“Why do you think something’s not okay?”
“Well, normally you would’ve bombarded me with questions about last night or said something.”
“Fair point.” Lizzy glanced at me, then focused on the road again, blowing out a breath. “I wouldn’t say things areokayexactly.”
“Is this because of what Mom was saying last night?”
“No.” She snorted. “I’m used to Mom’s silliness.”
“Then what happened?” With all the craziness going on in my life the last few days, I hadn’t even thought about what might be going on with my sisters.
“Charles Bingley happened.” Lizzy scowled at the next light as it turned yellow and slowed the car down with a huff. We idled next to a few businesses with overly decorated displays. One had gone completely overboard with corn stalks and gourds, and there were at least fifty fillingthe front of the store. Another had enchanted skeletons to climb across the walls and roof of their shop.
I gave Lizzy a moment to see if she’d elaborate about Charles, but when she didn’t, I said, “I don’t understand.”
Lizzy blew out a breath and waved a hand in the air. “Jane got a text from Charles today saying he had to move back to New York for a bit and he wasn’t sure when, or if, he’d be able to see her again.”
“Wait, he’s gone? I just saw them at the party yesterday.”
“He left this morning.”
“Just like that?” My mouth fell open. They’d seemed so happy together. “So are they doing the long-distance thing then?”
“No, because they aren’t even dating yet even though we all thought it was heading that way.”
Lizzy frowned, and my stomach twisted as I remembered Mom bragging about how Jane would marry Charles. That couldn’t have anything to do with why he’d left, right?
“Is Jane okay?”
“Not really. She’s convinced that she read into everything and Charles never really liked her.”
“I’m sorry. That really sucks.”
Lizzy sighed but gave me a small smile. “It does, but thanks for being easy to talk to. Being around you always makes me feel a little better. I don’t know if it’s your magic or if it’s just you, but I’ve always appreciated it. So thanks for being you, Kitty.”
My eyes widened. Was that another effect of my power—the magic I’d been so quick to cast aside my whole life? I’d had no idea it could balance other people’s emotions. “Thanks. That means more than you know.” And since Lizzy had been open with me, maybe it was my turn. “Hey, Lizzy?”
“Yeah?” she said, still distracted, but her frustrated grip on the wheel had eased.
“Were you and Riley ever a thing?” I asked before I could second-guess myself.
“Riley and me?” She laughed. “No, why?”
“Because I thought he liked you.”
“He’s flirty with everyone, so he often gives off that impression, but we’ve only ever been friends.”
A knot inside me loosened. If Riley didn’t like Lizzy, maybe I had a chance. After this mess of a potion was behind us, maybe he and I could start fresh.
Lizzy glanced at me before returning her attention to the road. “In fact, the only person I’ve seen Riley act differently around is you.”
I snorted. “No way. He flirts with me all the time.”
“He does,” she said, “but when he looks at you, it’s not just flirty. It’s like he’s seeing something he doesn’t want to mess up. There’s this… softness in him I don’t see anywhere else.”
The words hit me like warm light breaking through a cloudy day. I didn’t know what Riley felt, not with that stupid potion muddying everything, but hearing Lizzy say that gave me hope. Was it possible for genuine feelings to form even under the influence of a love potion, or was I letting myself believe it because I wanted to?
“Really?” I whispered.
