Page 94 of Enchanted to Meet You

“Have youseenhim?”

“Stop it, Derrick. Is it because he founded the World Council of Witches?”

“For starters.”

“Because she believes it’s better to keep the existence of magic secret?”

“Not at all. Because she, like me, agrees that it’s too exclusionary. Magic is everywhere and in everyone. It isn’t an inheritable trait. But Brewster is so proud of having magic on both sides of his family—Mom chose a little bittoobig of a loner when she picked out Bart’s dad—he made inheriting it the first of the nine rules of his organization.”

I thoughtfully fingered the amulet I still wore at my throat. “And the symbol of Gaia as its insignia.”

“Yes.” Derrick’s eyes narrowed with regret as he looked down at my throat. “She wasn’t too happy about that decision of Bart’s, either. But itisa protective symbol. I didn’t lie about that. I know I should have told you the absolute truth from the beginning. But she—I—we both didn’t know how you’d react. And you have to admit, it sounds—”

Completely insane?That’s what I’d been about to say when a huge burst of applause came from behind the dining room doors.

Then they broke open, and a flood of people came streaming out, most of whom went straight toward the bar. Like clockwork, Randy the bartender reappeared from the kitchen,along with several of his colleagues, and began taking cocktail orders.

I bit my lip, looking around. I saw Billy headed straight for me. “This isn’t the best—maybe we should continue this conversation another time. Like... tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?Jessica. You can’t be serious.” Derrick’s fingers were on my skin again, but this time taking my hand, the look in his eyes pleading. “I—”

But he never got to finish whatever it was he’d been about to say, because a rainbow-haired meteor hit us out of the blue, crying my name.

“Jessica, Jessica!” Gabby threw her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. “Thank you so much! Because of you, I won! I’m a Harvest Princess!”

She was, indeed, wearing a crown of dried roses, spray-painted gold, with gold ribbons trailing down the back. Although the thorns had been removed, the leaves were still a bit stiff, and pointy enough to jab me all the way through my bra as she clung on to me.

Still, I hugged her back, wincing against the pain. “Congratulations!”

“It never would have happened if it weren’t for you,” Gabby said, releasing me finally to dash tears of joy from her professionally made-up eyes.

“It would, actually.” Esther, who’d followed along behind Gabby, wore her seemingly permanent expression of wry amusement. “Only nine girls showed up in the end. There were nine crowns. So you all won.”

“Stop it, Essie!” Gabby’s mother had followed her daughter into the bar area as well, and now she smiled gratefully up at me. “Gabriella would have won anyway, no matter how many other girls she was up against.”

“She would,” I said. “And just to be clear, contests that judge women on their looks are sexist and limit—”

“Dad!” Gabby’s shriek of joy was so piercing it nearly broke my eardrum. She darted through the throng toward a balding older man in a business suit. He threw his arms around first her, and then his wife when Mrs. Aquino joined them.

“Sorry I was late,mija,” Mr. Aquino murmured affectionately into his daughter’s hair.

I was startled from my enjoyment of this family reunion by Billy saying my name. He seemed to have got his facial coloring under control. “Jess, how are you? So glad you could come. Are you thinking about joining the club? I’m on the selection committee and I’d be happy to put in a good word for you—”

“Uh, no, thank you,” I said. “Just here supporting a friend. I don’t exactly own a yacht. I only own a car thanks to you.”

“Do you like it?” His smile was wide. “I know it’s not the same as your old car, but it has some impressive features. The amount you’ll save on fuel alone—”

“Iloveit.” I couldn’t help being aware of Derrick’s burning gaze.

“And you know you don’t have to own a yacht to join the Yacht Club,” Billy assured me. “There are all sorts of membership privileges besides reduced dockage fees—”

“You know what? I left my phone at my table with my coat.” I gave him a smile that wasn’t nearly as wide as his, but at least I tried. “I’m just gonna go grab them. But we’ll talk later, okay?”

“Oh.” His face fell. “Okay.”

I spun around and headed quickly back into the dining room to snatch up my things. I just wanted to put on my coat, make sure Esther had a ride home with the Aquinos, then head out—alone. I needed some time by myself to clear my head.

Derrick and Bartholomew Brewster were the sons of Gaia?