Exactly. Layla nodded. As long as youre wearing the pink lip gloss, the potion wont affect you.
Am I wearing the pink one now? I smacked my lips and looked in the mirror. Layla had slathered something sticky on there.
She nodded. It wears off about every sixty minutes. Maybe a little faster if youre eating. Speaking of, Ive seen the way you eat. Tonight, try savoring your food. You are not in a rush to get this date over, understand? Now get a move on, and dont forget. Apply pink at least once an hour. If you ever feel unsafe, just uncork the red and itll knock everyone out around you for the next couple of minutes. The spell doesnt last long, but itll give you plenty of time to call for help.
Does this smell have a name?
Oh yeah. Layla smiled proudly. I invented it. I call it the Lip-Smacker. Get it? Do you get it, Rosie? Like lip-gloss, but when you open it, the spell smacks everyone unconscious.
I get it, I said dryly. Clever.
Have fun, Layla said. Come home with one more kiss to add to your books.
I grabbed my purse, stashed the lip gloss containers in an easy, accessible place, and headed towards the front door. Halfway there, a light popping noise startled me.
Be nice, will you? Madrina said, standing in our entrance hall. Thankfully, shed gone back to wearing her loose, flowing black robes. I see you staring at me. And if youre wondering, yes"Im wearing the new outfit from Laylas. I hope you are too; it really does give a girl some confidence.
I am feeling so confident, I said, trying to step around my fairy G.o.dmother. If youll excuse me, Im late for a work event.
Stop calling this date a work event! Madrinas bony, old fingers grasped my shoulders and gave me a good shake. If you arent looking for love, youll never find it.
Youre just quoting Layla. You spent too much time in her store today.
Or maybe she spent too much time around me, and shes quoting me, Madrina said. Did you ever think of that?
I didnt bother to argue, and this time, she let me slip around her and reach for the front door. Ill see you later.
I want that television, Madrina called after me. So chew with your mouth closed and do your best to be charming, understood? Youre my biggest hope at the moment for my television.
I rolled my eyes and shut the door behind me, though as I walked out to my car, I couldnt help a small smile creeping onto my face. Layla, Madrina, all of them acted tough, but really, I knew deep down that they cared.
As much as Madrina wanted her big screen television and Layla pretended that she wanted to make a sale on lingerie, they both wanted to see me happy. Otherwise, they wouldnt have shown up to help me get ready and wish me luck. For that, I was grateful.
Good luck tonight, Bel called. She walked towards me, turning around and beeping her car locked as she returned home late from work. Remember to enjoy yourself.
I gave her a wry smile. I dont know how. Madrinas gunning for her television, while Layla is all over me one second to kiss my date and wear lingerie, and then the next second shes handing me deadly lip gloss.
Bel smiled, her gentle face crinkle into a sunny expression. You know they love you.
I nodded. That I do. So, any last minute words of wisdom from the most famous wedding planner in the world?
Bel inhaled. I plan other peoples love, not my own, so not really?
At Bels questioning lilt, I looked up and gave a shake of my head. According to legend, Bel had been cursed from birth; shed never find love. She theorized it was that very curse that made her good at her job. She was so intrigued, so invested in others love because she believed she couldnt find her own.
Youll find someone, too, I said. We have no proof the curse is real. And if it is well, curses are meant to be broken.
Yeah, thats what they say. A flicker of sadness crossed Bels face before she looked up, her expression turning polite and happy and sunny again.
It was no wonder she made such a perfect wedding planner. The woman could compose herself into a sunflower no matter the circ.u.mstances.
Have fun. Thats the best advice I can give you, she said. If youre having fun, itll show. Itll show in how you look, how you act, and how you move. And the only way to truly fall in love is to be yourself.
Thanks, Bel.
She reached out and gave a teasing pinch of my cheeks. All masks, all makeup falls away. Its whats left underneath that matters, and your insides are you best part.
I laughed, then pulled her into a hug. Ill see you later.
