Page 23 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love
“Seven sharp tomorrow morning, be ready,” he snapped, jabbing a finger toward Andromeda with such intensity she took a step back.His eyes, those dark pools that absorbed light, held an edge of wariness.“I’ll pick you up.”
Before she could fire off a cutting response about his bedside manner, Malatesta stormed off, his broad shoulders rigid with tension, leaving a wake of snickering officers in his path.
“What was that about?”Andromeda demanded once he was out of earshot.“And why are you grinning like you just won the Magical Lottery?”
Sarah Michelle’s smile was incandescent.“My shift ended.Need a ride home?”
“Don’t change the subject.”Andromeda narrowed her eyes.“What’s going on?Why is everyone acting like they’ve been huffing laughing gas?”
“I’ll tell you in the car,” Sarah Michelle promised, already heading for the exit.
Andromeda followed, acutely aware of the eyes tracking their departure, the whispers, and poorly concealed chuckles.Whatever was happening, it clearly involved both her and Malatesta, and she wasn’t sure whether to be intrigued or concerned.
Once they were sheltered in Sarah Michelle’s sensible sedan—a vehicle so lacking in personality that Andromeda wondered if it had been specifically enchanted to be forgettable—her roommate finally broke.
“So,” Sarah Michelle said as she pulled away from the curb.“You know how court sessions are recorded via Mistprint for official records?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, normally those recordings are sealed.”Sarah Michelle’s grin turned downright devious.“But someone in the clerk’s office owed Officer Belmont a favor, and, well… let’s say the highlights of your hearing have become popular around the station.”
Andromeda frowned.“How?”
“Someone isolated the part where Malatesta had to repeat the exact wording of your curse.So now there’s a Mistprint projection of Salem’s most arrogant detective solemnly declaring, and I quote, ‘I’m a dickhead.My penis is small.’”
Andromeda burst out laughing, the sound exploding from her with such force that she had to brace herself over the dashboard.“You’re joking,” she gasped between fits of giggles.“Please tell me you’re not joking.”
“I am serious,” Sarah Michelle assured her, far too pleased with herself.“It’s been playing on a loop in the break room all afternoon.”
Andromeda wiped small tears off, her stomach aching from laughter.“Oh hex, no wonder he had murder in his eyes.”
“I may or may not have programmed it as his personalized ringtone on my phone,” Sarah Michelle continued, turning onto their street.
“You didn’t!”
“I did.Want to hear it?”
“Yes—wait, no.”Andromeda bit her lower lip, an unexpected twinge of sympathy tempering her amusement.“I feel bad for him now.”
Sarah Michelle gaped at her as she pulled into their driveway.“For Malatesta?The same man who kicked down our door and dragged you to the station in handcuffs?”
“I know, I know.”Andromeda leaned back against the headrest, surprised by her conflicted emotions.“It’s just… public humiliation is a special kind of hex.And…”
Sarah Michelle killed the engine to turn toward Andromeda, her expression suspicious.“What did you do?”
“What do you mean?”Andromeda kept her voice neutral.
“Don’t play innocent with me, Andy.You have your ‘I’ve done something devious and I’m thoroughly pleased with myself’ face on.”
Andromeda shrugged, fighting a smile.“Not me.”
“Andy.”Sarah Michelle’s tone had shifted from amused to concerned.“Please tell me you didn’t curse your parole officer.”
“I’m not a convict,” Andromeda protested.“So I don’t have a parole officer.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“That’s a deeply depressing perspective.”
