Page 7 of A Touch Charmed

I stepped outside and stared out at the waves and the miles of ocean beyond. When Thora first left, I used to stand on the rocky crescent next to the main beach. The closest I could get to the mainland from the island. The closest I could get to her.

Now, she was just under a mile away, probably standing on the same shoreline. She was closer to me than she’d been in over seven years, and yet, she felt even further away. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to reach her again. Or what it would cost if I could.

Chapter 3

Thora

Ilayinmybed like a starfish, arms and legs flung wide, as I stared up at the ceiling and contemplated what I wanted my next move to be. Sitting around feeling sorry for myself wasn’t it. Not when I had magic. Undeniable, real magic.

This was my second chance to make something of myself, to be someone other than the mayor’s daughter. To be my own person. And I wasn’t about to waste it.

My phone buzzed on my nightstand. It took me a moment to recognize the sound. I didn’t do phone calls. Usually, if anyone called me, I’d send them to voicemail and text them.

But now that I was Zodiac Cove’s events coordinator, I needed to get used to the phone. Now that everyone knew I was in charge of the festival, I got the occasional call to approve last-minute booth changes and things like that. Must’ve been someone who had gotten my number off the community directory and needed something for the event.

I fumbled with the green call button for a moment before picking up.

“Hello? Is this Thora’s phone?”

I held it away from my ear and checked the number. It was from the island, but I didn’t recognize the voice. “Yes, hi. This is Thora.”

“Hey, it’s Audrey. Can you come by my shop before I open today?”

“Sure.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “What for?”

“I thought we could catch up.”

Audrey and I hadn’t been friends in high school, so I wasn’t sure how much catching up we had to do. “Is that really why you want to see me?”

“No.” She let out a sigh. “I’m trying to be diplomatic here and not get in Finn’s way, but for a guy who has speed magic, he moves slow as shit. I’d like to talk a bit about your powers and what you’re going to be up against.”

That sounded more like it. If she had continued to bullshit me, I might’ve said no on principle, but I responded to honesty. And I liked Audrey. I hadn’t forgotten what she did for me at the town hall meeting, even if it had been more because she’d been standing up for Finn. Plus, I really did want to know more about my powers.

“I can be there in an hour,” I said.

I’d spent half the day before trying to deny that I had magic, but I’d grown up on the island. Even the most jaded citizen believed a little. It was practically baked into our DNA. But after living on the mainland for seven years without so much as a hint of legends and curses, I’d started to lose that piece of myself.

It all came barreling back two days ago, though. I couldn’t dismiss what had happened right in front of me. Clear light had flowed from my hands and healed Finn’s broken leg. That was a fact I had no choice but to accept.

I took a few minutes to pull myself together. I hadn’t planned on leaving the guest house again today, so I didn’t bother to dry or style my hair after my morning swim and shower. If I were anyone else, I could’ve just pulled my hair up and gone. But I was the mayor’s daughter. The minute I set foot in town, every inch of me would be under scrutiny.

Throwing some product in my hair, I scrunched it and tried to make the short beachy waves appear purposeful. Then I debated between a simple navy skirt or pressed linen pants, eventually deciding the skirt said casual but not trying too hard. This was the only thing I missed about Boston. Being able to roll out of bed and grab a cup of coffee in my pajama pants without causing a week’s worth of gossip.

It was still early in the day, but the town had plenty of activity going on in preparation for festival week. The scent of freshly cut grass and sea salt mixed with the morning breeze. As I got closer to Audrey’s shop, a few people said hello. A lot more fished for gossip. What happened with my job in Boston? Had I seen Finn lately? They were just so sorry for what had happened at the town hall meeting. How was I doing with all that?

That was the thing about being visible without being seen. I’d been at my parents’ for weeks now. If they genuinely cared, any one of them could’ve stopped by for a visit. But that wasn’t what they wanted. They weren’t really interested in what happened to me in Boston or how I felt about seeing Finn again. All they cared about were the nuggets of gossip they could mine from me to take back to their actual friends.

I was an object of speculation. Something to talk about. Nothing more.

There were a lot of residents who thought they were owed access to me because of my father’s position as a public figure in town. They’d gather for coffee and call me cold or a snob for having boundaries. But that’s what people had decided about me a long time ago, and giving them fodder for gossip wouldn’t change their minds.

I raised my hand to knock on Audrey’s shop door when she opened it abruptly. The leafy scent of lemongrass incense drifted out of her shop. “I’m so happy you came.” She motioned me forward. “Get in here before the vultures start preying.”

“Too late. I got stopped six times on my way over.”

“Ugh. This town.” She locked the door behind her. “I’m buying everyone a stamp collection for Christmas. They need new hobbies.”

Feeling awkward and out of place, I clutched the strap on my purse, unsure of what to do with my hands. “I can’t stay long. I have a ton of work to get done for the festival still.”

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