AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Adam watched her sip until it was gone. “And?”
Lucy searched inside her head, her body, looking for a sign something had changed.
She felt exactly the same.
“Ask me another question.” She braved the risk, hoping he’d go gentle on her.
He leaned on the bar, arms spread and elbows locked. He held her gaze with an intensity that made her glad she had sat on the stool. “Okay. Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
The look on his face said he hoped she was lying, and she realized he had no way of knowing that she was telling the truth.
“It didn’t work,” she said, just to make things clear. “I still can’t lie.”
But did that mean she wanted to lie about having a boyfriend? Did he want her to lie?
She shook away the confusing thoughts.
Adam frowned, and she couldn’t tell what had disappointed him: the answer to his question or their failed experiment. “Maybe it’s a midnight thing.”
“A what?”
He began clearing bottles from the bar. “A midnight thing. You know, in fairy tales the spell lasts until midnight... That kind of thing.”
“Huh,” she mused. “I hadn’t thought of that, but it could make sense. I mean, it is my birthday; maybe this is some kind of twenty-four-hour curse or something.”
He shrugged with an ironic nod. “Sure. That definitely makes sense. Maybe you should consider the true-love’s-kiss option too, if we’re following fairy-tale logic here.”
She pinched the lemon wedge that clung to her glass and threw it at him. “You’re the one who brought it up.”
“Yes, and you’re the one knocking back hard liquor before noon in the name of spell reversal. If you’re going to keep throwing fruit at me, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
“I— Sorry.”
He smiled. “I’m kidding. See, I am perfectly capable of telling mistruths, and I am enjoying your company, as odd and demanding as it may be, so the last thing I want is for you to leave. But I am going to hide the watermelon wedges.”
A smile warmed her face, and she couldn’t be sure if it was Adam the bartender or the goblet of booze she’d just swallowed that was responsible for it. Maybe a little of both.
She found herself not wanting to leave either; something about his presence felt reassuring. Safe. But she knew she had to go if she was going to make it to lunch on time. She reached in her tote for her wallet, and Adam held up a hand.
“On the house.”
She paused, elbow deep in her bag. “You sure?” She was happy to pay, but if he was giving her a pass on Westside drink prices, she was going to take it.
“Completely. I can’t charge you for a drink that didn’t work.” His smile was both sweet and sarcastic, and she found the combination irresistible.
“Thank you.” She pulled herself away before she thought of a reason to stay.
He waved as she walked away. “Thanks for stopping by, Birthday Girl. I hope you rediscover your sense of amorality. Good luck with your important afternoon!”
She shot him a glare and pushed back into the sunlight.
Outside, she checked the time and debated if she could make a pit stop before returning to her office to meet Joanna before lunch.
True love’s kisswas suddenly wailing in her head like a siren, and she needed to see Caleb. Luckily, his office was nearby.
In a snap decision, she changed the destination in her rideshare app and texted her boyfriend.
I need to see you. Dropping by your office.