Well be waiting up, Bel said. Layla and I are watching the Bachelor and drinking wine all night, so believe me. Well be ready to talk when you get home.
I groaned. Can I stay with you two?
She pointed at the car. Go now before I get Madrina to make you show up to your date.
Chapter 19.
As I drove across town, I couldnt help the list of all the men I knew to be single and available in town flick across my mind. Surely Layla wouldnt have set me up with Ernie the Shoe Guy.
Ernie was nice and all, but he was more into shoes and fashion than me. Or there was Mike, who had a reputation for being in and out of jail ever since he was ten. Again, the guy was great. Super nice guy, just not for me.
Could she have set me up with Sebastian? No, I thought. Sebastian was single, successful, and handsome. Some theorized he might be gay. I was willing to overlook that if he was good company. Hopefully it was Sebastian, now that I thought about it some more; he was courteous and intelligent and Id once interviewed him about the stock market. If nothing else, Sebastian would make for an evening full of pleasant conversation that could possibly take my mind off of everything else happening at the moment.
More than anything, I wanted a distraction. I didnt want to think about Crazy Dan, or Madrina and her television set, or poor Hank. I didnt want to sit around and worry for Jo, when I couldnt do anything at the moment. I just wanted a night so full of work that I couldnt think about anything else, a project so immersive that I was focused on saving The Witch Weekly and nothing else.
I pulled onto one of several frontage roads that connected the main drag to the Forest of Fairies. The one Layla had directed me to was a half mile away from the turn-off Id taken earlier today in an attempt to elude the Chief. When I reached the furthest point I could go with my car, I parked in a small clearing that served as an unofficial parking lot.
There was one other car in the lot, but I didnt notice it until too late. It was parked a few feet further down the road, just at the edge of the forest. The vehicle stopped me in my tracks. A cop car.
No. I shook my head and took a few steps back towards my own vehicle. Layla did not.
Are you leaving so soon? A shadowy figure stepped from just inside the edge of the Forest of Fairies, the moon glinting down onto a tired, smiling face. What are you doing here?
What am I doing here? That was it. I shut the door to my vehicle, beeped it locked, and strode towards the edge of the trees. My handy-dandy dangerous lip glosses gave me a small sense of security as I tucked my purse closer to my body. What are you doing here?
Im working, the Chief said, leaning against one of the largest, thickest tree trunks. And it seems like you cant stop ruining my work plans today.
Youre working? Im working.
I thought I told you to stay away from the case.
Im not working on your case, Im working for my own job, believe it or not. I crossed my arms. I do have a job, you know.
Yeah, writing articles. Why do you have to come out to the Forest of Fairies to write your articles?
Writing articles requires research.
Youre here for research?
Realizing that if I continued to talk, Id spill the beans about my date tonight. For some reason, I didnt want the Chief to know I was here on a date, even if it would be written up in the papers in a few days, granted that everyone made it out alive this time. Maybe. What do you care what Im doing here? Mind your own business.
I am. But if your business is getting in the way of my business, then I have a right to stick my nose in yours.
Im not here for the case! I want to be distracted from all of that c.r.a.p. Im here for a date, okay? I burst out, throwing my arms in the air. The Chiefs eyes landed on me, watching as my shoulders heaved up and down and my breath came in spurts. Are you happy? Im meeting a blind date here. Now what are you doing here? Are you meeting a date, too?
The Chief shook his head. Then he pursed his lips and truly looked at me for the first time tonight. You look really nice.
Thanks. I self-consciously adjusted the straps to my tank top and fiddled with the zipper on my leather jacket. Layla helped.
I meant you. Not your clothes. Your hair is different.
I shook it a little back and forth, then remembered I wasnt in a shampoo commercial and stopped immediately. Layla helped with that, too.
And your eyes, theyre shining. You youre very pretty.
Thanks, I said, looking down the road. So, you havent seen anyone else show up yet?
You meeting them at eight? The Chief looked down at his watch. You still got a couple of minutes.
