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‘Our date that started twenty minutes ago?’

‘What? No, I thought we were meeting in the pub at one.’

‘We were. And I’m here.’

‘But it’s⁠—’

‘Twenty past one, Jamie.’

‘No… It’s only just gone twelve. I’m looking at the clock.’

‘Has it stopped?’

‘No, I’ve been staring at it willing the minutes to go faster. It’s definitely moving.’ He swore not quite under his breath. ‘Just clearly not as fast as it should be.’

‘Maybe the battery is going?’

‘Maybe.’ Jamie sounded less than convinced, and she thought he muttered something about someone meddling. But who would do something like that? ‘I’m really sorry, Amrita. Please believe me. Leaving you waiting was one of the last things I’d want to do. I can be there with you in ten… maybe fifteen minutes.’

‘I’ve got a patient straight after lunch. I think I’m just going to settle up here and grab a sandwich.’

‘I really am sorry, Amrita.’

‘It’s OK.’ Jamie sounded so sincere that she really wanted to believe him and give him another chance. ‘We can try again another day.’

* * *

Jamie hung up the phone and glowered at the clock. It was clearly ticking, the movement looking smooth and roughly as it should. But now that he looked closer, he could clearly see the tell-tale glimmer around the second hand. ‘I thought you were helping to push us together. What the hell are you playing at?’

The clock seemed to hesitate for a second, before starting to tick again. He tried to go back to work, to capture the magic that had been helping the drawings flow more smoothly, but it evaporated through his fingers along with his good mood. When he looked up again, the clock had barely ticked off five minutes.

Annoyed, he stuffed his phone in his pocket and headed towards the town centre – grumbling at himself for the cheerful and optimistic moment that morning when he’d decided to enjoy the walk into work instead of driving. If he hurried, he thought he might get lucky and steal a few moments with Amrita.

But neither luck nor magic was in his favour, and by the time he made it into the town centre, all he saw of her was her car leaving. Feeling more annoyed and confused, he headed away from the pub, letting his feet decide where they wanted to take him while his brain puzzled over why in all of earth and magic it would seem like he and Amrita were being pushed together one moment, only to find them missing each other the next – and with magic seemingly forcing them apart.

He stomped along the uneven cobbles, hoping the vibrations up his legs might somehow help shake him loose from the confusion and irritation fogging up his brain and stopping his magic from working.

Apparently his feet decided the best place for him was Ophelia’s shop, so he headed inside, hoping to find a friendly face – maybe Katie or Mia would be there.

Mist twined around his ankles as soon as he opened the door, forcing him to reach down and pet her or risk being tripped up. ‘Hey, pretty girl, don’t suppose you’ve got any advice or explanation as to what’s going on?’

Mist twitched her tail twice before sauntering off and jumping up on the shop counter.

‘Silly cat!’ Lunar swooped down and zipped over the counter where Mist made a half-hearted swipe at her. ‘Clever birds!’

Jamie laughed and winced as she landed on his head, sharp claws digging in as she leaned forward to peer at him upside down, a murderously sharp beak uncomfortably close to his nose. He lifted his arm slowly, and released a nervous breath as she stepped onto his wrist. ‘Good bird.’

‘Good bird, bad clock. Tick-tock, ticky-tick-tock.’

‘You know about that?’

Mist looked up from washing her paws for long enough to make a disdainful sound.

‘There’s not much she doesn’t know.’ Aiden grinned as he came out from the kitchen at the back of the store. ‘Hey, mate, how’s it going?’ He looked over to the counter as Mist mewed and grumbled slightly. ‘Really?’ He pulled a face and turned back to Jamie. ‘Sorry to hear you’re having some… very Hudsbury challenges.’

‘Ticky-tock-tock,’ Lunar added sympathetically, and was answered by some purring mewls from the counter.

‘Well, if the timing isn’t right yet, then it’s not right.’ Aiden shrugged. ‘However frustrating it is, you’ve got to trust that the magic knows what it’s doing.’