Page 9 of Upside Down Magic

Iscrunched my nose. “Thanksfor the visual.”

“That’swhat friends are for.”

“So, have you heard of anyone’s magic going haywire like that before?”

Shetook some time answering, andIappreciated the careful combing of her mental gossip archives. “Sorry, no.Can’tsayIhave.”

Thatwas good and bad.Goodbecause it meantOlmedadidn’t have a recurring problem with people’s magic, and bad because it didn’t give me any hints as to how it had happened.Unlessit had happened butDruwas unaware of it.

Myphone began ringing andIchecked the callerID.Speakingof the devil.

“Hello,Preston,”Isaid into the phone after accepting the call.

Dru’seyes lit up like aChristmastree.AMachiavellian, evilChristmastree.

“Hope,”Prestonsaid, a deep note of censure in his voice. “Whatis thisI’mhearing about aChristmasevent thatIwasn’t invited to?”

Drugestured for me to put the phone on speaker.Iignored her and stepped out of reach when she tried to grab the phone.

“Whotold you about the event?”

“Itdoesn’t matter.WhywasInot invited?”

“Youknow why you weren’t invited.”BecauseDruwas the first one on the list, andIdidn’t want an open war during my beautiful, lovingly crafted, cheerful and inspiring holiday fun event.

Therewas a sharp inhale on the other side of the call. “Areyou telling meI’m…blacklistedfrom your events?BecauseofDru?”

“Well…”Clearly, yes.

“That’sso unprofessional of you.DoIneed to file a report with thePBOA?”

Thenerve of this man.Ismacked the phone on top of the counter and hit the speaker button. “Areyou threatening me after the blackmail stunt you pulled duringHalloween?”

Hesputtered. “Blackmail?Me?”

Dru’sbrown snapped together, and she mouthed,what blackmail?

Ihadn’t told her aboutPreston’slies to get information about her shop out of me in an effort to keep things civil between them, but if he wanted to play that game, then we’d play it.Ihadn’t dealt withBagley’sevil tendencies this long to be cowed byDru’sarchnemesis.

“Yes.You.Blackmail.WhyshouldIinvite you to my event when you’ve shown you like to play dirty?Ihave a reputation to maintain, andItook great care in selecting the establishments participating.”

“Youinvited the tacos food truck inBoltonSquare!”

“Yes, well, those of us in the service industry got to stick together.Youwouldn’t understand.”

“Yes,Preston,youwouldn’t understand,”Druput in gleefully.

“IsthatDruscilla?”Prestondemanded.

Druglared at the phone like it was scum fished out from the river of scum flowing from the spring of mighty scum daring to sully her beautiful shop. “Yes,” she said in a chilling tone colder thanBrimstone’snew ice magic. “It’sDru.”

“Sorry,”Prestonsaid warily.Iwondered if his ear had frozen over. “Ialready apologized for the incident duringHalloween.WhatdoIhave to do for you to stop treating me like your enemy?”

Drupicked up the phone. “Jumpinto a hole and d?—”

Isnatched the phone out of her hands. “Okay,Ipropose a truce.”

Drushook her head for a second, then appeared to reconsider as a shrewd light came into her eyes. “Truce.Sure.”

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