September 6, Friday
I COLLAPSED onto the porch swing, phone in hand, desperate for a dose of normalcy. As soon as Frida answered, a wave of homesickness washed over me.
"Well, if it isn't the Witch Whisperer," Frida said.
I laughed, already feeling lighter. "God, I've missed you. How are things there?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. Rats in the subway, tourists in Times Square, and way too many people trying to sell me their mixtape. But enough about me—what's the latest from Witch Central?"
I took a deep breath. "Where do I even start? The graveyard was vandalized, there's an Atlanta detective poking around, and I just paid five hundred dollars to a kooky tour guide for cryptic warnings about town secrets."
"Blah, blah, blah. Let's get to the important stuff—how's the hottie stonemason? Please tell me you've let him chip away at your... defenses."
"It's not like that. Sawyer and I are just… friends."
"Uh-huh. Seriously, Josie, when are you going to let yourself have some fun? It's been months since the Curtis debacle."
At the mention of my ex, my mood soured. "Have you seen his latest posts?"
She sighed. "Unfortunately. That loser couldn't write a grocery list."
"Thanks, but a lot of people actually believe he wrote my last book."
"So... have you looked into that curse we talked about?"
I gripped the phone. "No. Things have been crazy here."
"Excuses, excuses. You're living in Witch Central, USA. If you can't find someone to hex that asshat there, where can you?"
I laughed despite myself. "I'll get on that, I promise."
"Now, back to this Sawyer situation. When are you going to make a move?"
I sighed. "It's complicated, Frida. There's clearly a lot he's not telling me. Plus, I'm leaving in a few months. Getting involved would be a bad idea."
"Or it could be exactly what you need to get your mojo back. A steamy fling with a mysterious, muscular man? Sounds like the plot of your next bestseller to me."
"You're incorrigible," I said, but I was grinning.
"Hey, I gotta run. Now go get your witch on. And remember—if Sawyer offers to show you his wand, say yes!"
I was still laughing as I hung up. Leave it to Frida to put things in perspective. Maybe she was right—I'd been so focused on the mysteries in Irving, I'd forgotten to enjoy the adventure.
As if on cue, I heard the rumble of Sawyer's truck approaching. My heart did a little flip. Friends or not, there was no denying the man had an effect on me.
Maybe it was time to embrace a little magic.