Page 46 of Witchful Thinking

People in the Grove kept asking how he could be just friends with her. She had this effortless girl-across-the-street beauty—or rather, witch across the street who never failed to stun him with her enchanting beauty and everyday magic. Even now, as she chatted with Poe and greeted every buyer with a graceful smile, she radiated complete joy. He’d been careful hiding behind the shield of friendship, not crossing the line or doing anything to overtly show how much he cared about her.

Alex stuck to the “we’re better as friends” line because he knew relationships between humans and merfolk were destined for disaster. Fate was rarely kind to those who loved each other in the space where the ocean met the land. Even the happily-ever-after ending of the classic cartoon The Little Mermaid was problematic for Alex. What human was worth giving up the ocean for?

He noticed that the fairy tale ended with complete sacrifice.

Just then a man with neatly clipped hair and wearing wire-rimmed glasses approached Poe and Lucy. Poe gave him a big hug and then made introductions. Alex watched from a respectable distance. He looked like a character from a Dark Academia inspiration board, dressed in a white button-down shirt, slacks, and dress shoes, with a tweed jacket slung over his arm. Lucy brightened and greeted him. Poe spoke animatedly to him, pointing at Lucy’s table.

Then Tweed Jacket leaned over and wrote a bid on Lucy’s paper.

Envy, sharp and ragged, splintered inside him. He’d asked for a second chance to make it right, but he was going back to bad habits. Show her you care, but don’t show too much. Low expectations meant low disappointment. He couldn’t disappoint her if she didn’t know how much he cared. Lucy had crushed on and flirted with boys throughout their high school years, but she’d never had a serious boyfriend. He’d worked under the assumption that a magical force kept them apart, but it had been him. He’d planned to ask her out once the assignment was over, but he’d never gotten the chance. Or rather, fate kept stepping in his way.

She had a crush on a vampire. He dated a fae. He missed a window or lacked the courage to risk his heart. It went on that way until they graduated. Their dreams were pulling them in different directions. He didn’t want their friendship to dissolve into a memory, the way of many childhood and teenage connections. So, he’d told her immediately after their commencement ceremony that they should go their own ways. She’d invited him to the graduation party at her house and he turned her down. A clean break would be better for them in the long run. Pain now rather than disappointment later, because he’d disappoint her somehow, and he hated to see that emotion in her eyes. The minutes ticked on; Alex watched as two more bids came in for Lucy. Songs played on the speakers as buyers made their final bids. She clapped her hands together and chatted excitedly with Poe. Tweed Jacket added another bid, canceling out the previous ones. Realization rippled through Alex like a stone dropped in a pond. He didn’t have to bid on her cake to make her feel better. He wanted to because he cared. He wanted her to know how proud he was of her for trying a difficult cake. For wanting to be a part of the Grove community. For standing here and fighting for every single donation. He wanted her to know he saw her.

“Three minutes left. This is our last song of the cakewalk.”

The song came over the speakers. Alex knew it immediately from the first opening notes. He hadn’t heard it in years, but he remembered the last time he heard it.

Prom night. Their last dance together. The last time he was brave with her.

Alex returned to Lucy’s table. Tweed Jacket stayed there, his attention still on Lucy. Mermen weren’t known to be possessive, but he was learning there was a first time for everything.

“Alex, I got bids!” Lucy trilled happily. She gestured over to Tweed Jacket, who had the nerve to duck his head and try to look humble. “Theo was kind enough to be my first bid.”

Tweed Jacket had a name: Theo.

“I just got the ball rolling,” Theo said casually, but he shot a warm smile in Lucy’s direction. He might have bid on the cake, but he wanted something sweeter. Lucy blushed. Alex’s stomach grumbled. He had no one to blame but himself. The song egged him on, encouraged him to act while there was still time.

“Two minutes,” Ursula said, making a lap around the pavilion.

Alex glanced down at the bids. Theo’s bid was generous, but it could be outdone. Alex checked his wallet. He didn’t have enough on him, but he had enough in the bank. He called out to Ursula, and she came over, clutching her clipboard, a professional smile on her face.

“You have a question?”

“Do you take mobile payments? Cash App? PayPal? Venmo?” Alex rattled off.

“As long as the transaction clears, we take it all,” Ursula said.

“Perfect.” Alex picked up the pen and wrote a bid. He glanced around at everyone watching him. Poe gave a low whistle. Theo shook his head and held up his hands. Lucy’s lovely eyes practically popped out of her head.

Ursula took a step back and called out, “One minute.”

“No, that’s too much. Um—I can’t let you do that,” Lucy said anxiously, reaching for the pen, but Alex placed his hand over hers. She pulled back gently. He held her hand. Lucy stared at him. He didn’t look away, watching her wiggle in his grasp. Playful defiance flickered in her face. She shook her head, but he wasn’t budging. This wasn’t an act of friendship he could explain away with a casual statement.

This was an act of possession. An act of desire. An act of—he shut down that word. No. He couldn’t feel that way about her. Lucy, who he knew was never demure, squeezed his palm, sending a shot of pain through his hand. He grasped her wrist and held it close enough that her charms pressed into his flesh. They fumbled for a moment for the bid clipboard, their limbs becoming entangled with each other’s, not leaving any room for daylight. Under the thin fabric of her dress, he felt her generous chest press up on him. He swallowed tightly, trying not to be distracted by the jolt of desire that went over his body.

She was killing him softly with those curves.

“Ten seconds!” Ursula said.

Lucy’s breath came in short bursts as she made one final grab for the sheet. Alex mashed her arms into his chest and wrapped his arms around her. She squirmed. He let out a startled groan at the contact. To the outside world, it looked like two lovebirds having a play fight.

Lucy looked up, a silent plea in her eyes.

Alex gave a small head shake, hoping his face conveyed his own request. Let me do this for you.

Finally, Lucy relaxed against him, tucking her head against his chest. He was dimly aware of Ursula counting down, but his senses were consumed with Lucy. Her hair still had a sheen of hair gel, showing off her pen-spring-size curls. Her scent mixed perfectly with spun caramel and vanilla oil. The dress, despite seeming voluminous, was sheer and as thin as a bedsheet, hinting at her body hidden underneath, which instantly turned him on. Tomorrow they’d be the town’s biggest source of gossip, but right now this moment was just for them.

“Time’s up! The bidding is over.”