Page 25

Ivy and Conall are at the front counter, heads bent together in silent conversation.

Ivy looks up, her eyes widening in an expression of pure guilt.

It's the nail in the coffin.

Randy must be up to his old shenanigans.

"What happened?" I ask.

They share a glance as I join them at the counter.

"What did Randy say?"

Ivy hesitates before replying, "He volunteered to help with the movie night."

I was prepared for anger. For accusations. For Ivy to tell me he had threatened the little mushroom-printed plates she'd put in the corner.

I wasn't prepared at all for volunteering.

"He… volunteered?"

"Yep," Conall says as he sorts some papers on the counter.

"What—" I take a deep breath as I try to restrain my reaction. "What is he going to do to help with the movie night?"

Ivy shrugs. "I haven't really decided. Maybe decorate cupcakes or something."

"Oh."

Awkward silence ensues.

"Okay, well, I should catch up with him."

Before I reach the door, Ivy stops me.

"I'm not Randy's biggest fan," she starts, and I cringe, remembering how difficult Randy has made Ivy's life since she moved here. "But he seemed apologetic and… kinder, I guess. I mean, he was still Randy, but a little less... my-way-or-the-highway."

She shrugs.

Randy's promise comes back to me. That he'd try.

Warmth spreads through my chest at the realization that he kept his word.

For me?

Randy

The itching begins in my nose. I scratch. I figure it's allergies. But then it spreads to the rest of my face, down my neck, then across my body. Pretty soon, I'm one big itchy, throbbing mess.

As I look for Will, I catch sight of him coming out of Ivy's store, scratching along his abdomen and neck. We're both going at it. We both realize the cause.

The spell.

I hurry over to him.

"What’s happening?" I pant between scratches.

"I don't know," he breathes.