Page 63 of Witchful Thinking

“We’re just catching up from our high school days,” Lucy said.

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Alex asked low enough that only she heard him. Lucy nudged him with her shoulder, causing him to laugh. They were catching up using their mouths and hands, so what? She’d rather have this conversation in private. Lucy threw open the binder and scanned it for the song she wanted to sing. Alex rested his hand on her knee and squeezed. Lucy held back a moan. If knees weren’t erogenous zones then for her they were now. She looked to him. He winked at her.

“She didn’t say she was seeing anyone when she RSVP’d to the wedding,” Lincoln said.

“Things change. Alex is welcome to join us,” Ursula responded.

“I’d be honored.” Alex put his hand to his chest.

“Come on, bro. It’s karaoke night. Wait until she’s drunk before you grill her.”

Lincoln lifted a shoulder. “I need to know. We’re paying for his plate; I’d like to know if this is real.”

“I have to pick my song,” Lucy said quickly. She didn’t need her ex to hear about her—what?—merman-across-the-street friend with benefits.

“If this is just a hookup, we don’t have to feed him. We need real couples only.” Lincoln took a long pull from his beer bottle and sat back against the booth. “This whole party’s getting too expensive.”

Lucy bristled at his comment. She really didn’t appreciate Lincoln labeling their wedding as a party, especially since Ursula was grinding day and night to make this wedding perfect for his family. Ursula shifted in her seat from side to side. She looked down at the binder, completely invested in writing down her song choice.

“Shit, man,” Marcus said. “Tell us how you really feel.”

“Don’t get mad at me for speaking the truth. I’m keeping it real.”

Lucy rolled her tongue in her mouth to keep from snapping at Lincoln. She didn’t want to spoil the night. Alex took her hand in his. He didn’t give Lincoln a second look when he said, “We’re together. It’s real.”

Lincoln faced Ursula with a nod; Alex’s answer seemed to have appeased him. Lucy wasn’t too happy. A song title popped into her head. She hadn’t thought of this song since high school but it seemed fitting for the moment. Lucy hummed the first notes to herself. She flipped the binder until she found the song she was looking for. She scribbled down the code and then wrote her name.

Ursula found her song and filled out her slip. Lucy delivered their songs to the DJ. Soon after, the karaoke contest started, shutting down any awkward conversation. Her attention went toward the stage. The first singer of the night, a trucker who earnestly held the glittery mic in his hands, took the stage. He tried and failed to hold the infamous high notes of “I Will Always Love You.”

Lucy turned to Alex. He tilted his head toward her to give them a little privacy.

“Are we good?” he asked.

“No, not really.” She shook her head. “I’d rather not discuss our relationship while strangers are sing-screaming Whitney Houston.”

Right then the trucker’s voice cracked again, and a few people covered their ears.

Alex winced, taking in the atmosphere. “My fault. I didn’t like his tone.”

“Lincoln’s always going to have a tone. Are you going to tell everyone who has a tone about us that we’re together?”

“I can if you want me to.”

Once he was done singing, everyone clapped for him. While the DJ set up the next song, Lucy decided to take advantage of the music break. This wasn’t really the place for a relationship talk, but there was no point in delaying.

“So, you meant it.” Lucy motioned between the two of them. This wasn’t just a fling.

“I do,” Alex said. “Is the soul mate search ongoing?”

Eh. Lucy blinked rapidly to collect herself. Welp. They’d been avoiding the topic of soul mates since the boardwalk. She was going to put on her big-girl booty shorts and deal with this conversation.

“Is this your way of asking me if I’m still searching?” she asked back.

“I didn’t make any promises or ask you to commit,” he said. He tensed up next to her.

“I touched your tail. That’s kind of a major commitment,” Lucy said through pressed lips, making sure that only he heard her. Alex had the sense to look sheepish, and his cheeks flushed at the memory of that night. She liked that she had this effect on him. He needed to know the truth. “I’m not looking.”

The instrumental opening notes to “Someone Like You” played over the speakers. Lucy rolled her eyes. Was the universe throwing her serious shade? She focused back on Alex who watched her. Once their eyes met, the tension eased from his body.