Page 109 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
Neither of them moved as Violet waited. The moment felt frozen, weighted, before he finally spoke—his smooth voice without its usual playfulness and inflection.
“Knowing comes with age, Violet Ainsworth. And I know many things.”
“Alright, I’m ready now.” Simone strolled into the foyer, her bright yellow shawl neatly wrapped around her shoulders.
Violet blinked, pushing through her confusion at René’s very odd statement and seeing her guests off with warm goodbyes.Such a strange man…When she walked back into the sitting room, only Jasper was standing there. She tilted her head. “Where’s Rosie?”
“Well, she was pretty intoxicated after we ate, so she went back to your bedroom to lay down—but not before telling me she’s really happy that you and I are finally together, and also that I remind her of a rabbit?”
“Oh geez, this day has just been wild.” Violet met him in the center of the room. “Well, looks like you can’t shift here tonight like we planned. Sister duty calls.”
“That’s fine, but… look at the clock, Violet.”
She blinked, then did as told. “Seven eighteen.” Violet paused, her eyes wide. “Oh my God—I totally lost track of time. Jas, are you okay? What’s happening?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re… You haven’t changed—is the curse broken?”
“No. I still feel the tremors, but… This happened yesterday, too. The process started an hour and a half late…”
“Wait—why are you just now telling me this?”
He ran his fingers up through his dark hair. “You were busy prepping for the museum meeting, and that was the first time something like that had ever happened to me. I didn’t know if it was a fluke or not. All my life, the time of my changing has always shifted earlier and gotten longer.Neverthe opposite.”
Violet reached up and grasped his wrists, pulling his hands from his hair and clasping them in her own. “How do you feel about this? How are we feeling?”
He took a shaky breath. “Honestly? I’m afraid. I don’t know what this means, and I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
She squeezed his palms. “I think this is good? Obviously, I don’t know for sure. But Jas, you’ve changedso muchin the past six months. Back in October, everything about you was focused and centered around your mouse life. You catered to that part of yourself, exclusively. But now you’re focusing on being human. Ithasto be a good sign.”
Sighing, he lifted a hand and rubbed his forehead. “I hope so… Or, maybe you have some powers and they’re slowly breaking the curse down?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not me. It’s you and your choices. I was hoping it would be me, and I could kiss you and break it like in the movies. But I’ve kissed you countless times and across every inch of you at this point, but still, nothing.”
“I wouldn’t say nothing.” Jasper grinned. “Those kisses are unquestionablysomething.”
They laughed. Jasper closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them, his eyeballs were blacked out.
“You have mouse eyes.”
“I’m leaving.”
“Take Gram’s car.”
“I haven’t officially gotten my license in the mail yet.”
“True, but you know how to drive and I’ll be worried that you got stuck halfway in the woods. Please?”
He nodded. “Alright. Keys?”
“By the front door on the little mirror hanger thing. Call me when you get home.” She wrapped her hands behind his neck, urging him down and into a healthy kiss. A few weeks earlier, Jasper had been anxious about Violet touching him when he was close to transitioning—pulling away or startled when she reached for him. Already, he was more open. Constantly changing and growing.
Violet had meant for it to be a quick peck, but the kiss carried on. Intensifying with a silent need building and bubbling between their hearts and bodies. Jasper lifted, but Violet kept him close, brushing her forehead and nose with his.
He whispered. “I need to go.”
“I know, I know. But I think Rosie will probably want to stay the weekend. I’ll come over Monday?”
