Page 40 of Of Poison & Pumpkins
….?
Tell you later
It’s the girl.
Tell me I’m wrong
Shut up
“Everything okay?” Rynn asks, curiosity in her eyes.
“Yeah, Zee’s gonna give me crap when he sees us on our date. What would you want to do? Rock climb? I can’t promise I’ll make it to the top, but I bet you’re a good teacher. You won’t drop me, will you? Nah, of course you won’t.” I tap my fingers against my knee. “We could get milkshakes?”
“What if customers see the owners of two rival shops together? They might think we’re teaming up against the other stores.” She drops her gaze and draws flowers in the dirt with her finger. “Plus, you shouldn’t be seen with me in public. I’ll be arrested soon.”
In this moment, she looks more delicate than a painter’s feathery touch. I want to take her hand, but restrain myself and dig an outline for another image in the dirt with a twig. I’ll save the date-talk for another day, but there’s no chance I’m letting her walk away from our deal.
“We can’t give up, Rynnlee. Not yet. We’ll find whoever took your paint.”
Rynn tosses her arms in the air. “That could make it worse! If I’m in possession of the cursed paint, there’s more reason to arrest me. I’ll be caught red-handed.”
“Or purple-handed,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. But her frown remains, as gloomy as the thunder booming outside. Time to try another approach. “Okay, remind me of the ingredients we need for the antidote. Maybe if we have it ready, then if the cops do arrest you, they’ll let you off easy for saving the day.”
“It calls for two chopped carrots, cut diagonally, three seeds from a Futsu pumpkin, and ten holly berries from a raven’s nest, mixed with a spoon made of yarn. Must be created on a starry night.”
“Alright!” I clap my hands together. “Let’s focus on the antidote for now. Carrots we’ll buy at the mart on the way home. The Futsu seeds we’ll grab from my uncle’s farm. It’s a bit of a detour, and the storm might delay us, but it’s doable. But I have no idea how to find a raven’s nest.”
“Tinsley can. The spell she chose this month is for her bird-watching hobby, so her magic will make it easier.” Rynn’s voice gains a dash of hope and she leans back on both palms. “But someone needs to run my shop.”
“I’ll ask Kurt,” I say, reaching for my phone. “Crap, I lost service.”
“Cell tower must’ve been struck.”
She continues to watch me, and I pretend not to notice. What does she see when she looks at me? Does she see my Venezuelan features and wonder if I’ve ever visited my homeland? I have the urge to list off every strange quirk about myself, to test her reaction. More than anything, I want her to know all the pieces of me. How I can never successfully pop an ice cube out of a tray without another one falling to the ground. And that if I could have a superpower, I’d choose to read minds. Goddess, what I’d give to read her mind right now. Her eyes have power flowing through them, swirling with potential. Why does she hide herself from the world?
If I had a wish, I’d want to help her believe in herself, and give her the tools to see her soul the way I do.
Wait. The wish!
“Rynn! I have the wish! Ask for the antidote, and it’ll appear in my hand automagically. We won’t have to spend time searching for the ingredients,” I say, immediately regretting my words because I want to spend more time with her, even if the adventure leads us on a wild hunt. Though, I also need her name cleared. It’d be highly unfortunate if she falls in love with me, but winds up in prison.
“No, Dude. I won’t ever use your magic for my own gain. Don’t ask again.”
“Dude? Terrible nickname, I won’t respond to that one.”
“Your eyebrows are doing their thinking dance.” Rynn tilts her head like she’s investigating, hypothesizing about my response.
“They have a thinking dance?”
The only way to win this is to surprise her. Give her something unexpected—something real. “If I could travel through time, I’d go to the day my dad left and beg him not to. But then it may have changed the course of my life that would prevent me from sitting here with you right now.”
Our hands are close where we’ve been doodling in the dirt, and I let my pinky brush against hers.
Rynn bites her lip, then smiles again, showing off that one crooked tooth on the side. “Your body is mirroring me. Every time I lean forward, you do too, Sugarsnaps. Ooh, that’s a good one.” Her smile widens, making my heart explode.
“Yes, Sunflower?”
“I’ve been wondering, why did you choose to open your sh?—”
