Page 118 of Fairy Godmothers Aren't Cheap

She sighed against me, and I shifted so I was wedged between her and the couch’s back, taking my weight off her.

“You have everything,” she said, her voice sad with longing.

I stopped my kissing and looked at her. “I do?”

“You have all these fun new jobs that work around your classes.”

It was true that I’d been trying different ones lately, picking up short-term contracts like I was testing pages from Char’s book. It was fun, but it wasn’t a long-term thing. I wanted adventure in my personal life, not just in my work. I wanted to explore the city as well as the world with Char. That was what I craved the most.

“Savings and money,” she continued. “Spontaneous trips to Corsica and beyond.”

“You’re going to get this park finished, Char. And then all the amazing goodness you’ve been putting into the world is going to flood back to you. I bet you and your dad will be travelling through Greece before you know it.”

She shook her head, her forehead crinkling. I brushed a few strands of her hair from her cheek.

“Why not?”

“I realized the trip was about me. If I want to be closer to my dad, we don’t need an expensive excursion that he probably wouldn’t enjoy. I should get in a car and go down there and visit him. It’s not even that far. We could sit around and play cards or something.” She smiled playfully. “I think I finally have gin rummy figured out.”

“You sure? Mrs. Laven might have misled you with the rules.”

“I’m sure she did—to her own benefit, of course.”

“Of course.” I gently trailed the back of my index finger down the round of her cheek. “Tell me how else I have it made?” I was curious if she’d mention us.

“You have an apartment and a car.” Her voice grew quiet. “And a family who loves you.”

“In case you didn’t notice, my mom has adopted you. You’re a Backstrohm for life, whether you like it or not.” She’d belonged since the day she’d walked through the front door with the hole in her sleeve. Her status wasn’t quite as permanent or official as I’d like, but I’d get her there. I’d slide a ring onto her finger and take the easiest vows of my life. Love. Cherish. Hold.

Done, done, and done.

Char blushed, looking shy, but also unafraid of the fact that she was one of us now, a part of our clan.

“You forget something,” I murmured, my attention drawn back to her lips. She was wearing a coconut lip balm today, and it made kissing her even more delicious.

“Hm?”

“The most important thing.”

“What’s that, my little pirate?” She gave me a tentative, teasing smile, like she knew what I was going to say.

“I have a girlfriend who finally,” I tipped my head back and added an extra ‘finally’ for drama, “loves me back.”

She rolled the corner of her bottom lip between her lips on a laugh, and said, “Yeah. You’ve got that, too.”

CHAPTER45

~ Estelle ~

Char was back to wishing! I ran to the head fairy’s office at report time, just about knocking over Trish who was on her way out—no regrets—and stopped breathlessly on the worn spot of carpet in front of Gram-Gram’s rosewood desk.

“She’s below thresholds!” I almost bellowed in my excitement. “Her new wishes? Can I grant them?” So many good ones had come in. Big, juicy ones like a new job, travel and vacations… Oh, they were so wonderful! They had the power to change her life, and I couldn’t wait to grant them all.

I wouldn’t mess up these ones. Not like I had with her landlord, when she’d wished she’d no longer have to deal with him. I’d dealt with Randy, but had accidentally made Char homeless.

I was better at this now. I could create a positive impact without nasty side effects.

Gram-Gram lifted her new reading glasses, delicate pink half-moons, onto her nose. “What’s this?”

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