Page 58 of Witchful Thinking
“Do you?” Lucy asked.
“I wish—” Alex interrupted himself.
He looked to her, opened then closed his mouth.
“If wishes were fishes…” Lucy mused, echoing Nana’s words but not wanting to finish the second part. The silence seemed to say it all.
“We’d all cast nets,” Alex finished for her. Their eyes met. Kiss me. The sudden demand sent a shock through her. A truth descended upon her skin like a light mist of rain. She wasn’t going to be satisfied with anyone but Alex. Like a fern stretching its roots into soil to draw up water, nothing less than being with him would satiate this want in her chest. They said nothing but sat in companionable silence.
Twenty minutes later, the very confused but helpful delivery person dropped off the pizza on the porch. Lucy groaned at the scent of the bubbly cheese and toppings that wafted through the door. There was high-pitched squeaking and cheering from the other side of the door.
“I think they like it,” Alex said. The locks clicked, and the door eased open. Lucy jumped up and yanked it open all the way, letting the sunlight flood the room. Only one pizza box remained on the doorstep. The second one was replaced with a hastily wrapped bouquet of wildflowers. Alex picked it up and handed it to Lucy. She clutched the flowers to her chest. Those gnomes were sweet when they wanted to be.
“No good deed goes unforgotten,” Alex said.
“I don’t think that’s a saying.”
“I’m making it a saying.” Alex cradled the pizza in his arms. “I can’t eat all of this. Stay. Get a slice.”
Lucy looked at him again. She could get used to this, being with him bringing a pizza home for dinner along with paint samples. Being here in his house and feeling like she belongs.
I’m going to want more than pizza. I’ll want this moment.
Lucy shook her head and left. She needed to take a step back. Once upon a time, she would’ve followed him into the ocean. If he had asked her, she would’ve held her breath forever and dived in just to be near him. Now, all those feelings were coming back. No more wishing; it was time to act.
Chapter Fifteen
As Lucy slept, shades of blue, orange, and white shimmered above her bed. The Fortunato Cottage appeared to her like an unfinished watercolor, pulling her forth over the lawn. The dew on the grass left the soles of her feet wet, and the full moon gave her enough light. Her steps faltered, but she continued to the cottage. Someone—or some spirit—stood in the window and beckoned her forth. A phantom touch pulled her out of sleep and woke her. It was minutes to midnight, and Lucy couldn’t sleep a wink. Everything from her skin to her toes still tingled from being with Alex only a few hours ago. She hadn’t felt this way—the long pull—since high school, and now her body craved it like a sweet treat. Now that she’d gotten the Wishcraft Made Simple book from Alex, old fears bubbled within her.
She’d done some light reading before bed, flipping through a few chapters. One line caught her attention so much she stopped on that page.
No matter how hard the wish, you can always wish again.
Lucy closed the book. If she tried to tweak the wish in any way, would it change whatever the hell was happening between her and Alex? Not only was he paying her to design the home of her dreams, but the merman was kissing her senseless. Where was Mr. Sandman when you needed him? Her phone buzzed twice, alerting her to a text message.
U up?
She barked out a laugh and responded.
Maybe.
Good to know. I can’t sleep.Still thinking about earlier.
Same here.
Meet me for a late-night swim?
Lucy paused.
Where?
Grove Lake
***
Every Caraway witch knows that mischief begins at midnight. Lucy and Alex made their way to a path from the parking lot down into the water. Her steps slowed. The full moon was so bright, they needed little help from their flashlight. Dimmed lights from the nearby houses around the lake were still on, reminding Lucy that they needed to be quiet.
The surface stilled; moonlight and a few wayward stars sparkled. Magic, ancient and old as the earth itself, washed over her skin from Grove Lake. Lucy took it all in. It had a rocky shoreline with colorful gravel in shades of white, brown, and gray. Driftwood, twisty and knobby, lay at the water’s edge. Trees bowed over the lake, casting their reflections on the surface.