Page 37 of Kiss and Spell

In the past, she’d busied herself with so many responsibilities so she wouldn’t have time to stop. She filled her planner with meetings and events so she wouldn’t have time to truly feel the deepening doubt she had about the life she’d artfully created. She’d thought that if she gave up pieces of herself for her and Lincoln’s relationship that she’d gain something greater—a life worthy of a fairy-tale ending. She wanted it all back. Her courage to love. Her trust in magic. The only way she was going to get her life back was to complete her list.

If she’d paid attention, then maybe she wouldn’t have got caught off guard and ended up jilted. Now she had the space to consider what she truly wanted from her life.

“Being a Smitten Sweetheart means you get pampered! Focus on you,” Gwen said.

“What if I get caught up in all the romance? What if I meet a guy?”

She didn’t want to get it wrong again.

Gwen folded her arms. “Okay, let’s say you meet a guy, and you like him, and he likes you.” She gave Ursula a questioning look. “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

The problem was she had met a guy. He was the prince who stayed by her side at the tavern. The one who offered his handkerchief and his arm when she needed it. His gentle touch kept her grounded. She closed her eyes and imagined his hand resting on the small of her back. His lips touching hers—Ursula closed her eyes, shutting down that runaway thought.

No, ma’am. Not today. His kiss was meant for someone else. His Highness was not allowed in her fantasy file. That honor was reserved for her internet boyfriends and handsome singers who serenaded her in her daydreams. She reconsidered Gwen’s question. The worst thing that could happen was that she could lose herself.

Ursula could lose herself to the fairy tale again.

Ways to Get a Wish

Throw a coin in a fountain

Wish on the first star in the sky

Wish on a new pair of shoes before you wear them [Grandpa Jay]

Things that You Can Wish On

Eyelashes

Ladybugs

Double numbers

April

THIS MONTH’S BIRTHSTONE: DIAMOND

Diamonds when worn are thought to bring courage to the wearer.

Chapter Twelve

Xavier stared at his phone on the wooden coffee table, willing it to buzz. Was there a signal? It had a charged battery, and the cell signal was at full bars. Maybe he should sit closer to the door in case the coffee machine was messing with it. He glanced at his fellow Night Sky customers, many of whom were on their phones, texting and watching what sounded to be cat videos at high volume. At least the Wi-Fi was working.

Xavier stared at his phone, silently demanding it to heed him. Buzz. Buzz now.

It seemed to glare back at him on the table as if to say, I don’t know you.

Last night, unable to sleep, he’d borrowed Whitney’s laptop and logged onto EnChant, the premiere dating website for the weird, sexy, and supernatural, to update his bio. He thought this morning he’d get at least one notification, but it was nothing but crickets. No DMs. No chats. Not even a like. Yes, he was battling against Cupids, werewolves, and at least one superhero for dates, but was he not interesting? Was he not clickable? Was he not thirst worthy? He should’ve waited until he had Ursula’s opinion, but… his saving grace was also his temptation.

The night at Two Princes Tavern had changed something within him. Sitting close to her at the table, brushing up against her in light touches, and laughing with her flipped on a switch within his chest. Why search for someone else when the woman who appealed to him was by his side?

They’d fallen into a nice routine over the last two weeks. From Wednesday to Saturday nights, Xavier and Ursula attended as many Smitten events as possible, trying to find him a date that would lead to his perfect kiss.

Wednesdays were game night at Two Princes Tavern. He’d watched in amusement as Ursula did a fist pump victory dance when she managed to win top score for trivia. They won a food and drink gift card and treated themselves to a platter of salt and pepper fries with extra seasoning.

Thursday nights were the art walk, where he and Ursula went to the Grove Emporium and browsed the various paintings and photographs on display. Afterward, they went to Mimi’s Diner, shared a plate of mushroom nachos, and discussed their favorite pieces. Not surprisingly, Ursula was drawn to the art pieces that were picturesque. She’d been charmed by a photograph of a little child clutching a handful of dandelions in the middle of a field. Fascination hummed through him as he listened to the joy in her voice when she told him about how she tried to collect all the dandelions in her nana’s garden in hopes of getting a hundred wishes.

“I didn’t get those wishes, but I learned how to make dandelion tea,” she said with a wink.

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