Page 42 of The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck

“Go ahead, sweetheart,” says Lady Helena. “We’re listening.”

And I open my mouth and tell them almost everything.

“Goodness,” says Lady Helena when I’m done, her delicate brows drawn tight together. “I can certainly see why you’d be upset.”

“Yeah,” I say, taking a seat. “It’s been a lot to deal with.”

“We don’t actually know if you’ve been cursed or hexed or what, do we?”

“You think Good Witch Willow cursed her?” asks Rebecca with some serious side-eye.

Lady Helena taps a finger pensively against her chin. “It’s times like this I wish I could see auras. Because it could have been anyone, really. Or a buildup of negative energy from your own psyche. Or even bad karma spilling over from past lives. Many things can sour a life force. A spiritual cleanse would be the safest thing.”

“Guess it couldn’t hurt,” I say with much dubiousness. “It would definitely be a new experience.”

“Don’t panic,” says Lady Helena, pulling a cell from the pocket of her designer jacket. “I know exactly what to do.”

“You do?”

There’s no reply. She’s already striding into my bedroom and shutting the door. Her phone call requires privacy, apparently.

Rebecca sticks up her hand. “Hang on. I have questions. Lots of questions.”

“Okay.”

“The first is more of a statement,” she says. “You get that I hired Good Witch Willow as entertainment for my party and that you’re not actually going to die, right?”

“Well...”

“I understand how the predictions coming true rattled you. Your ex cheating and the promotion and the lotto. I mean, the lotto in particular is—Wow. But, babe, they’re just coincidences. They have to be.” Rebecca rises and comes toward me with arms outstretched. “We’re hugging now.”

“That’s nice,” I say, hugging her back.

“One day you’re going to realize that you don’t have to handle everything on your own. In the meantime, I think using this as the impetus to get out there and try new and exciting things is a great idea.”

I smile. “Thanks.”

“What are you going to do with the money?”

“Not a clue.”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” she says. “Josh is definitely gone and out of the picture?”

My nod is one of much resolution.

“Good. So you and Prince Charming are friends now, huh? I assume as much, what with his mother being here.”

“I think so,” I say. “Yeah.”

“Lady Helena is wild.”

“So wild. You have no idea.”

She turns my hand over and studies the new book tattoo. “This is cute. Did it hurt?”

“Like a bitch. But there’s one more prediction,” I say in a quiet voice. “One I didn’t want to mention in front of Her Ladyship because I don’t think her son would approve. He’s supposedly my soulmate.”

“No shit?”

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