Page 55 of The Neighborhood Witch

“Now, I’m going to work my magic,” he replied. “That’s magic with aC, by the way.”

Alice did not hide her smile as she let out a giddy laugh.

“Phone,” Hugo called out to his phone resting on the workbench across the cellar. “Play myWORK MY MAGIC ON ALICEplaylist.”

“Now playing your playlist,” the phone replied in its automated female voice.

The sultry sounds of Nina Simone’s “I Put a Spell on You” echoed off the stone walls.

“Really?” she replied. “I should be offended by this.”

“But, honestly, are you?” he replied with a cunning smile.

“No, not really. It’s cute.”

“Just cute?”

“It’s adorable.”

Hugo moved closer. He placed his hands around her waist. Heteased her with small taps as he worked his fingers down to the tops of her hips. She placed her hands on his shoulders.

She leaned in closer toward his ear and asked a loaded question, to which he felt she already knew the answer. “Now what?”

“Now we stomp the grapes.”

They began their waltzing dance across the wooden vat. The soft grape skin gave way under each slow step. The liquid and soft grapes oozed under their feet and between their toes. They moved with purpose as to not slip and fall into the liquid. Hugo wanted to wrap his hands around her back and pull her closer. He strained at the thought, but he needed to wait. They danced around as the music swelled to a finish, never taking their eyes off each other. The liquid wine must sashayed with every seductive step.

A sultry cover of “Wicked Game” played next.

“I want to thank you,” Hugo said.

“For what?”

“For these past few weeks. For helping me to remember excitement again. To remember joy. To remember living again.”

Alice choked up. “You’re welcome, Hugo. I want to thank you too. Thank you for accepting me. For not freaking out… over who I am.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

Alice smiled. The liquid poured down the chute and into the press below as they continued their dance.

The Cure’s “Lovesong” played next.

“I need you to know one thing,” Hugo said. “Elizabeth will always be part of my life.”

Alice peered right into his icy blue eyes. Her face was no longer giddy with excitement. “I would never replace her. I don’t want to replace her. She is a part of your life just as much as magick is a part of mine.”

A tear rolled down Hugo’s face as he smiled. Alice wiped away the tear.

She added, “I would never ask you to forget her. Ever.”

Hugo moved his hands around Alice’s back. He felt a shivercourse through her body as he pulled her closer. Alice slid her arms under his and wrapped them around his back. She buried her head into his shoulder. She exhaled in the comfort of his chest, and Hugo rested his head on hers. They continued their dance, now interlocked as one.

A slow, almost spell-like cover version of“Witchcraft”played next.

“Ireallyshould be offended by this one,” Alice said.

“You like it,” Hugo retorted.

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