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Kennedy cracked open the cover. A musty scent drifted upward. She flipped through the pages. "Holy crap, it's a real love spell. A chant to Earth Mother. Hysterical."
Arilyn snorted. "Spells are just imaginative ways of trying to control our future when we feel completely lost and misguided."
"I dare you to try it," Ken threw out.
Arilyn looked at her like she'd gone nuts. "What? I don't need a love spell, I'm perfectly fine in my current relationship. Gen, Jane, and Kate are engaged. You, my dear, are the one who needs to find Mr. Right."
Jane giggled. "Remember when you were young and you did the Ouija board thing? We always gave triple dog dares to try to conjure up dead celebrities." She gave a mock shiver. "Those things creep me out. I'm scared of them."
Gen shrugged. "If I wasn't engaged I would give it a shot. Go ahead, Ken. I triple dog dare you."
Ken pushed the book to the side of the table. "I think true love has stolen your brain cells."
"Oh, come on. We don't do anything crazy anymore."
Kate chuckled. "Remember when we smoked that joint from my mom while we watched 9 to 5?"
Arilyn hiccupped. "That was hysterical. Half of the night is one fuzzy, pleasant blur."
"Hey, you cut me out of that one," Gen said indignantly.
"You were working," Kate reminded. "Plus it's illegal. We can get away with stuff like that--we're not doctors."
"Oh. Well, then I get a do-over. Let's do something tonight."
Kate laughed. "Like what? Drugs are out, I'm done breaking the law for a while. We're already drinking. And it's not like we can streak naked through the streets of Verily."
"Hmm, that's not a bad one," Kennedy muttered.
"Not going to happen."
"Let's all do the spell together!" Gen shouted.
Kate pressed her fist to her lips. Closed her eyes. Then whispered, "I did it."
Ken stared. "Did what?"
"The spell. I completed the love spell."
"Before Slade?"
Kate nodded. "Yep. Not that I think it has anything to do with me and Slade ending up together, but it was a bit weird. So I'm not doing it again."
Jane laughed. "I'm not doing it either. I'm head over heels for Tim, and I don't want to screw it up."
Gen waved her hand in the air. "I'm happy too, but I'll do it. Arilyn? Ken? You in?"
"You want to do it here?" Ken asked. "Now?"
"Sure. Read it aloud and tell us what we need."
Arilyn nibbled on her lower lip. "I don't know about this. I really don't believe in the occult or spells or false deities."
"Come on, A, please? For me?"
Arilyn seemed to notice Gen's excitement over doing something silly and girly, and finally nodded. "Okay, I'm in."
"Yes! What do we need to do?"
Kennedy flipped through the pages. "We need two sheets of paper each to make a list of all the qualities we need and want in our soul-mate. We burn one, then go home and slip the other under the mattress." She paused, reading through the rest of the short book. "Then we chant something to Earth Mother." She recited the words.
"That doesn't sound bad," Arilyn remarked. "Like a blessing and gratitude to the earth. I can do that."
Gen scrambled off the floor and disappeared down the hall. She returned with a paper, pen, and a tapered candle. "Kate, can you grab a pot from the kitchen?"
Jane laughed. "You guys are crazy."
Gen distributed the paper and pens. "Now everyone make their lists."
Kennedy spoke up. "It says not to think too long. Just trust your inner gut and write from the heart."
She bent her head and wrote the number 1. What did she want in a soul-mate? What did she need? With the pleasant buzz of the margaritas softening her barriers, and the comfort of her friends around her, she didn't try to rationalize or ponder too hard. She wrote down the qualities of the man she'd always dreamed of in her secret soul. Qualities no man could really possess, of course. But she played fair and didn't try to get around the instructions. After all, that was the main rule in a girl's game. Treat the game with respect no matter how silly you may think it is.
After they filled out both sheets of paper, Kate lit the candle and placed it inside the steel pot. "Okay, Ken, read out the chant and we'll put our papers into the fire."
She recited the short phrases, and Arilyn and Gen followed. Then the papers caught flame and shriveled to black. Little pieces flew and drifted into the air as the fire burned. Everyone watched in silence until the last of the paper disappeared.
Ken stuck out her little finger. "Pinky promise we all take the second sheet of paper and place it under our mattresses when we get home."
"Pinky promise," Arilyn said solemnly.
"Pinky promise," Gen said.
Ken dropped her hand. They all stared at each other, as if for one second they almost regretted the impulsive, juvenile actions of a love spell.
Almost.
Then Ken burst into laughter. Everyone followed, until tears streamed down her eyes and Gen swore she peed her pants.
A love spell.
As. If.
"YOU LOOK WEIRD, DUDE."
Nate stared at his brother. He was flanked by his two buddies from the job site, who were already wasted. Connor tipped back his third beer and studied him over the bottle. Nate reached for patience and responded. "Weird how?"
"You cut your hair. Chicks dig rocker hair. Now you look normal."
"Normal is good."
"I guess. And why do you have that stubble around your mouth? You coulda borrowed my razor."
Nate took a sip of his beer, wiped the table, and stared at the pretzels in the wooden bowl with trepidation before deciding to forgo them. He rarely succumbed to communal bowls of food. Too many people didn't wash their hands and as a result spread a crapload of germs. "It's a goatee. I'm growing it out on purpose."
His brother blanched. "You're not getting girly on me, are you, dude? Metrosexual or some stuff like that?"
"No. Just changing up my look before my mixer."
"Okay. Going to the gym is cool, though. You do weights?"
He avoided his brother's gaze. "Yep." No. I danced around like a girl to reveal my inner goddess. So humiliating.
"Good, gyms are great to hit up women. Any prospects yet?"
"Soon."
The waitress came back to the table. "Another round?"
Connor reached out and placed a hand on the curve of her denim-clad hip. "Absolutely, darlin', keep them coming. But make sure you come check on us often. I haven't seen such a beautiful face in a long time. You inspire me to be a better man."
Huh? That didn't even make sense. Wasn't that from Jerry Maguire or some chick flick? Nate waited for the scowl or her disgusted expression from such a lame line. Instead, she beamed and winked. "Part of my job, honey. Make sure you keep the tips coming, too."
Connor laughed and leaned back in his chair. "Saucy one. May have to ask her out."
Irritation hit. How the hell did his brother get away with this crap? Nate would've had a black eye and a pending harassment lawsuit by now. Kennedy would've killed him for such an approach. Was it just the bars? Maybe a different level of social interaction was expected at these establishments?
He decided to ask. "Hey, have you ever had a woman turn you down?"
His brother snorted. "'Course not. I keep telling you, Ned--ugh, Nate--just compliment their physical beauty and be direct. Women hate flowery shit, pussyfooting around, and a man who's afraid to make a move. Got it?"
No. "Yeah, got it."
Jerry clinked his bottle against Connor's. "Nice to see you here, Ned. Taking a break from rockets to slum with your brother?"
Connor punched his arm. "Call him Nate."
"Oh. K. Hey, I heard you put in the application for the supervisor position. What's that about?"
Connor shrugged. "I got the time in, know the jobs, and handle the men well. Why not?"
