Page 101 of Love Spells: And Other Non-Refundable Magic

CHAPTER 28

FLORA

Six unfinished bracelets have taken over the dining room table, and I’m supposed to be paying attention to at least one of them when my phone lights up with a message from Merryweather.

Merry

She found it first

There’s a picture attached of my earring sitting in the middle of a rumpled white sheet, with Aurora’s light gray paw reaching into the frame from the top right corner.

Merry

I think legally that means it belongs to her now because cats 100% believe in finders keepers

I’m willing to negotiate on your behalf but she drives a hard bargain

I smile at my phone.

Across the table, my mother makes a small sound that I choose to ignore with my whole body.

I’m halfway through typing a response when she makes it again, louder this time.

“¿Qué?”

“Nada, don’t be so paranoid.”

She’s sitting at the other end with her reading glasses low on her nose and her tablet propped in front of her, although she is very clearly not looking at it.

“Stop judging me.”

“Ay Flora, por favor. I cleared my throat. I have a little itch. Maybe I’m getting sick.”

She smiles and returns her attention to her tablet.

I look back at my phone.

Me

Please inform Aurora that I would like my property returned

The typing bubble appears almost immediately.

Merry

She says no

Sorry. I tried

Another picture arrives, this one of Aurora lying directly on top of the earring.

I laugh before I can stop myself, and immediately look at my mother, who doesn’t say anything, and it makes it much worse.

I put my phone face down on the table and reach for the bracelet I was working on before Merry distracted me.

The dining room has slowly been overtaken by my supplies over the last hour. Small containers of stones sit open beside coils of wire and elastic, the overhead light catching on faceted surfaces every time I move. I have four orders that need to go out tomorrow and another two I’d like to finish if my eyes hold out, which means I should not be looking at my phone every thirty seconds to see if Merry has sent me another picture of her cat.

So I don’t.