Page 55 of Meet Cute Magic

Instead, I remember every moment from last night in vivid, soul-shaking detail.

The field with the moonflowers, nearly coming from dryhumping Jack. The car ride home, sliding his hands down my leggings. Coming back to his place, and my pleasant surprise to learn my shy, blushing, nerdy neighbor is anything but in bed. My core tightens as I remember it, and a small smile spreads on my lips.

“You up?” Jack murmurs, his voice low and gravelly against my cheek, and I shift, opening my eyes to see him smiling down at me. His glasses are on already, making me wonder how long he’s been up.

“Yeah,” I murmur, then try to sit up. What’s the protocol for hooking up with your neighbor who used to hate you and you’ve now dragged into the supernatural world and are on a magical quest with? I’d have to assume snuggling is off the table. But when his arm tightens around my waist, I look up at him and he gives me a soft, shy smile.

“A minute longer. Then you can run off if you want.” I stare at him for a bit, realizing he wants to snuggle. Considering I am very much a snuggler, I give in immediately.

“So last night…” I say, not looking at him, which makes it easier.

“Is something I’d very much like to redo.” My head snaps up and my eyes are wild when they meet his. His eyes are filled with amusement and his lips are tipped similarly so. “Unless you don’t…”

“No, no. I, uh…” I clear my throat, unsure of how to say what I want to say. “I do. I just… does this make things… messy?” He shrugs.

“Only if we let it be.”

That sounds simple.

Too simple, actually.

I’ve read a lot of books. Fake dating and hookups and one-night stands and friends being something just for now always ends in a mess.

But those are books.

And this is real life.

And in a few weeks, all previous relationships will be wiped from my mind and I’ll be off to find my true love.

Right?

Right. In fact, this seems pretty much perfect, if you ask me. So I smile at Jack.

“You make a great point.” He smiles back. “And it was… it was very good.” He lets out a laugh then, his smile turning to a wide grin I love seeing, before he reaches up to take his glasses off and set them back on his bedside table.

“It was. Maybe we should test it out, make sure it wasn’t a fluke.”

“Definitely,” I say in a whisper, and then I’m on my back, Jack pressing kisses down my body, and all thoughts of anything but that are long gone from my mind.

CHAPTER 19

Rosie

28 days until Halloween

“Hey, Vi,” I say, stepping into my sister’s busy bakery later that day, but despite the five or six other customers here, her head lifts, and she smiles wide at me.

“Heya, Rosie,” she says. Then her eyes move, once to the man standing next to me, a shy look on his face, and again to his hand, where his fingers are entwined with mine. “And hello there, Jack.” Her smile goes nearly debonair and knowing. “How were your cookies last night?” A deep blush burns over his cheeks, and I glare at my younger sister.

“I threw them out before he could eat them,” I say with a glare. “Don’t do that to him,” I say, giving her my sternest older-sister voice. Her eyebrows raise, and she lifts her hands in surrender.

“Sorry, sorry. I was just trying to help a sister out.” She looks from me to Jack once more. “Looks like it worked itself out regardless.” I give her yet another shut up, please look, and she sighs, then rolls her eyes. “Fine, fine. What can I get you guys?” Jack and I order drinks and pastries before he turns to me, a smile on his lips.

“I’ll let you two talk without me standing right here. I’ll wait at the end,” he says, his hand resting lightly on my hip.

“Oh, you don’t have to—” I start, but Violet nods emphatically.

“That would be great, Jack. I like you for my girl already.” Another one of his signature blushes blooms, and he smiles, shaking his head before walking off. I glare at my sister.