Page 60 of Meet Cute Magic

But even if I lost money tonight, I know I’d want to do it again. Tonight has given me the same feeling I felt years ago in school when I’d spend the night with my friends in someone’s basement, playing around a table. Laughing, giving out tips, trading cards, and enjoying this nerdy community, it’s what made me want to turn this place into a business, but it seems the fun has gotten lost in my quest to create a successful business. I need to find that balance again. Maybe it’s just like Rosie was saying about magic needing balance: my life needs it just as much.

“Hey, babe,” the woman in question says, as if she knew I was thinking about her. She comes to me, and my eyes follow her, warmth moving through me. Despite my being an ass to her this afternoon, she’s been on it all evening, making sure everyone is having a good time while I handle the gaming and sales aspect of things. That balance has also been felt tonight in this aspect, with Rosie being the effervescent, personable host, answering basic questions, ensuring everyone had a drink or snack, and introducing people if someone looked lonely. If I’m being honest, she’s a big part of why this whole night not only felt doable, but like something I’d want to recreate. Gratitude takes over me, bubbling over until I need to have her in my arms. I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her into me, pressing my lips to hers. As seems to be the way, once she’s in my arms and once my skin is on hers, the world calms.

She giggles against my lips and pulls back, looking at me with the most joy-filled smile, and for a moment, I can see it. A future with Rosie where this is normal for us: she helps me with my events, I come and fix her heater, and we spend all of our nights together. Where she calms my nerves with a simple kiss and a confident word, where…

But like a tidal wave crashing over me, I remember that this isn’t that.

This is not a daydream about a future together type of relationship.

I knew that to be the truth a week ago, two weeks ago, but this might be the first time I’m forced to come face-to-face with that fact, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

Thankfully, Rosie speaks, and I don’t have to think about that much longer than necessary.

“Do you mind if I take a couple of the girls across the way, let them have some late-night shopping?” She tips her head toward a group of three women who came with their boyfriends tonight. One waves at me with a smile, and I nod my head before turning to Rosie. “They’re a little bored—not that this isn’t the peak of entertainment, but—” I smile, cutting her off with another soft press of my lips to hers.

“It’s not for everyone. I get it.”

“Anyway, I was talking to Carlie, who came with Steven, about the new shifter romance I got in last week, and she said she couldn’t find it anywhere because it’s been sold out. Then Grace heard we were talking about books and, well, one thing led to another. I thought it would be a fun way to keep everyone even more content.”

Didn’t Rosie once say something about a gamer boyfriend and a reader girlfriend being the perfect pair? Maybe there’s something to that, a way for our shops to work together in the future.

Or just a good way to explain why you two work so well together.

“Of course. That’s smart—I’d appreciate it. I definitely want to do this again, so I want to make sure everyone has a great time.” She gives me a wide smile, pressing another kiss to my cheek before stepping back, then giving a thumbs-up to the women behind her. Then she moves to the side of the room where a few other guests who aren’t participating are chatting. She talks to them, pointing to the women near the door, then across the street, and the others nod. Another woman and a man, whose girlfriend is sitting at a table absolutely destroying Ryan, following her. She waves at me before ushering the group across the way.

CHAPTER 21

Rosie

23 days until Halloween

“That was a lot,” Jack groans, falling onto the couch in his apartment above the shop.

“Yeah,” I say with a wide smile. “But it was fun.”

And surprisingly, it was.

Or maybe it’s not surprising at all, since I’ve found I always have fun with Jack.

I flop on the couch next to him, and I snuggle into his side. His chest rises and falls with a deep breath, and warmth and calm wash over me as his own body eases beneath me. I thought about using my magic a few times throughout the day to ease the stress he’d been feeling, but decided against it, and I’m happy I did. I wanted him to do this on his own, feel and harness those nerves, so when his next event came, he knew he could do it. His arms come down to pull me closer into him, and I melt further into him, my hand lifting to brush along his arm.

Tonight was perfect, really. Ryan came early, and even though Jack felt weird about it since he was technically a guest, he helped a ton. He helped some attendees find what they needed, taught different game rules, and, of course, hyped Jack up the entire time. I knew they would get along well, since Ryan is outgoing and friendly, if a little overly excited sometimes, but they’re an even better match than I could have imagined.

And once Jack got over his nerves and social anxiety, he was the perfect host, and it was a blast watching him in his element for once. He knew the answer to every question, was able to guide players into ways to use their cards more efficiently, and was the king of the party. Each time someone complimented him, a deep blush burned over his cheeks, so unused to anyone complimenting him, and it was sweet.

When a few of the partners who came to support a player showed interest in going across the street to check out my shop, I also couldn’t stop thinking about what a perfect match our shops could be. My mind started buzzing with ideas about joint event nights, maybe an occasional book club and a game night at the same time, though it would probably mean I wouldn’t get to hang out with Jack. My hand continues to roam over his arm absentmindedly as we sit in silence, my mind roaming over ideas.

It seems Jack’s mind is also roaming with his next words.

“I’m sorry, I don’t want to…” I look up at him when he starts and see a blush burning over his cheeks. “Do anything. Tonight was a lot. If you want to leave, I totally understand.” I give him a soft look, then try to sit up, but his arm tightens around me, making it so I can’t leave.

“That’s fine,” I say with a shake of my head. “I have nothing going on for the rest of the night. Unless that’s code for hey, get out, I want to be alone. I won’t be offended in the least.”

He looks at me with a bit of shock on his face, and I try to understand where it’s coming from before he clarifies.

“No, no. I just meant… you know, if you had any expectations… I don’t want you to be, uh…” His blush becomes somehow deeper, and I have to fight a laugh from leaving my chest, not because I want to make fun of him, but because he’s just so freaking sweet. “Disappointed.” A beat passes before I shift to straddle him, holding his jaw in my hands and smiling down at him, seeing the exhaustion mixed with accomplishment written clear across his face.

I understand now where he’s coming from. The fact of the matter is, we’ve never spent time together without doing something. But still… “We don’t have to fuck all the time, you know that, right?” That blush burns brighter.