Chapter 38 #3
Cal takes a slow sip of his beer, never breaking eye contact with me.
When he sets the beer down, his gaze darts to Lyric, and she shrugs.
He folds his arms across his chest. “You had a vision in which you don’t have a vision, so you think a random hookup breaks your curse?
What, you pick a guy out of a hat and see if you can kiss him? ”
“Not exactly.” I tear little squares off the napkin under my glass.
Lyric leans across me. “She thinks it’s Dane. That he’s the one. Her true love.”
Cal’s scowl is immediate and intense. “Fuck that.”
I clutch my hands to my chest. “Please, Cal, I need your help.”
“To let Dane into your pants? So he can fuck you? No. What the hell are you thinking? Stay away from him.”
“I’ll do anything you ask if you help me. I’ll go to your cousin’s wedding. I’ll wash the firetruck. I’ll… I don’t know. I need your help. Please, Cal.”
“Sienna…” He pulls his baseball cap from his head and scrubs his nails through his hair.
It’s mesmerizing to watch the long strands fall across his eyes. He has the kind of hair women envy, and he uses it as a distraction whenever he can.
Like right now.
“You hate him. I get that. But you’re wrong. If he can break my curse, can’t that be reason enough for you to help me? You know how distressing the visions are.”
“Did you see his face? In your vision. Does it have to be him? It could be affected by some other factor. The Veil or the Moon? It’s almost All Hallows Eve. We haven’t had a new moon on Halloween for twenty years. The timing—”
“I told you everything I know.”
“So, it could be anyone. Anything could break your curse.”
“Love is the strongest magic, so I’ve always thought I needed true love. My soulmate. Maybe that’s him. Or he knows some other way to break the curse. He’s older, his magic is different than ours. He might know a loophole.”
“Sienna, this is a bad idea.” He bends the bill of his hat like he is imparting his frustration into the fabric.
“My vision needs to come true. Please. It will be a lot less humiliating if you help me because my only other option is to tell Dane I had a sex dream about him. I’d rather not seem that desperate. Please, be my friend and help me out.”
He jams his hat back on his head and sweeps his fingers over his ears to control the wayward strands.
An adorable little tuft sticks through the hole above the strap and drapes across his forehead.
His eyes sweep to Lyric’s. I glance at her, but their gazes are locked.
They’re communicating something they don’t want me to know.
I hate that Lyric can speak with him telepathically. It’s not fair.
I want telepathic abilities instead of prophetic ones.
His shoulders fall. “I can’t. Not like this.”
“Like what? What did you just say to each other?” Ugh. I hate not knowing. Dumpy third wheel, here I am.
“Calvin.” Lyric lifts her eyebrow. “You can.”
“My only other choice is to watch her beg Dane out of desperation?”
I wince. “I wouldn’t say—”
“Help her or watch her tell Dane about her dream. Those are your options.”
He chugs half his beer and thuds the glass on the table. “Fine.”
I fling my arms around his broad shoulders. “Thank you. I promise you won’t regret this.”
“Oh, I already regret it. What do you need from me?”
“Be my fake boyfriend. Trigger the rivalry to get his attention.”
“Fuck, Sienna. That’s how…” His gaze jumps to Lyric’s again. His eyes plead with hers.
I wave my hand between them “What are you two saying to each other?”
He waves his hands. “I won’t do that. Anything but that.”
“She needs you,” Lyric says.
“I will not be her fake boyfriend. End of discussion.” He waves at Rowan, and his beer fills.
Lyric leans back in her chair. “I guess that’s that. Desperate flirting, it is.”
“Please, no.” I grip Cal’s arm. “If you won’t pretend to be in love with me, help me practice flirting. Please. I don’t want to look desperate.”
“That’s a great idea. Be her safe space. Teach her how to flirt.” Lyric pops to her feet. “There’s a shifter I think I’ll let take me home.”
“What? It’s not even five,” I protest. “You can’t leave.”
“What can I say? I have a lot of energy to burn off. Besides, it won’t look like you two are getting cozy if I’m the third wheel.”
“Coward.” Cal mumbles.
“You two have fun.” She wiggles her fingers goodbye and saunters to the bar. The shifter’s hand slides to her ass as she whispers in his ear.
“How does she do that? Why is it so easy? Why can’t it be that easy for me?”
“It’s the Siren in her blood. Trust me, few men can resist the call.”
“Have you ever… is Lyric… does her song…?” I don’t want the answer to the question, but if there’s a thing between Cal and Lyric, I won’t get between them, even for a chance to break my curse. I’m selfish, but not that selfish.
His eyes pin themselves to the tabletop. “My heart’s fixed elsewhere, so her song doesn’t affect me.”
“Elsewhere?” I bump his shoulder. “Why don’t I know who this mystery woman is? Spill. Who do you like?”
His Adam’s apple bobs rhythmically. “What’s your plan?”
I waggle my finger. “You can’t get out of this one so easily, McNamara. Answer my question, and I’ll tell you.”
“Good night, then.” He stands.
I grab his forearm and tug him into his seat. “Fine. Call my bluff. I’ll let you get away with this now, but once we’re done breaking my curse, you’re telling me about this mystery crush.”