Page 96 of Castings & Curses

“Okay, remember what I said about intentions? This is fully intentional.” I wiggled my hand around, emphasizing that I had a candle on me. I huffed out a breath and closed my eyes.

I wanted something useful, big enough to be noticeable, but not too big for the candle in my hand.

“Eric needs to not smell like an ashtray right now.”

I cracked my lids open and glanced at the candle. Nothing.

“Seriously? Fine, be that way.” I closed my eyes again. “With all intentions, I wish the fireflies would all light up at once, showing off their glory for a single moment in time.”

I heard everyone still in the backyard gasp. “Oh wow, did you see that?”

I opened my eyes. The candle was blazing brightly.

“Seems like a complicated way to light a candle,” Eric said.

I tilted my head toward the candle and it flickered out. Not big magic. But big enough.

“The candle was to catch my backfire, so to speak.”

He stared at me for a minute before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He contemplated his soot smeared hands before looking up at me again.

“I should go. I’m tired, and I can’t play, I’ll show you mine since you showed me yours right now.”

I stepped back with a small nod. I understood. Now that he knew, he wasn’t interested. It probably would have been best not to say anything, but what was I supposed to do after Liv’s little demonstration? This was Belvoir County, we were all a little special. Some more so than others. Eric pushed to his feet and walked into the house.

I felt more stupid at that moment than I had in weeks. And I was a walking, talking idiot these days.

CHAPTER12

Paisley

I couldn’t sleep. Eric had my hormones on edge, and then he left me without even a kiss. I cleaned Terri-Ann’s kitchen, trying to wear myself out, nothing worked.

I was still amped, my feelings felt bruised, and the one person who I needed to talk to had walked away.

“Oh my God, you are a moron.” I pulled out my phone.

He was tired, I kept pushing him back because he smelled. And now I was trying to figure out what had happened. I literally pushed him away.

I put the dish towel down and pulled my phone out of my back pocket.

‘Do you hate me?’

‘Hardly.’

I smiled at his response.

‘You up? What’s your address?’

I checked in the TV room. Everyone was sitting in the dark watching a movie, theater style. Liv was passed out on the floor.

“I need to run an errand, will you get Liv in bed when the movie is over?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Terri-Ann said. I doubt she was paying a whole lot of attention.

I left before she could change her mind. Eric lived in Hamilton, just north of Belvoir County, and Duchamp. It took more than a few minutes to get there.

I sucked in air as the doorbell reverberated through the house. House, who was I kidding? This place was freaking huge. And old. So not one of those nouveaux-riche McMansions, this was a real mansion, old money with a capital O.

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