Epilogue
“Hurry, love, or we’re going to be late!”
“I can’t decide,” Emerik says, devastatingly cute without his shirt. “Should I dress up or go for comfort?”
“If I had my choice, we’d forget the shirt and take off those pants,” I say, gathering all that bare-chested manliness into my arms. Even after a year, I’m still amazed every time. He feels so good nestled up against me, my tasty magical morsel.
“You’re not helping,” he says, pushing me away, but not too forcefully. “Really, what should I wear?”
“I’m going to wear a t-shirt. I suggest you keep it casual, since we’re going to be on our feet all day. If we’re lucky.”
“Yeah, well, you look amazing in t-shirts, with those shoulders and pecs. You could wear anything and you’d still stop traffic.”
“Thanks, love. You know, you’re no slacker yourself.” I punctuate this by allowing my hands a lusty grope of his shapely butt. “How about this? Go for maximal fun. How about that aloha shirt we bought in Maui? It really highlights your hair and those sexy baby blues.”
“That’s a great idea,” he says, lighting up but tragically extricating himself from my arms.
“Come here, my wicked witch,” I say, grabbing his arm before he can get away. “I need compensation for my fashion advice.”
He doesn’t resist at all and lays a satisfying smooch on me. I run my hands over his sleek chest and trim waist, and it takes all of my willpower not to throw him on our bed and have my way with him…again. But no, we have places to be.
He hides all that witchy splendor under his shirt and runs a comb through his hair, and we’re ready to go. Max is already by the door with his leash, anxious to start our day of adventure. Our bed will have to wait, at least for a few hours.
I take Emerik’s hand and ask, “Do you have the potion?”
“Damn it all! Give me a minute. I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached to my shoulders.”
All I can do is smile.
We arrive at our favorite French bistro only a few minutes late, and the whole crew is already seated on the patio, mimosas in hand.
“Here come the lovebirds,” Drake says. “Let me guess—you couldn’t get our sleepy witch out of bed.”
Jessica says, “Knowing my Alexander, he was the one keeping our sleepy witch in bed.”
She knows me too well. This is, in fact, exactly what happened. You know how it is waking up with morning wood, next to a boyfriend with equally insistent wood. There’s no resisting a morning romp through the forest.
Emerik, the shy cutie, is turning red, so I deflect their attention, saying, “As they say, what happens in the bedroom, stays in the…”
Jessica scoffs but thankfully lets it go. Good thing too, since she’s in the hot seat today.
Emerik plunks the potion bottle down in the middle of the table. Just like mine was, it’s fancy and whimsical, cut glass filled with sparkly lavender liquid and sealed with red wax, everything a potion should be. My lover and his coven always do everything up right.
Hazel says, “We’ve been refining this all year, so I’m sure it will go better this time.”
“I’m not complaining,” I say, reaching over and taking Emerik’s hand. I can’t seem to go a moment without holding his hand, but no worries. I haven’t had any complaints from him yet.
“Get a room, boys,” Hazel teases. “As I was saying, it should go more smoothly this time. It will last one day, and we’ve enhanced the formulation to ensure compatibility and availability. Your meet-cute…”
“Or meet-cutes,” Drake adds.
Hazel finishes, “Your meet-cutes should be better matches this time, and you can stop it any time with either a cold shower or, like our lovebirds, a true love’s kiss.”
“Sounds fine to me,” Jessica says. She looks around the table and asks, “What do you think? Should I start now, or wait until we’ve finished brunch?”
Just then, three stunningly handsome men, decked out in tight cycling gear that reveals every contour, lean their bikes against the patio railing.
“New plan,” Jessica says. “Now is good. Should I sip from the bottle, or add it to my mimosa?”
“And they got more outlandish from there,” I say to Marvin. He’s looking befuddled, and no wonder. I know from personal experience it’s not easy being under the influence of a magical potion. But no worries. If all goes well, he’ll soon be part of the gang, with a great memory to start it all off.
“Remember the ferry ride to Coronado?” Emerik asks, taking my hand.
