales. I didn’t know he was a witch too.”

“He’s a wizard from her dad’s side. They are descended from Merlin. She has powers on both sides.”

“Cool.” He raises a brow and waves his slice of pizza at me. “Back to the ritual. Were you all naked?”

I punch him in the arm. “No. We were all dressed and in the living room of Teagan’s penthouse. She said you would ask if we were sky-clad, and she told me to tell you to go stand naked on the beach first and then she’ll consider it.”

Kennie laughs. “Go on.”

“We’re in the living room, the lights are down low and there’s a ring of candles I’m standing in the center of. The four of them are at the points of the compass. They say in unison, ‘north, south, east, west,’”

“Oh, dear lord.” Trev groans, covering his face with his hands. “Please tell me you didn’t say ‘Wickham U is the best’ after that.”

That was the start of a sideline cheer we used to perform. Kendall chokes on her wine and then laughs.

I’m laughing too. “I didn’t, but it took all the restraint I had. So, they say that part and then Teagan says, ‘Our sister’s powers were once bound. What was lost is now found. Our sister’s powers are now set free, as we will, so mote it be.’ It was beautiful. I felt a weight lift off me and power flow through me. Me repeating the words now won’t cast any spells or anything. At my request, Teagan placed a kind of training wheel on my magic. Apparently, I have very strong powers, but I need to learn how to use them properly. She’s going to train me. Nora too when she can visit. I can do simple things like turn on the lights or move the TV remote.” I point and raise it about four inches off the table before it falls back down. “I need to work on that,” I say sheepishly. “But I can’t cast spells yet or anything.”

“I guess I’ll have to use my powers then,” Kennie says as she leans forward and picks up the remote and points it at the TV. Our favorite movie, Bring It On, fills the screen. There have been times one or all of us would be on our feet doing the cheers along with the actors in the movie, but tonight we cuddle together on the couch with pizza and eventually popcorn and candy. Trev is breaking his nutrition plan by pigging out with us, but he said this was more important and he’d do extra work in the gym to make up for it. He’s a goof, but he’s my goof.

After the first movie, we take a break before starting Bring It On Again. It’s just the two movies tonight, since Ken has to get up for work in the morning. We all do.

“I need a car,” I announce. “I can’t keep relying on everyone for rides and I want independence.”

“To being independent.” Kennie holds up her wineglass and I clink my soda with her. Trev clinks his beer bottle and echoes the sentiment.

“My old Explorer is in the garage at the house,” Trev says. “You can borrow it until you find something you want to buy. Or you can lease it from me because I know you’re stubborn and hate feeling like you’re taking advantage.”

“Thank you.” I give him a peck on the cheek. He’s right about me feeling guilty, but I know it makes him happy to help me out and it won’t be for long.

“You’re going to call your family’s solicitor or whatever they’re called in Ireland about the trust from your grandmother?”

I nod. “Yeah, I texted my Uncle Tadgh the Cliff Notes version of what is going on and asked for the name. He was able to give me the family solicitor’s info and called to give him the heads up on the situation.”

With the time difference, it was in the evening in Ireland when he called, but I guess with the money the maternal side of my family has, people answer at all hours.

“Hopefully,” I say, “there’s still something left from the trust my grandmother set up. I have savings and am used to being thrifty. I’ll be okay, but I want security. I want to know I can take care of myself and not be reliant on you guys.”

I should tell the truth, but I’m scared. I know the tea is still in my system and I shouldn’t make any decisions, but in my heart, I know this is what I truly want.

Taking a deep breath, I blurt out, “I want a house.”

Kennie squeals and bounces next to me. “There are always units for sale here. We could be neighbors. We could go for walks together and hang out. It would be great. This is a great neighborhood.”

I smile. “That would be fun, but I want a house. A plain old boring house with a yard I can plant flowers in and watch them grow. Where I could unpack because no one is going to make me leave. I want to get a dog, maybe a cat. I want someplace mine no one else has control over.”

What I truly want is peace, but I don’t think they’d understand that. They haven’t gone through what I have. Their childhoods were secure and even if Trevor’s parents are the high-strung type-A sort, they love him. They’ve always had a home. Even as adults, they can go back to their childhood homes and be welcomed. The closest I’ve ever had to a home was with the Mackenzies as a child, but it was never my home.

“Do you want to be here?” Trevor asks. “Is this where you want to make your home?”

“I do. I’ve lived a quarter of my life in New Jersey. I don’t have to pump my own gas. They have WaWa. Oh, and you two.” I blow a raspberry in Trev’s direction.

Trev nods. “The three amigos, together again.”

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