Page 90 of Jingle Spells

The group fell silent. There was no way around it. The spell wouldn’t allow itself to be retrieved by just anyone.

“It has to be me,” Jasper said quietly. “It can only be me.”

“Yep.” Nine nodded. “The sentient coat rack has point.”

“Hey, Nine,” Delilah said sharply. “I don’t care if you are a billion-year-old pirate, don’t talk about him like that.”

Jasper smiled sadly. “It’s okay, Delilah. And thanks for trying, everybody. I can’t even express how much I appreciate it. But I’ll go to the office tomorrow, first thing. The clerk’s office opens at nine.”

“Hold on a sec,” Nate said suddenly. “He can’t go alone. By the time he gets to his office, he’ll have forgotten what he’s doing there.”

The group fell silent as they all simultaneously (and unsuccessfully) tried not to look in Delilah’s direction.

Scarlett raised her hand. “I’ll do it.” Her usually snarky tone was replaced by something different, something protective and kind. “Me and the radiator will go get the spell—it’s no problem. Right, Jasper?”

Before he could agree, Delilah wrapped one arm tightly around his. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I’ll take him.”

Jasper turned to her. “Delilah . . . maybe it’s better if⁠—”

“No, it should be us. We found Agnes together; she told us about the spell together . . . we should finish it together.”

Scarlett shook her head. “No, no, don’t either of you put yourselves through that. I can take him out there, get the spell, bring it back. Del, you shouldn’t have to watch it happen. You don’t have to do every shitty job, you know.”

“I don’t,” she agreed. “But I do have to do this one.”

“Hey, guys,” Zahir said, desperately trying to change the mood. “We’ve all noticed the forgetting spell being a bit funky, right? We wouldn’t be glutted with tourists otherwise. So . . . you know . . . maybe it won’t be as bad as we think.”

“Oh I agree,” Jasper lied. “I’m sure it’ll all work out.”

“Well, uh . . .” Zahir cleared his throat. “It’s Christmas karaoke tonight. I know we’re not exactly in a karaoke headspace right now, but the whole town is expected to participate. So, shall we head over?”

“I’m sorry, did you say karaoke?” Jasper asked. “Now? With all this going on?”

“It’s a tradition, every year on the night before the night before Christmas,” Delilah explained. “Usually, the witches use their magic to enhance their performances. Special effects, perfect-pitch spells, that sort of thing. But this year . . .”

“This year we’ll be singing au naturel,” Scarlett finished. “It’s going to be a beautiful disaster. Plus, Zahir’s right: it’ll look majorly suspicious if we don’t show up. Plus, we could all use a break from this basement, don’t we agree?”

Nate rolled his eyes. “You just want to hear Polly butcher ‘O Holy Night’ without magic.”

As the others made plans, Jasper settled beside Delilah on the basement steps, both seeking a moment of privacy.

“So, karaoke,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Are you going to sing?”

“Without magic?” she said with a grimace. “That sounds like a terrifying idea.”

“I bet you’re not that bad.”

“Trust me, I am. What about you? Will you serenade us all with a Christmas classic?”

“I was thinking something less seasonal,” Jasper replied, surprising himself. “Maybe something from the Eighties.”

“You’re full of surprises, Hopkins.” Delilah gave him a sidelong look. “A closet karaoke enthusiast?”

“I wouldn’t go that far. But it seems like a perfectly reasonable first date.”

“A date?” Her eyebrows rose. “You’re asking me on a date to a Christmas karaoke contest?”

“I am.” He adjusted his glasses. “What do you say?”