Page 90 of Clearly Charmed

Aster took a big gulp and licked her lips. ‘Not enough mint.’

‘Fine. You make them next time,’ Lia said with a smirk. She loved it when our quiet little sister found her voice.

‘I will,’ Aster pushed back before returning her attention to me. ‘It’s been too long since Dani had any affection. And…’ She took another sip. ‘When you two are together his color gets brighter. More intense.’ She hesitated again.

‘Finish that thought,’ Lia said, setting another full glass down next to me.

‘The bond between Dani and Bryce is different from my other matches. It’s like the more time you spend together, the stronger it grows. It’s almost unbreakable.’

‘That means what for Dani?’ Elena took a drink and shivered. She was more of a micro-brew girl.

‘He strikes me as the kind of guy who when he wants something, he’s not about to let it go,’ Aster said.

‘We don’t know any of that to be true,’ I countered. ‘What’s clear to me is that his article, saving his career, means more to him than anything that’s building between us.’

I didn’t feel the need to sugarcoat the truth for them. For too long I’d hidden issues with Belladonna from my sisters, and eventually keeping those secrets came back to bite me in the ass. I started to confess that our mother was back in town until Elena jumped to her feet.

‘Enough about men tonight. We are here to drink, eat pizza and dance.’

Lia and I groaned at the exact same time. Dance had been Elena’s minor in college. When she brought up music, it was immediately followed by the need to teach us some wild routine she’d seen on the internet.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket and synced it to my wireless speakers. A second later, a boppy tune from the 1990s blared through the room. Knowing she was always a willing partner, she reached for Aster’s hand. They started to do some intricate moves that required complicated footwork and at least two spins.

Lia nursed her drink in the kitchen, trying to blend in with the cabinets. Elena pranced over and yanked her out from her hiding spot. Lia gave me the evil eye. This was her living nightmare, and if she had to participate, I did too. I drained my glass and attempted to follow the routine Elena insisted was easy.

The mojitos blurred the edges of my raw nerves. I jumped and bounced around to the beat. Lia laughed when Aster tried to spin her in a circle. Flora barked and wobbled back and forth on her feet like she wanted to be part of the party. Elena sang along with the pop diva at the top of her lungs.

I hated that Bryce knew this was what I needed. That I’d simply turn into myself if left to my own devices. He was a pain in the ass. A problem that could not be solved, but I had to give him credit. My best friend and my sisters were a surefire cure for sadness.

One song blended into another, and we ended up in a conga line moving around the room. Lia hopped out of her spot more than once to refill our glasses. When the pitcher was empty, we turned to red wine. We laughed and danced until the doorbell rang.

Aster grabbed my hand and boogied to the stairs. When we were on the ground floor, she did a series of spins that made me dizzy, or was that the alcohol?

She threw open the door and sang ‘Hello’ to Dalton, who looked at her with amusement. He filled most of the doorway with his tall lanky body. His dark curly hair was pushed back off his forehead.

‘Uh-oh.’ He chuckled. ‘Are you having another dance party with cocktails?’

‘Maaaaybeee,’ Aster said with a giggle.

He forced his face to be serious. ‘As your best friend, I should tell you I’m offended I was not included in this revelry.’

Aster poked a wobbly finger against his chest. ‘This is a no-boys-allowed event!’

He glanced at me over her head and mouthed, ‘How many has she had?’

‘Enough,’ I said back.

He shook his head and handed me the pizza and box of wings. My stomach grumbled. I’d been so mad at the tavern I’d forgotten to eat. ‘How much do I owe you?’

‘It’s on the house.’

His mouth pinched at the corners. Aster could never keep a single thing from him, even when it came to my sad love life.

He reached gently for Aster, who danced in a wobbly circle. ‘When you’re done here, call me. I’ll drive you home.’

‘Not necessary.’ She stood on tiptoe and booped his nose. ‘This is a sleepover.’

I bit back a laugh. That was news to me.