Page 30 of Spell Ya Later

Witches have gatherings like farmer’s markets and I’m only finding out about this now? Do we have fashion shows? A bowling league? A roller derby team? A book club?

“Close your mouth, sweetheart. You’re a beautiful girl, but not when you gape,” Grandma says.

I promptly shut my mouth. “I’d be happy to join you, Grandma. Will we close the shop for the day?”

She nods. “We leave in an hour.”

With that, she turns on her heel and heads for her office.

“Wait!” I have to ask; if I don’t, I run the risk of being murdered. “Can we bring Laura?”

Grandma laughs. “If you can convince your mother.”

The fact that we’re in our twenties and have to convince ourmotherto let us out is ridiculous.

Screw it. I’m not going to continue catering to my mother’s control issues. I’m going directly to Laura.

Hazel: Wanna do something witchy with me?

Laura: I don’t even need to know what you mean. I’ll be there. When?

Hazel: One hour. Come to the shop.

Laura: Thank you.

“So, where are we going?” Laura bounces up to me and Grandma right as Grandma’s locking the front door of the shop. It’s a seasonably warm afternoon and my belly is full of You’re Good in Bread.

Life is good.

Grandma raises a brow as she gives Laura a hug. “Hazel didn’t tell you?”

“I apparently didn’t need to. Laura dropped everything and came running.”

Laura sighs. “I’m not that desperate, Hazel!”

“You had me fooled.” I laugh at the way her eyebrows crease. She deserves the ribbing after all I do for her.

“Let’s get going, girls. Into the car.” Grandma shepherds us into her car, waving her hands.

Laura scoffs. “We aren’t going by broomstick? How lame!”

I snicker from the passenger seat as Grandma narrows her eyes. Being the favorite is so much fun.

We driveto an abandoned field in the literal middle of nowhere. There is nothing, not even a stray haybale or bouncing tumbleweed. Just space.

“Are you sure you have the right place?” I ask, eyes raking over the emptiness.

Grandma raises a brow as she parks the car. “Do you really think magical creatures would meet somewhere that allows anyone to stumble upon them?”

Okay, so that’s a good point. Humans wandering into a witches’ market would probably be very, very bad. Horrible. Salem horrible.

We exit the vehicle and Laura comes up close. I’m her safe space, always have been. We follow Grandma as she confidently strides forward.

“Here. Follow me.”

And she vanishes.

“Did she just—?” Laura grasps my hand in surprise. “So fucking cool.”