“So, how did it make you feel knowing Hollie has liked you all these years? You didn’t say anything hurtful to her when she told you, did you?”
Moving around in my seat, I rubbed at the back of my neck and looked around the restaurant, avoiding eye contact with Kristin.
“You bastard. She didn’t tell you about the first spell, did she?”
Finding the courage to look at Kristin, I shook my head. “No. She was about to, though. Then Wendy came in, and things went to shit.”
Kristin’s boot landed a good kick on my shin, and I jumped, then nearly screamed out in pain from my ribs.
“Fucking hell! Why did you do that? I have bruised ribs. What in the hell is wrong with all you women?”
“You lied to me, Lucas Dayton! You lying bastard!”
“I didn’t really lie. I just… I just…didn’t tell you the truth.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “That’s the same thing.” Then her arms dropped, and a horrified expression crossed her face. “Lucas, you can’t tell her I told you. She would be so mad at me and so embarrassed. Especially if you don’t feel the same way about her.”
“I won’t say anything to her.”
Kristin tilted her head and gave me a look that said she was waiting for me to say more.
“What?”
“You’re not going to tell me how you feel about my best friend?”
“I’m almost afraid to tell you anything.”
“As you should be. Now spill it, Dayton.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I exhaled. “I’ve secretly liked Hollie since middle school.”
Kristin gasped, slapped both hands over her mouth, and started to jump around in her seat. Nearly the entire restaurant was now watching us.
“Would you stop acting like a child, Kristin?”
After getting herself under control, Kristin leaned across the table. “All the years you two idiots have wasted. And you slept with Wendy Hoffman. Gross, Lucas! Gross!”
I rolled my eyes. “I haven’t been with her in years.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” she asked, looking as if she was readying her foot to kick me once again.
“I mean, I don’t know how to tell her. Because if I say something now, she’ll think it’s because of that stupid spell.”
Kristin shook her head so hard, I thought it might come off and roll right out the door of the restaurant. “She won’t, Lucas. The spell was wrong. She never put that kind of spell on you, unless…”
Her voice trailed off as she frowned and looked deep in thought.
“Unless what?” I asked.
Glancing up at me, she answered, “Unless she did it again but with the right spell. I mean, you can’t alter someone’s heart. All she wanted was for you to notice her.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “I’ve been noticing her for years.”
A soft smile played across her face. “But she doesn’t know that. You have to find a way to tell her that without her thinking it’s because of some spell.”