Page 16 of Flirty Fall Fling

“Shit. I’m so sorry,” Josie says, rushing to clean her mess. “How do I become a witch? Do you offer apprenticeships?”

“I’d like to become one too,” Winter quickly adds.

“You don’t just become a witch. You’re born with the gift or you’re not,” I explain.

Josie sticks her bottom lip out and playfully pouts.

“I can teach you the craft and maybe help you unlock some of your natural abilities,” I add. “Readings and spell-making are the things that are learnable. It will take a lot of studying.”

“I can handle it,” Josie says, smiling. “I know a shit ton about crystals and stones. It was kinda my thing back home.”

“I trained as a psychiatrist.” Winter shrugs. “I’m great at reading people.”

“I think you’ve both got qualities that could help people.” I glance between them.

What surprises me is how badly I want to share this with them.

Teaching the craft while I’m still auditioning for the town title feels like I’m skipping steps. But neither of them is questioning my skills. They’re looking at me like I’m the one with the answers.

“Is that a yes?” Winter asks.

Last year, Flora predicted I’d pass the old ways down, and I laughed. It seemed ridiculous, considering I’d barely kept up with my practices while I worked full-time at Cozy Coffee with my two best friends. Now Autumn and Julie have found the loves of their lives, and then there’s me.

I smile back at them. “Yeah.” I nod and laugh. “Let’s do it.”

“Thanks for being our Yoda. We won’t let you down,” Josie squeals.

Winter nods, calm, like none of this was ever in question.

“We’ll start with the basics first. Learning crystals, cards, then continue with constellations. Then we’ll tackle more advanced topics during the winter and spring, when we’re slow in the shop. Oh, I have some books you both should read, the same ones Flora made me start with.”

I move into my aunt’s study. As I reach out for the knob, the door opens on its own, almost like it’s welcoming me inside. My boots click across the wooden floor, and I stop in front of the tall bookshelf that goes to the ceiling. I search for the beginner books and find them near the top. I climb up the wood ladder, knowing I was the last one who read them.

“Hello, sweeties,” I say when I see what I’m searching for.

They’re leather-bound antiques, worn from reading. They remind me of an old library and summers spent in Pine Haven.

“I only have one copy of each of these,” I say, moving toward them. “Pick one to read front to back and then switch. Once you’ve taken it all in, we’ll start with lessons.”

“I’ll finish this in a week,” Winter tells Josie.

“That’s perfect,” she says, and I hand the books off.

Charlie pushes open the door and jumps onto the windowsill. I reach out to pet him, and he runs away.

“Just let me love you.”

“Men,” Winter says, and the three of us laugh.

“The guy who paid you fifty thousand dollars—was it the guy from last week?” Josie asks.

“Oh, you met him?” Winter leans in. “And? Tell me the truth because you know Blaire won’t.”

“He’s hot,” Josie admits. “Familiar, like a celebrity, but I haven’t been able to place him yet. I know I’ve seen him somewhere though.”

“I honestly think he just has one of those generally attractive faces. You know how the rich guys hang out at the ski resort in the fall. But I’d agree, he’s attractive. He’s the perfect height, and he has a really nice smile. But he seems very spoiled and entitled.”

“Aren’t all Prince Charmings?”