Page 16 of Lila

“How’d you know what she said?” I ask.

“I come here a lot. I got tired of always having to cast a language spell to understand everyone so I made a talisman.” She pulls her necklace out of her shirt and shows me the stone. “I understand every language as long as I’m wearing this.”

“I want one!” I whine.

Lav laughs. “I’ll make you one when we get home. First, interrogation, then honey garlic chicken.Thenspellcasting,” she says.

“Right.” I nod my head then face the younger Chinese woman. “What she said.”

She rolls her eyes. “The winds of change are always blowing. Do we have to talk about my crazy Gran every time?”

“We do when she’s talking like she knows something,” Lav retorts.

“I’m sure she’s just ranting about the new string of fated mates popping up. She hasn’t shut up about it. She’s hoping it’ll hit me but I’m praying it doesn’t.” She shudders.

“Come on, Mei Li. One of these days you’re going to find a nice guy and settle down.” Lav chuckles and by Mei Li’s glare, I can tell she hears that often.

“If you want your honey garlic chicken any time soon, you’ll be nice to me.”

“Damn. You do come here a lot,” I chuckle as Mei Li’s words shut my friend up.

“Wow. Pulling out the big guns, huh? Fine. I’ll leave it to your Gran to hound you about your love life. Or lack thereof.” Lav quips with a grin.

“You know I could say the same thing aboutyourlove life,” Mei Li taunts her as she leads us to a table.

“Ann! What are you doing here?” Lav exclaims to the woman sitting at the table next to ours.

“Gray’s with Luca and I couldn’t find it in me to cook. So I dragged myself down here for some comfort food.”

“Awe. I’m sorry. I know you miss him when he’s gone. Come sit with us so you’re not alone. You can tell us all about his week,” Lav offers.

“Us?”

“Oh!” Lav jumps out of the way so I can see her friend, or soshecan seemerather. “This is my bestie, Lila. She just moved here from Florida. I figured I’d treat her to the best Chinese restaurant in the tri-state area.”

“As long as I’m not imposing. I don’t want to interrupt your reunion.”

“Nonsense! Join us,” I demand. “Lav’s the only person I know in Silver Springs. Would be nice to add to the list.”

Laughing, she takes a seat at our table. Lav slides in beside her, so I take the bench across from them.

“So, who’s Gray?” I ask.

“He’s my son. Grayson,” she explains with a smile. But it quickly turns to a frown as she continues. “He’s with his dad tonight. Luca’s the fire chief at Station 26. With his job, he can’t spend as much time as he’d like with Gray, so whenever he gets a night off, Gray spends the night.”

Luca? The fire chief? Surely she’s not talking aboutmyLuca.

“That’s really nice of you to let him have that extra time,” I say. I think I manage to hide my internal freakout.

“Luca would spend every minute with Gray if he could. He’s the best dad. If I had to get knocked up by a one-night stand, I’m glad it was him.” She chuckles. “We could never work as a couple, but Luca’s the perfect co-parent.”

“Oh. Well, I’m glad it worked out.” I laugh, Ann and Lav joining me.Pregnant from a one-night stand? Good thing I’m on the spell. That won’t be me anytime soon.

“It did. I just miss the little guy when he’s gone.”

“Ann’s such a good mom,” Lavender praises. “Way better than our moms. She’s not obsessed with the coven.”

“Hell, no! I left my coven when I turned eighteen. Grayson may only be half-witch, and not have any witchy powers, but I’d die before I subject him to a coven.”

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