Page 107 of Upside Down Magic

“Ofcourse not,” he said.

“Whereare we going?”

Hearched his brows, as if the answer was obvious. “Celebrating, of course.”

Myexcitement bubbled even higher.Ofcourse we had to celebrate.Icouldn’t think of anythingIwanted to do more than to celebrate withIanandDruandKeyand the strays andBrimstoneand, well, everyone else.Butthat could wait for tomorrow.Rightnow,Ijust wanted to celebrate withIan.

Ianfound a parking spot nearGuilesandRomaryand shooed me out of theSUV.

“We’recelebrating here?”Iasked, confused.Wehad gone out on dates here a couple of times, but nothing worth a celebration of this nature.

“Sureare,” he said, lettingFluffyandRufusout of the car.

Hetook my hand and led us through the throng of people.Itwas still too early in the night for the big crowds, but the web of streets was busy enough.

“Arewe going toRita’s?”

“Nope.”

“TheCheeseBeers?”Itwas a pub that paired cheeses with beers on the opposite side ofGuilesandRomary.Luckilyfor me, they also served other alcohol.

“Nope.”

“Wherethen?”

Hesmiled but didn’t answer, and thenIrealized where he was taking me.

No.Noway.

TheCrawlercame into view: two wide shuttered windows and a brightly lit door, withMarkstanding guard in front of it like a giant pitbull with his arms crossed.

Hegrinned wide when he saw me. “Ihear congratulations are in order.”

Mymouth fell open. “Youknow?How?”

Marksnorted. “Gosh, wonder how?”

Ispun towardIan. “Youtold him?When?”

“TextedDrubefore we leftMontel.”

AndIhad been so focused on my plans for the shopIhadn’t noticed!Butwait, did that mean…

“Whyare we here?”Iasked suspiciously, looking from one to the other.

Markstepped aside, allowing me free passage to theCrawler’sdoor.

“No,”Isaid, inhaling sharply. “AmIdreaming?”

“One-night exception to the rule,”Marksaid, and he didn’t even sound irked about it.

Istepped over the ward on the floor, which lit up in “witch colors,” and tentatively pushed the door open.

THIRTY-THREE

Countryrock blastedout of the room along with the noise of a dozen conversations.ThemomentIstepped in, though, all noise ceased abruptly.

Theroom was larger thanI’danticipated, brightly lit with cozy yellow lights.Framedphotographs, slogans, and local sports team banners hung from the red brick walls and dark wooden accents.Abar eked out a corner of the room, with booths and tall tables filling the rest and leaving a small space for a tiny stage for live bands.

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