Page 65 of Curses & Cold Brew
Which was why I had a little trick up my sleeve.
When Willow’s car came into view, I readied my magic, gathering it in my fingertips and reciting the silencing spell in my mind. Taking in a deep breath, I opened my mouth, only to be stopped by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind us. My teeth snapped shut. Then Jordyn and I whirled around, only to find none other than Ramona standing there, her hands clasped in front of her like a bouncer. She wore a spotless black trench coat over her regular uniform of a well-tailored suit.
My heart skipped several beats.
She was here. She was back.
All my excitement deflated as quickly as it had burst to life.
Why did it have to be now? Why did it have to be when I couldn’t jump into her arms and never let go?
“Ramona,” I whispered, but it came out more like a scold, “if you’re going to be here, you need to hide.”
“I’ve come to collect on a debt,” she said with a menacing smile. “Time’s up, witchling.”
“What are you talking about?” I hissed.
“You agreed to a date.” Ramona’s feral grin was tinged with a darker menace that only hell could bring forth. “Within a year.And I have given you much longer than that out of the sheer kindness of my heart.”
My whole body vibrated at the rough rasp of her words. She was so still, so cold, but her eyes burned with an unspoken need.
“Can this please wait a couple minutes? Please?”
“I am good at many things. Waiting isn’t one of them.”
“You can wait just a tiny bit longer,” I pushed.
“Give me a time and I’ll go.”
She was in her true demonic element, and I knew I was in for it. “This is ridiculous,” I complained, knowing Willow’s car would turn around the bend at any moment.
“I can hear the car!” Dougall called from his hiding spot.
“Iris,” Jordyn whined and flashed me a pleading look.
“You have to go,” I ordered Ramona. We could hash this out after my best friend’s engagement.
I placed my hands on Ramona’s hips. The weak attempt to push her away was more of an excuse to be close to her, even for a few seconds, but she didn’t so much as budge.
“Goddess, are you made of stone?”
“Iris!” Jordyn snapped, doubling the pace of her nervous bouncing. “This is kind of important. Just pick a time!”
“Okay, fine!” I said, exasperated. “You can pick me up at seven. We’ll go eat at the new Italian place.”
Ramona gave me a wink.Goddess, I missed that wink.“Done.” She lowered her mouth to the shell of my ear and whispered, “Wear the sweater I made for you,” before disappearing into thin air.
“Delightful. A date with a demon.” Jordyn shook her head teasingly. “What are your parents going to say? What is the coven going to say? Also, that’s one hell of an age gap between you two?—”
My elbow met her ribs right as a car pulled into the square. “Worry about that later,” I said, then dashed down the stepsto hide behind the nearest bush, nearly falling face-first into a crusty pile of snow.
The last rustling noises and whispers were met with one last chorus of, “Shush!” before Willow’s car slowed to a halt and Harlow stepped out of it.
It was actually happening.
Harlow was getting out of the car. My best friend was finally getting her happily-ever-after. And later tonight, come hell or high water, I was determined to get mine.
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