Page 81 of Deep In Love
Charlie neatly lines up her crystals on the deck, ensuring each has full access to the powers of the moon.
Her blond hair shines beneath the moonlight, the strands like spun gold as she pushes loose curls away from her face. I’ve been breathless from the moment she appeared at the top of the steps, timid but with a tentative smile.
I’m staring at her like a lovestruck idiot as she fiddles with her impressive collection of rocks, treating each one with the utmost care.
“Okay,” she mutters, sitting back on her knees. The dress billows out as she repositions, offering me a peek of what’s beneath—or rather, what’snot. Besides a thin strip of lace, it’s nothing but bare skin.
My stomach drops, lust settling at the base of my spine.
“The moonlight cleanses the energy the crystal holds and recharges it with positive energy while reestablishing its natural properties,” Charlie explains.
Her energy is infectious, and I can’t help but fall into her excitement as she scoots closer, leaning against my arm.
“Where did your love of crystals come from?”
I’ve always wanted to know why she enjoys collecting the stones. They hold deep meaning for her, but I’ve never been in a place where I felt comfortable to ask. Until now.
“My parents bought me one of those gemstone dig sets, and once I unearthed the first one, I was intrigued. Then I learned each had meaning and intention, and they called to me. I don’t know as much as others, but they offer me a sense of peace and direction when I feel lost.” She trails off, unsure of herself. “It’s silly.”
“I don’t think so. How old were you?”
“Nineteen,” she admits, and I let out a small chuckle. She picks up a dark-green stone, marbled with lighter swirls, and places it in my palm. “You can have this one. It’s moss agate. It’s supposed to help with stress.” The crystal is cool to the touch. “It reminds me of your eyes.”
She offers the small confession with a bright blush, and I slip the stone into my pocket. My heart beats double time as I lean down to steal a kiss. When we break, her irises glitter with starlight.
“Now what do we do?” I whisper.
The crystals line up to form a star, the largest at the center, surrounded by the smaller stones—a small hole where she removed the moss agate. I know very little about crystals for healing energy, or the powers the moon holds, but there’s power in Charlie’s smile.
“This is it,” she whispers back, her focus locked on the crystals.
Are they going to move? Or shine? Or do anything other than sit on the deck?
“You’re not a very good witch,” I joke, and she bites the inside of her cheek. I run my fingers through my hair. “No wonder your curse didn’t work.”
She groans, folding her arms.
“It wasn’t my fault. It was the spell.”
“Oh?”
“I needed a lock of your hair for the recipe, but I couldn’t figure out how to cut a piece off without you noticing, so Amy and I left it out.” She gives me a look. “That’s obviously why it didn’t work.”
“Obviously,” I assure her, grabbing her by the hips and pulling her onto my lap.
She squeals, the sound inciting a pounding in my chest as she giggles and melts in my arms.
This moment, right here, is what I’ve been waiting for. Everything seems so unimportant, so trivial, when I’m with her.
“Mi bruja,” I whisper, placing a kiss on the crown of her head.
I’ve spent so long waiting, hoping, yearning for something to happen, it feels surreal, almost dreamlike now. It’s foolish to admit I’ve spent so long desperate for Charlie to take a shot on me, but it’s my truth. I’ve never had a doubt in my mind about her. It only took a few moments to know Charlie was meant to exist in my life forever.
People dedicate their lives to a cause—curing cancer, saving biodiversity, helping others—but I think…I think if Charlie let me, I would be content to dedicate my life to loving her.
“Why do you call me that?”
“Do you really want to know?”
