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“Details about what?” Lucy asked with a laugh, dipping a chip into salsa.
“Grayson!” Simone said. “What else?”
“I definitely catch a vibe whenever I go to the store,” Alba added, sipping her lemonade.
“He’s so blond,” Simone said.
“Fantastic hair. Makes you just want to run your hands through it,” Alba agreed.
“Michael’s hair used to be like that,” Simone said with a sigh. “Now he’s old.”
They all laughed.
“It’s really soft,” Lucy said, the words slipping out before she realized what effect they would have. Simone and Alba both gasped.
“LUCY, SPILL!” Alba shrieked. The men looked over, alarmed, but Simone waved a hand, and they went back to their conversation.
“Mami!” Esme cried, covering her ears.
“Hush, baby, Mami needs to hear the drama,” Alba said.
“And just how do you know the softness of that man’s hair?” Simone demanded.
“Lucy, tell us everything!” Alba demanded
“Ah! There’s nothing to tell!” Lucy said, hiding behind Esme. They laughed.
“Well, whatever is going on between you two, I support it,” Simone said, popping a chip into her mouth.
“Wholeheartedly!” Alba agreed, sitting back in her seat.
“Get that dick,” Simone said. Lucy burst out laughing.
“Thank you so much,” she said, wiping her eyes. They only grew more ridiculous as the evening went on, all of them delirious from absurd conversation and giggling.
Grayson came over a little while later to bring them slices of cake, instantly charming them, and the teasing and questions only grew worse. Lucy could only hide behind Esme for so long!
Despite how much fun she was having, she was glad the night was coming to an end. Lucy didn’t quite know how to respond to the ladies’ curiosity. Do you like him? Does he like you? What’s going on between you two?
She didn’t have the answers to any of those questions.
Before everyone got ready to leave, Charles stood, lifting his nearempty glass.
“A toast for my grandson,” Charles said, the skin around his eyes crinkling. “I wish my beloved Soph and Claire and Ed were here to see what a fine young man our boy has turned into. I know they’d love him just as much as I do. For you, Grayson.”
Grayson’s blue eyes were shining, his lower lip trembling. He got up and gave Charles a hug. Before he sat back down, he lifted his glass as well.
“I’d like to make a toast to all of you,” he said, clearing his throat. “Thank you for coming out tonight and, beyond that, for welcoming me here in Little Brook. I finally feel like I’m home for the first time since my parents died.” He turned to Lucy, something on his face she was too scared to decipher. “And a special toast to Lucy for the extrawarm welcome.”
He must have been joking—she had been so awful to him, especially when he’d first arrived—but his expression was genuine. Everyone stared at her. Mateo had a smug smile on his face, and she could practically feel the glee radiating off the ladies.
She felt a bit of it radiating off her, too.
The warmth stayed even as she drove over to Charles’s for the after-party, which was witches only, plus Grayson since he was the birthday boy.
When Lucy arrived at Charles’s, they were already inside. Grayson let her in, and she grinned at him, eyebrows wiggling.
“Are you ready?” Lucy asked, chucking off her coat and boots and heading straight for the kitchen. Grayson followed behind her, and she noticed he’d changed his socks so that they were matching.
