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Farrah giggles. “I’m a love witch. Of course, I can—and I really don’t need to know more than that, especially if you’ve been hanging out with who I think you’re hanging out with.”

“Is it one of your siblings?” Scarlet looks back and forth between us. “Which one? I have fifty bucks on Auggie.”

“You just lost that bet,” Farrah says. “It’s⁠—“

She seems to stop herself, and I’m not sure if she’s just remembering that I’m there or if she realizes she’s about to dish out my personal information. Honestly, I’m just relieved she hasn’t told them already, considering how much she’s been meddling. The three watch me with varying levels of interest, and…

I let out a long, slow sigh. “It’s Sterling.”

“Transfer the fifty dollars now,” Victoria says.

I guess that explains who Scarlet has been betting on my love life with.

“It’s new,” I blurt out, relieved to have someone to talk to. “And just sex. But it’s really, really good. He’s the only guy who’s ever been able to make me come.”

It’s hard to believe what I’m confessing, considering what Sterling said. He loves me. Yeah, right. No one loves me.

I’m the good time girl. That’s all I’ll ever be and all I want to be.

I’m sure what he really meant to say is that he loves having sex with me, which is a sentiment I can get behind, but I’m still kind of annoyed at him for saying it. Farrah can’t find out about what he said. I have a feeling Sterling isn’t the only one in his family who gets a little ahead of themselves.

Must be an inherited trait.

They gasp.

I continue, keeping the conversation on safe topics. Sex. “I mean… I’ve always liked sex, but I usually have to take control to get where I need to go, you know? It’s nice to give it up for once. I’ve never been able to do that.”

“Can’t relate.” Victoria takes a delicate sip of her tea.

“I don’t know if it’s going to go anywhere.” I give Farrah a pointed look. She’s flushed from the cheeks down. “So don’t get any crazy ideas.”

“I’m not,” Farrah says. “I’m just glad you’re getting along better. I know he was threatened by you at first.”

He and I haven’t really addressed that part of our friendship—relationship? What will happen if either of us gets the leadership position in the coven? I won’t mind if it’s him; he deserves it more than I do. There’s no way it’s going to be me, not unless my magic comes back. Fast.

If Jewel offered it to me before I recovered my magic, I’d have to give the position to him. That’s all there is to it.

“Why wouldn’t anything come from it?” Scarlet asks. “You found someone who makes you come. Don’t waste it.”

Farrah shudders. “Can we stop talking about my brother doing that? I have so many regrets.”

“You started it,” I say, flipping my hair over my shoulder. “But I’m really good at finishing it, aren’t I?”

“That’s what Sterling said,” Scarlet deadpans.

Farrah throws a straw wrapper at her, and we all burst into laughter, even Victoria.

I’ve always been a firm believer in love at first sight, and this is no exception. The moment I see it, I know it’s supposed to be mine.

Vintage maple wood. The kind of mirror that makes you look good on your worst days. Plenty of spots for jewelry. Gold hardware.

It’s the vanity of my dreams.

I can’t believe it took me this long to check the shop out. It’s small but beautiful, so full of old trinkets I had to force myself not to buy.

My room is still painfully plain even over a month after moving to Starbrook, and little things like this can be what fixes that. Maybe it’ll make the cottage happier, too, knowing I’m putting more effort in. She’s been in a good mood lately, but there’s always a feeling that we’re one tipping point away from something else happening.

I still don’t fully understand her, but something tells me she’s a material girl. She’ll like the vanity.