I nodded, leaning against a tree on the opposite side of the path as the Chief. What about you?
He hesitated, as if unsure whether or not to tell me the truth. Im meeting an informant here at eight. She picked the place; said she didnt want to be seen in public.
Is this about Hank? I kept my voice low. Someone has information?
She didnt say. The Chief shrugged. But thats the impression I got. It was all very discreet very meet me here because you need to talk.
Wait a second. You need to talk? I tilted my head sideways. Did she say you needed to talk, or we needed to talk?
The Chiefs shoulders stiffened. I knew something was off. But I came anyways just in case. If it was something important and I missed the meeting, I wouldve felt terrible.
Did you get a name?
His face turned contemplative for a second. Hold on, she left a voicemail. I was in a meeting when the phone rang, and I never called her back because she gave me all the information in her message. When and where to meet.
I stepped forward as the Chief pulled out his phone, and that same spicy, fresh smell was back, attacking my hormones and making my stomach do all sorts of flip flops. I didnt have a good feeling about things as the Chief turned his phone on speaker, held it out, and pressed play.
A nasally voice rang out in the night air. Good evening, Chief, the recording spoke. Meet at the Forest of Fairies tonight. Ill text you a time and a place, but dont bother checking the number"its a burner phone. You need to talk.
You need to talk. I shook my head. You know who that was, right?
The Chief looked at the phone in his hand. Was that Layla?
I nodded.
How did I not hear that the first time? He gave a slow, sad shake of his head back and forth. And I call myself a detective.
It was very secretive, and it doesnt sound exactly like her, I said. Plus, you had no reason to think you were being set up on a date. There are weird things going on in this town, so its natural you a.s.sumed it was an informant.
She set me up on a blind date, he murmured, glancing up at the last second. With you.
I crossed my arms. Is that so bad?
Its our second date today.
I stuck out a hand and wagged my finger back and forth. I dont think so. I have to get home and start brainstorming new ideas for an article to save the company, since it appears that this dating thing is not going to work out. Im zero for two, which means if I dont start finding dates that dont die on me or turn out to be To be what?
You! I stepped forward, nose to nose with the Chief. Then I will be out of a job and Ill have to beg Layla for part time work at the store.
Is there a uniform?
I frowned.
It looked like you were trying on a uniform before for your new work project.
No. That was supposed to be for my date tonight.
So are you wearing that His eyes scanned my black skirt as it swirled around my thighs, then slid up past my jacket and finally met my face. Right now?
I huddled lower in my jacket. Maybe, maybe not.
The Chief stepped closer. If I ask you to stay and have this date with me, will I get to find out?
We were so close, our breath tangling in the night air, our lips close enough to touch, that my mind went blank. I forgot the question; I forgot the situation; I forgot everything except those eyes staring into mine filled with warmth and hope.
No, I said when I found my voice. Thats a terrible idea.
Why is it so terrible? His hand reached out and latched around my wrist.
We stood there, frozen, and not for the first time did I wonder when things between us had become so messy, so confusing and difficult. Was it back when we hit p.u.b.erty? Back when the Chief stopped thinking girls had cooties? Or was it after wed become adults? I didnt remember anymore.
I have to go to work, I said softly. I loosened my wrist from his grasp and turned away. Walking evenly back to my car, I tried my best to keep my chin up and my shoulders back.
Rosie, he called. Hang on a second.
I turned around, raising one shoulder in question. What?
Ive had a long day. So have you. Were both stressed and wound tight, and on edge. Look what Layla left us. He nodded towards the ground, where a picnic basket sat br.i.m.m.i.n.g with meats, cheeses, and a bottle of twist-top red wine. Stay and eat with me. As friends.
I almost said no again. By now, it was an instinct. However, something stopped me. The look in his eyes maybe, or the sadness weighing on my shoulders. Or maybe it was the smell of fresh prosciutto wafting over the warm pasture between us. Did she pack dessert?
He smiled. How about we take a peek and see?