Page 33 of Kiss and Spell
Uncertainty stirred within Ursula. Zoe, who must have gotten her number from Lincoln, had sent her a text. What were the rules of befriending your ex-fiancé’s new girlfriend? Maybe she needed to rewatch old episodes of Mama’s soap opera for tips on how to handle this sticky situation. Zoe was so sweet to Ursula, her teeth were starting to ache, but her current relationship with Lincoln just made Ursula feel weird for responding. The man didn’t do conflict and wanted everyone to get along. Eventually the truth would come out, but until then Ursula would be kind to her. She pushed through the oddness of texting her and responded.
I enjoyed meeting you too! Of course, I’m a HUGE gemstone fan. I bought the necklace at my family’s shop. Swing by sometime and I’ll hook you up.
Zoe reacted with an excited emoji. All evening, she’d asked a dozen questions about Ursula’s magic and listened closely. They’d shared a plate of pretzel bites with ground mustard while discussing the best way to wear birthstones. Lincoln watched them with a frown, sipping his drink and eyeing her. It was super clear that Zoe had no clue that she was talking to her boyfriend’s ex-fiancée. If he hadn’t told his new lady about their mutual past, then Ursula wasn’t going to do it. Lincoln could do his own dirty work.
Ursula checked the next text. It was from Gwen. Her stomach tightened.
Hey sis! I’m gonna need my dress soon! Got a date this weekend.
Ugh. The dry cleaner couldn’t completely fix the dress, and the stain looked like a shadow. She’d tell Gwen what happened, but she’d tell her in person.
The last outstanding message was from Diane. Annoyance splintered through her gut when she saw her name. Ursula figured Diane wasn’t like her vagabond brother Gus, the local heartbreaker of the Jersey Shore, but Dearworths were all a little odd. Nana was right. Magicians could be so strange sometimes. If Diane wasn’t interested in Xavier, then why did she let Ursula blather on about him for twenty minutes? She read the message hoping that maybe Diane would clarify why she didn’t click with Xavier. Behind his professor-chic attire beat a big, chivalrous heart that was looking for a perfect kiss. Diane’s text was only a hyperlink.
“I hope this isn’t a scam or a Rickroll,” Ursula said to the slumbering gargoyle. She clicked the link and was brought to a Shakespeare website. There on the page were three highlighted lines from Midsummer Night’s Dream: “For aught that I could ever read, could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth.”
Ursula scoffed. Yeah, okay. Leave it to Diane to put a capital D in “drama.” She always had a play quote or a comment that could relate to any situation. In another universe, Diane was either an award-winning actress or a theater reference guide with everything she knew about the theater world and plays. Maybe Ursula was coming on a little strong when it came to finding Xavier his kiss. She didn’t want to consider a world in which a fae prince couldn’t find a love that would break a spell. If he couldn’t find his happy ending, then what chance did anyone else have? Even though the Two Princes Tavern evening was a bust in finding Xavier a date, they were going to meet up to get his online dating profile together. She would not fail him.
Ursula returned to Light as a Feather and relieved Mama from shop duty.
The afternoon was quiet, and she only had a handful of customers in two hours. Maybe everyone was taking the day off to sleep off the love magic. She sent a quick text to Gwen telling her to come over to the shop for her break.
Ursula settled in the front window chair eyeing Aunt Lulu’s crystal ball. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d read for herself or wanted to look into her future.
She touched the polished ball with a fingertip. Slow your breath. Calm your mind. Seek the shadows. Her mind sank into the crystal’s center, trying to find the future inside that might come forth. Minutes burned away, but the crystal remained empty. It was clear. Open. Vast. She focused and went lower. Still nothing. Ursula lifted her mind out of the trance state. She blinked out and slumped back into the reading chair.
Great, she was being ghosted by a crystal ball.
The door swung open, and the shop bell jingled.
“Hey, soul sister!” Gwen came in wearing high-waisted jeans, ballet flats, and a T-shirt boldly stating GIVE ME SPACE with an astronaut dancing with a rogue planet. Waves of exhaustion and latent magic practically radiated from Gwen. Maybe little sister was brewing up more than just cookies in the kitchen and decided to dabble in a few potions. She held a coffee holder containing two drinks and a folded treat bag.
“Happy Smitten,” Ursula sang. She stood from the chair to greet her.
Gwen studied her with a squint. “I’m loving the look. Hold on.”
She plucked something small from Ursula’s shoulder. It was an eyelash.
Gwen held it out on her fingertip. “Make a wish.”
Ursula closed her eyes, made a silent request to have a nice dinner and released a breath. She opened them to see Gwen scanning her with a critical eye. “I hope you wished for another shirt. You’re giving me a Jersey country club vibe.”
Ursula touched the shirt. Oh, right. This wasn’t hers. Xavier’s dress shirt was the only clean one she had in her closet, and she threw it on this morning. The cotton fabric was well-loved under her fingertips and against her skin. Despite being drunk that night, Xavier had been so gentle helping her out of the soaked dress and into dry clothes. She remembered the unspoken want that shimmered in his eyes when he accidentally caught a glimpse of Ursula in her underwear.
He’d turned too soon and seen her standing there in his unbuttoned shirt.
He’d flicked a quick glance over her body and inhaled sharply.
Xavier had buttoned up the shirt delicately as if he were covering a valuable statue, his hand lingering a beat too long on the last button. His finger grazed her chin. She’d closed her hand over his and grasped him. He leaned down and pressed his lips against her knuckles, his curly beard tickling her skin. Need zinged through her. Xavier whispered good night and left her to sleep. She’d lowered herself onto the bed’s edge and stared at the closed door, wanting him to stay.
It had taken fifteen minutes until the need eased away.
“Earth to Sula!” Gwen stood in front of her with her brow raised.
Ursula blinked the memory away. “How’s your Smitten going so far?”
“It was terrific.” A deep blush came over Gwen’s face. “There was a cute centaur who just had to sing me a love ballad on the sidewalk—and you know how I feel about horses and… I lost track of time. I’m glad my dress helped you. Where is Oceana?”
Ursula winced. “You name your dresses.”