Page 106

‘Right.’ Katie grabbed Mia and dragged her back outside. She glared at her friend for a few seconds, before launching into the expected tirade. ‘I tried to warn you against him. I know he’s charming and a wonderful guy, but he’s had years of dodging commitment like it’s a sport and he’s training for a gold medal…’

‘I know.’

‘You have your plan.’

‘I know.’

‘Your great, storybook-worthy romance.’

‘I know.’

‘He’s nowhere near good enough for you…’

‘Katie, you were right.’

‘I know, so why are you wasting your time with him when he…’

‘No.’ Mia grabbed her hand. ‘When it’s right, that first kiss is mind-blowingly hot, sweet, sexy and life-changing.’

Katie’s mouth dropped open, her speech forgotten.

‘What’s up? Mist got your tongue?’

Katie burst out laughing. ‘As if she’d mess with me!’ She shook her head. ‘But seriously. Life-changing? Aiden?’

‘I’ve never felt that when I kissed someone before. It was magical, Katie, in every sense of the word. Please, instead of worrying, just try to be happy and excited for me and let me enjoy this.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘In all the craziness that’s happened recently and everything that’s changed with learning about magic… Aiden is the reason I stayed calm and could accept it. He’s not just a friend… I’m not sure he ever was “just” anything to me. He gives me a sense of security and understanding… of peace. When I’m down, he makes me feel happy like no one else ever has – just by being around. And he lights me up, Katie. Literally, it seems, because we’re in Hudsbury and that means nothing is quite normal.’

‘Ugh, you really do like him, don’t you?’

‘I really do.’

‘So I have to be nice to him now?’

‘Probably.’

‘And I should stop torturing him?’

‘Definitely.’

‘You know I had a whole speech worked out, don’t you?’

‘I had guessed.’ Mia laughed. ‘But you could always scold the pumpkins.’

‘True.’ She laughed. ‘Though I think they pay less attention to me than Mist does!’

‘This really might be one of the best movies I’ve ever been to.’ Aiden dropped a kiss onto Mia’s shoulder, making her sigh.

‘That’s funny, because I was just thinking I’d probably watch it again sometime because I haven’t a clue what’s happening.’

‘Me neither.’ Aiden shrugged.

‘But you just said…’

‘I didn’t mean the actual film.’ Aiden chuckled and took another sip of his wine. ‘I mean all of this. I feel completely spoiled. You made me dinner…’