Page 35 of The Soulmate Bakery

‘And, as my first way of helping you, I’m going to do this,’ Sofia said, and then shouted across the beach. ‘Silas!’

For a girl who was so petite, Sofia had the voice of a loudspeaker. Either that, or she charmed her voice to be louder. Regardless, I saw Silas’s head jerk towards the sound of his name. Then his gaze landed on me, a smile tugged at his mouth, and he was walking over to us.

I turned to Sofia, but she was gone. Literally, all I saw was her wings – a glitter of gossamer lost in the crowd. I couldn’t even hiss her name before Silas was standing before me.

He had changed into his jersey, his hair was all damp and windswept, and the gold rings around his blue irises burned brighter.

‘You made it,’ Silas said, grinning.

‘I made it,’ I echoed, because it was easier to repeat what he said than trying to make my own conversation.

‘I’m glad, because now I get to tell you: you’re my good-luck charm,’ Silas said, and there was an earnestness in his voice that made my stomach flip.

‘That might have been the macaroons,’ I added, with a little laugh.

Silas shrugged and then looked around. A sudden seriousness slipped into his expression. ‘Could we talk alone?’

I nodded, unsure of what alone meant. But Silas seemed to know. He took a few steps back and beckoned me to follow him down the beach. I hardly believed I was going to be alone with him for the first time ever. We walked close to the shoreline, waves lapping at our feet.

Finally, when the party was just a speck in the distance, Silas stopped and turned to face me.

‘I wanted to apologize,’ Silas said in one long breath.

‘Apologize?’ I asked, entirely confused.

‘About what Trent said today. I just wanted you to know that I didn’t – I don’t – think you’re cursed.’

‘It isn’t your fault,’ I replied, heart all soft and gooey at the fact that he even thought to apologize. ‘But thank you for apologizing anyway.’

‘Well,’ Silas said, looking less serious than before. ‘Thank you for absolving me, but I suppose I do have an ulterior motive.’

He said that a little wickedly, and I felt my heart rate kick up. ‘Do you?’

‘Now that I’ve apologized, I could say that you and I –’ he gestured between the two of us – ‘are friends?’

‘We’re friends,’ I confirmed, with a steadiness I did not feel.

I’m in love with you, pretty sure you’re my soulmate, but, OK, friends will do.

‘So, you’ll come to the next game? I need my lucky charm cheering for me.’

There was no way I was going to say no. Not when he levelled that smile at me.

Before I agreed, Orion’s words flashed in my mind.

Build common ground. Once he notices you, get him to like you. Make a connection with him, find similar interests. That’s how you build a strong foundation in a relationship.

‘Depends,’ I said, after a moment, rocking on my heels thoughtfully and playing it cool. ‘Think you could help me with potions?’

His face dropped a little. ‘I’m an awful pick for that. I’m not great at potions.’

I smiled. ‘Neither am I. Guess we could be awful together?’

His laugh was loud, and that sound felt like a victory on its own.

‘All right, Maya,’ he replied, smile still wide on his face. ‘Let’s meet up for a study session. How does next weekend sound?’

Like it couldn’t come soon enough.