Page 123 of One More Kiss

Asher

“What’s goingon with you both?” Margot asks while we walk through this witchy shop place, picking up colorful rocks as we go.

“Nothing,” I say pushing my sunglasses up higher. It’s bright as hell in here and it smells like smoke.

“You can’t lie in an apothecary, Asher.” Margot scolds.

“First off, I’m not lying.” I say batting away something feathery that hangs from the ceiling. “Second, why not?” I scoff.

“I don’t know I made it up.” She says looking through incense sticks. “But, I know somethings wrong, I can feel it.”

“You can feel it, huh? Does your knee hurt? Is a storm rolling this way?” I laugh as she glares daggers straight into my soul.

“No, asshole.” She growls. “You both are acting weird and avoiding each other. Since when do you pick out incense with me?” I put down the stick that says Dragon’s blood.

“Maybe I’m getting into it.” I say picking up another.

“You would never. It makes your asthma worse.” She rolls her eyes.

“Whatever. Maybe I just wanted to spend some time with my little sister.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders.

“Gross. Come on, Ash! What happened with you and Margot last night that made you guys all weird?” She begs.

“We just got into a disagreement.” I say hesitantly.

“About what?”

“It was nothing, Margot, would you let it go?” I ask knowing the answer.

“No. What did you do profess your undying love for her?” She asks jokingly. I look away, touching this bright yellow shirt hem. The fabric feels like white noise.

“Oh my God, Asher?” She yells causing the store clerk to look this way.

“What do you want?” I groan.

“Are you in love with Gen?” She whispers.

I swallow harshly. “Yes.” I answer, finding myself unable to lie.

Gen

The three bags I have from tourist shops are no match for the armfuls Margot’s carrying towards me. I shake my head, a small smile forming.

“Where to now?” I ask once she’s in earshot.

“We are going to the mall. I think it’s gotten bigger since the last time we were here,” she muses.

“But you hate the mall.” I point out to Asher.

“I’m not going I’m heading back to the hotel. My heads killing me,” he says refusing to look at me.

“I want to hit the food court and see if they still have that soft pretzel place.” Margot tells me.

We say our goodbyes – rather, Asher says bye to Margot and agrees to meet back at the hotel to order pizza for dinner.

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” I ask Margot on the drive to the mall.

“Like what?” She asks.

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