“And the twins who professed their undying love…” Drake adds.
“...through mime!” Hazel says with a big snort.
The whole table laughs, and Marvin tries to catch up with the program.
“As I remember, you still took their phone numbers,” Jessica observes. “And dropped a hefty tip in their berets.”
“We must do our part to support the arts,” I say. “And you have to admit, they were damn cute. They joined a circus troupe, you know. I got a text from them a few weeks ago, from Paris.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Drake says. “That potion was a whopper, so maybe it pointed them to their dream too. It seems we’re doing better this time. How are you feeling there, Marvin? All okay?”
We made reservations at the same restaurant this year but added an extra seat, expecting that the new-and-improved potion would work just as well for Jessica.
So far, the ratio of meet-cutes to meet-uglies has been acceptable, but just the same, it’s been a busy day of unexpected romance.
The potion took us to the mall, the aquarium, on a short hike in the hills, and all over downtown, but it seemed obvious to all of us from the moment it happened.
The shy librarian, someone Jessica and I both know from the dog park, was the cutest meet and best match for her.
From the adoring way he’s looking at her, their budding relationship is bound to heat up quickly, and my money is on a true love’s kiss before the holiday ends.
“I’m fine, I guess,” Marvin answers, still looking lost, but just the same, he reaches over and takes Jessica’s hand.
“So, what did it feel like on the other side of the potion?” Emerik asks him.
Marvin looks befuddled, but he’s coming around.
“Honestly, is this all a joke?” he asks. “You can’t be serious. Magic potions?”
“Afraid not,” I say. “We’re in the company of a coven of witches, and they worked their magic for me last year.”
And what magic it was! Looking at Emerik sitting there, all adorable in his aloha shirt, I can’t imagine a life without him.
I’ve learned so much about my sexy witch in the past year.
He likes to play with my hairy chest, and my hairy chest is more than amenable.
He is, in fact, a lousy cook, but an appreciative eater, and he invariably demands to wash the dishes, so overall that’s a win.
Maybe most important, he can be quite the romantic himself, when I manage to drag him away from his herbs and cauldrons. In other words, he’s a keeper.
“I want to believe it,” Marvin stammers. “Really, I do, but…”
“Then just do,” Hazel says. “Life is what you make of it.”
He looks at her for a quiet moment, then his face changes, losing the lines between his eyebrows. He looks over at Jessica and I see the same look I get every time I look at Emerik, like he’s finally found the missing piece of the puzzle.
“It’s been romantic,” Marvin says in a thoughtful voice.
“Perfect. Exactly like in the storybooks. I saw you, Jessica, and Jill. She’s such a cute dog.
I always thought you and Alexander were a couple, so I never…
you know, never thought it was a possibility.
But when the ball bounced into my lap, and Jill was right there, so playful and friendly with my Argos, and you were there, looking so smart and beautiful, I knew I had to see if there was a chance. ”
“Oh, there’s definitely a chance,” Jessica says, looking happier than I’ve ever seen her.
The waiter approaches with our dessert and the entire table hushes, waiting for the show. What will it be this time? Meet-cute or meet-ugly, or something in between? Dessert in her lap or phone number written in the cappuccino? There have been so many variations already today.
“I’m sorry,” he says to Jessica, expertly depositing her panna cotta in front of her. “I don’t want to intrude on your celebration, but I have to ask. Do you take yoga down on 6th Avenue? You look familiar.”
“Yes, that’s me,” Jessica answers. “Let’s chat next time we have a class together.”
He delivers the rest of the desserts successfully, and as we’re enjoying our first tastes, Marvin turns to us and asks, “Did I really look like that? So confused and off-balance?”
Jessica says, “No, dear boy, you looked even cuter.”
I squeeze Emerik’s hand tighter and lean over to whisper, “You did good, witchy boy. They look great together.”
“I have to agree, love,” Emerik says, and gives me a playful pout. “You know, I still haven’t gotten my anniversary kiss.”
“Patience,” I say. “We have a sunset waiting with our names on it.”