Mom read it and shook her head. “No, if you try to, something could do wrong.”
Chewing on my thumbnail, I wanted to let out a frustrated groan but instead said, “That’s what Sarah said.”
Mom raised a single brow. “Did you think I would have something different to say?”
I shrugged. “I was kind of hoping you would.”
She shook her head, pulled out a plant from under the table, and began working on transplanting it into a bigger pot. “Who are you trying to play matchmaker with?”
“Kristin and Shawn. I know something happened between them in the past. But they fight like cats and dogs and look at each other like they want to rip their clothes off, not their heads. It reminds me of Lucas and myself.”
“And that makes you think they like one another.”
“No, what makes me think that is the way they look at each other. When neither of them thinks anyone is watching, they stare at one another. And not just a normal kind of stare that says I hate you and wish you would fall in a hole.”
Her eyes went wide. “That’s a normal kind of stare?”
“Well, if you despise the other person, it is. But they don’t, because they look at each other like ‘I want to get you naked in a bed and do naughty things to you.’”
Mom looked up and opened her mouth to say something, then shut it for a few moments before she spoke again.
“Here’s a crazy thought—why don’t you talk to Kristin and see if she wants to do the charm?”
I laughed. “Mom, this is Kristin we’re talking about. Her pride alone would keep her from doing it. And if I can’t do it for her, I need to figure out a way to get her to do it without her really knowing we’re doing it.”
Mom blinked a few times and shook her head before she picked up some cutters and started pruning a plant.
I let out a long, exhausted sigh.
“Well, you could always get her drunk and do the spell. Worked for you and Lucas.”
Sitting up straight, I felt my face break out into a wide grin. “That’s it! Mom, you’re so smart!”
She looked over at me. “Honey, I was kidding.”
Jumping off the stool, I rushed over and hugged her. “This is perfect! Kristin will use any excuse to drink wine and get drunk!Eeeep!This is totally going to work! I need to run and get everything for the spell. Oh! Do you have fresh cloves and nutmeg?”
“Um…wait, Hollie, I think we need to slow down for a minute.”
“It’s okay, I’ll pick some up at Lucy’s. I’m sure she has the good shit!”
My mother shook her head frantically. “The good shit? It’s just normal clove and nutmeg, Hollie.”
“Got to run,” I said as I kissed my mother on the cheek. “Thanks for all your help, Mom. I knew I could count on you!”
As I made my way out of Mom’s greenhouse, I thought I heard her say, “Oh, dear, this isn’t going to turn out well.” I ignored her and rushed through the house, calling out goodbye to my dad.
I hit Lucas’s name in my contacts list and waited for him to answer.
“Hey, how was your visit with your mom?”
“Great! Listen, do you mind if I see if Kristin wants to have a girls’ night tonight?”
“I don’t mind at all. Shawn actually texted me earlier to see if I wanted to get together with a few of the guys for poker night.”
“That’s perfect!” I nearly shouted.
Lucas laughed. “You must really need a girls’ night.”
