Cursed (30 page)

All the pieces of the puzzle started to fall together. She only began leaking magic after she’d met Cady even though she’d been wearing the necklace for at least a year. It never made sense to Sasha as to why Cady was in the queen’s secret room; a room that no one knew its location. She could only have gotten there if she was deliberately put there.

Sasha didn’t want to think about Cady anymore. She hoped she never saw her again.

“How is Evan coping?” Her mother asked.

Evan drove Sasha home from Dominic’s house. He seemed tired and a bit withdrawn.

“He’s brave,” she said. “Let’s hope he’s not totally turned off by my crazy family.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Evan called that night. He wanted to see her but needed sleep. They arranged to see each other Saturday night.

Sasha couldn’t decide what to wear. He’d seen her at her worst and at her best too considering how she was dressed at her birthday dinner. Sasha couldn’t believe that was a short time ago. It felt like a lifetime had passed over the past couple of weeks.

When Evan picked her up he was wearing a blue golf shirt that matched his eyes and pressed jeans. His grandmother must be old school and ironed them.

Sasha had also decided on jeans and a new black top she’d bought earlier that day. She’d straightened her hair while blow drying it and even put on makeup. She finished the outfit with her skateboard sneakers. She didn’t want to go overboard in the fancy attire.

Sasha reintroduced Evan to her dad, who was sitting in the living room as if he was standing guard and protecting the house.

“Nice seeing you son,” Sasha’s dads said. “Have her home by… Sasha what is your curfew?”

“I don’t have one dad,” she said smiling broadly. She wasn’t sure if he was joking or genuinely didn’t know.

“Oh,” he said. “Ok then. Don’t be too late.”

Her dad winked at her as he shut the door.

“Did you talk to your mom?”

“Yeah,” she said.

“What should we expect now?” Evan asked as he turned onto South Congress.

“Not sure,” Sasha said watching the funky storefronts zip by. “My mother said she got Nefar but that doesn’t mean my grandmother will give up.”

“You worried?”

“A little,” she said. Evan picked up her hand and squeezed. He turned into the restaurant parking lot and stopped the car.

“I’ll help.”

“Thanks,” she said. They walked into the Magnolia Café and lined up at the hostess desk. “Have you changed your mind?”

“About what?”

“Magic,” she said quietly making sure no one overheard her.

“I’m still not convinced,” he said, a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth.

“I can understand your reluctance,” she said with a fake business-like demeanor. “I mean, there is no evidence.”

“Exactly,” he said. “It’s all just mumbo jumbo.”

Sasha laughed from her belly.

Once they got their table Evan ordered a Spanish omelet, while Sasha asked for a waffle. Sasha loved having breakfast for dinner.

“I’ve had some time to think,” Evan said holding her hand while sitting across the table. Evan’s tone was serious, the earlier joking forgotten. Sasha’s insecurities started picking away at her confidence.

If their situations were reversed she’d probably run away from the life-threatening drama. Her stomach roiled with anxiety afraid of what Evan was going to say.

“This isn’t quite how I thought it would all go,” he said not meeting her eyes. She felt a cold lump form in her stomach. She took a sip of hot tea to counteract the feeling. If he was going to break up with her she wished he’d just do it fast like tearing off a band-aid.

“I’m not sure -,” she couldn’t take it anymore.

“If you are going to breakup with me just do it ok,” she said pulling her hand from his. “I can’t handle all this hemming and hawing. Just spit it out.”

Evan was startled. His mouth gaped in shock. She wasn’t sure if it was because of what she said or how she said it.

“I’m not breaking up with you,” he said tearing his napkin into little pieces. “I was trying to tell you how I felt about you.”

Embarrassed Sasha flushed pink. “Oh,” was all she could manage.

“I was trying to tell you how I have these crazy intense feelings for you but I didn’t know how to say it,” he said not meeting her eyes. “There. That’s it. That’s what I wanted to say.”

Sasha smiled with glee. He liked her. He really liked her. She felt such relief that her feelings were reciprocated.

“Evan,” she said. “I have crazy intense feelings for you too.”

He smiled, relief etched on his face. He leaned halfway across the table; his lips were inches away from hers. Sasha couldn’t suppress the gigantic smile on her face. She felt goofy and didn’t care.

He pressed his lips to hers and she didn’t hold back. She leaned forward and melted into the kiss. He smelled woodsy like pine trees and leaves and tasted minty. She lost herself in his soft lips. She could stay like this all day.

A man cleared his throat startling them. Evan pulled away reluctantly and sat down. The waiter put their food on the table.

Sasha couldn’t wait to finish eating so they could get to dessert.