Page 36 of Spell Ya Later

A genuine smile breaks on her face. “You aren’t getting out of this conversation so easily. I won’t forget.”

If only I could be so lucky. I expect I’ll be subjected to a full interrogation at the soonest possible time. Laura has never been able to ask me about a guy before—she must be practically salivating.

“As I was saying earlier,” Grandma interrupts. “All magical apps can be found through the magical app store. Salem. It’s impossible to find without another witch assisting you. You will now find it on your phones.”

“The fun I’m going to have on the dating apps,” Laura sighs wistfully. “If only you could be my wing woman.”

A jolly knock patters the front door, saving me from Laura’s imaginings of two sisters on the prowl.

“Coming in!” a familiar voice announces as the front door opens. Grandma emerges from the kitchen to greet four women around the same age as her. I recognize one as Dotty, the woman who came into the shop on my first day.

“Ladies, I’d like to introduce you to my granddaughters—Laura and Hazel. Girls, this is Dotty, Vera, Natalie, and Penny.”

They’re like the magicalGolden Girls. Each one dressed more witchy than the next. It’s a sea of silver-blue hair, chunky necklaces, and flowing, floral dresses. It’s muumuu manor over here.

Dotty smiles at me, earrings clacking. “It’s nice to see you again, dear.”

Grandma claps her hands. “Let’s eat!”

The headlightsof Grandma’s car slice through the night as Laura and I sit in silence. She lent us her car, saying that one of her ladies would drop her at the shop for training so I could takeLaura home first. I think they just wanted to gossip alone over tea for a little bit.

Grandma’s car is doused in her scent—lavender and smoke—and it stings my nostrils with its intensity.

“Well, now that we’re alone...” Laura was gazing out the window, but now turns to me. “I want the rundown on Noah.”

I smile despite myself.

“Look at you,” her voice is laced with awe. “You really like him.”

My cheeks heat. “Yeah, yeah. What do you want to know about him?”

Laura huffs. “Literally anything! Where does he work? How many times have you gone out? Is he a good kisser? Have you let him bend you over your kitchen counter yet? Does he have any cute friends that don’t drink as much as that one at the bar?”

Jesus.

“He works at a publishing house in Cleveland. We’ve gone out twice.” I give her a pointed look. “I’m not setting you up with one of his friends.”

“Way to ignore the actual questions I want answered, Hazel.”

I sigh. “He’s a wonderful kisser.”

The shit-eating grin on her face is practically too big for the car.

“Calm down.” I laugh. “You look ridiculous.”

“I’m just excited for you. You’ve lived like a nun for the last twenty-five years and you deserve to have someone in your life who makes you happy.” If I’m not mistaken, there’s a little bit of guilt in my sister’s eyes as she says that. “Even if you won’t give me all the juicy details.”

“In my defense, for the first thirteen of those years I thought boys had cooties.”

Laura smiles. “Some boys do. Which is why you always use a condom.”

“LAURA.”

“Am I wrong? I’m not wrong. Sexual health is an important part of becoming sexually active. I had the exact same sex talk as you did and I’m telling you, surprise to literally no one, Mom left out a lot.”

I’m going to drive us into a tree to escape this conversation. A really old, big tree that would kill us instantly.

“I’ll drop you off at the shop, you can walk home,” I say.