Page 15 of Bewitched & Bewildered
“Oh? Do you have a nice, fresh stock in your abandoned store?”
“Yes—and it’s not abandoned! I told you—we’re reopening.”
“No one in town knows you’re reopening. That’s not good for business. A grand opening should come with some fanfare.”
“Then how come I haven’t heard about your business?”
“Because you haven’t been paying attention. The rest of town is talking about it.”
“Everyone already knows about our apothecary. I don’t need a fancy marketing plan to get people in the door.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
“I am.”
“Let me rephrase that.” With a smile, I take a step closer. “Ihopeyou’re right. I would hate for something to go wrong. I love that old shop as much as you do.”
My words are genuine, but she won’t take them that way.
“That’s impossible,” she says. “No one loves it as much as my sisters and me.”
“I mean it. I want to see you succeed.”
“You’re giving me the evil eye, aren’t you?” Her eyes widen. “How dare you curse our reopening?”
I lift my hands in surrender. “I’m not!”
“I’m onto you. Don’t think you can pull a fast one on me.”
“I would never, ever think that.”
Her chest heaves—a sign of anger—but I force my eyes to stay on hers.
After a moment, she turns on her heel. “Stay out of my way.”
“I intend on it.” I return to my spot behind the counter. “Best of luck with your shop, Juni!”
The chimes on the door are the last thing I hear before she storms off.
Gods. How can one little, angry person be so adorable?
JUNIPER
I’m too sensitive, and it’s too late to take it back. I’m already sprinting from the building and do not intend to return.
It’s just that I would have liked some warning—notabout him being back in town, though that was certainly a shock, but about the new apothecary.
When I came to town today, I was looking for a job. Seeing Ozan again was not on the agenda. It’s been years since I’ve thought about or spoken to him. We both went off to college when we were eighteen.
He never came back. The most I saw were glimpses of him around the holidays, usually with his gorgeous girlfriend.
I never thought he would return to Starbrook. He lived only four hours away, but his life seemed to contrast mine. Now, it couldn’t seem more similar. He’s here, and he’s running an apothecary.
Ozan is doing everything I’m supposed to do.
The realization is still sinking in as I stomp down main street.
Ozan is a talented witch. He’s an expert spellcaster. I’ll admit he has enough knowledge and wisdom to own the shop. When he ran away to live and work as a human, I assumed he would become disconnected from the craft.
