AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, unless the pears are too mushy.”
“Berries?”
I shudder. “No. Too many seeds.”
“What’s the worst food ever?”
“Smoked salmon. Gross.”
“I don’t like it either. It’s the texture.” She smiles. I smile back. “Favorite food, then?”
“Pizza. Or freshly baked warm chocolate chip cookies.”
“Those are winners,” she agrees. “Not too sweet for you, I guess?”
“No, they’re buttery instead,” I explain. “I can’t manage straight-up candy, though, and I’m iffy on ice cream.”
The guy at the front calls that our order is ready, and I go get our pizza and salads.
They’re very good. We get to talking about our favorite fantasy writers again, and I’m having an excellent time. The waiter leans past Rochelle to take the red pepper flakes and the parmesan off the table, and she sits back in her chair, looking surprised. “Oh wow,” she says, “it’s almost ten.”
Really? I check the clock on the wall. She’s right.
“We’re the only customers here,” she says, and gets up. “Let’s go. I fed the cats when I got home from work, but I have to give Bing his arthritis chew.”
“I didn’t even notice what time it was,” I say. “I was having fun.”
“Me too.”
It’s chilly outside, so she walks right next to me. “Do you believe in magic?” she asks suddenly.
“In real life? No.” She doesn’t answer right away. “Do you?”
“I’m not sure,” she says slowly. “If I tell you something, will you think I’m insane?”
“Probably not.”
She talks about getting together with her female friends and doing a white magic love spell earlier in the month.
“That sounds like bullshit,” I say frankly. “I don’t think you can put a spell on somebody and make them love you.”
“It’s not like that,” she protests. “I mean, I’m not sure that this spell works, but it’s more about bringing the right people together. What happens then is up to them, I think.”
“So how do you know if somebody is right for you?” I ask.
“For anyone, or for me specifically?” she says.
“You specifically.” I want to be right for her, but I want to be myself. I want to be loved for myself. “Is there, like, a list?”
“There is,” she says. But then we’re at the Cassian, and she uses her keycard to enter. “Come up and meet the cats.”
The cats are fantastic. Bing is definitely part-Siamese, and that voice is something else. Dido’s sweet. I scratch their ears and under their chins, and even cuddle Dido to smell her fur.
Rochelle yawns. “I hate to kick you out,” she says, “but I think I have to so I can get some sleep.”
I’m disappointed. “Well. Okay. Good night.”
“I had fun, Alaric.”
“Me too.” I get off her couch and go to the door.
“Alaric? Can we walk together tomorrow?”
My smile comes back. “Yeah.”
