‘In that case, you definitely didn’t dance,’ lied Effie. ‘Neither you, nor Sabine.’
Alana twined her fingers around Tessa’s. ‘Absolutely no dancing. I promise.’
In fact, according to some of the patrons, Sabine had danced up such a storm that she’d had to leave. Effie made a note to check on her in the morning.
‘Well, in that case, how about we give the people their Trivia Night?’ said Tessa. ‘I’m going to sit this one out. Give everyone else a chance to win that not-so-vegetarian meat tray, for once. Besides, I’m going to be too busy opening my new business to find the time to cook it.’
Effie raised her glass. ‘I’m so proud of you, Tessa, really. And I bet if I ask the Friends of the Library, they’d be happy to sponsor a craft night appearance or two. Paid, of course.’
‘Seconded,’ said Theo, toasting with his malbec. ‘I’ll even volunteer my services if you need crochet support.’
Tessa beamed. ‘Really? Thank you! Here, let me give you my card.’
She passed him a card decorated with a potato-stamp print.
Theo chuckled. ‘Love it.’
By the time Effie had finally extricated Theo from his new fans, the gin from her drink had started to go to her head. She was feeling slightly uninhibited, a sensation that was not particularly familiar to Effie, who liked to keep things buttoned up and manageable. After all, life was unpredictable enough, and Effie didn’t need to add to it.
She led Theo outside, to the quiet spot with the Balinese love seat where she always found herself hiding when Bonnie twisted her arm into visiting the bar. Rose bushes and flower baskets shrouded them from the other patrons.
‘Ah, the best seat in the house,’ said Theo, as they settled in beside each other. He placed his malbec down on the table in front of them, scooting aside a tea candle in a hurricane vase. ‘This is where I hid that first night as well. That feels like years ago now. I barely remember any of it.’
Effie swallowed, thinking of how he’d chosen the memory of their meeting to give up.
‘Good years, though, right?’ she murmured, looking down at the candle.
‘Mostly good. With a few strange moments.’ He nudged her thigh lightly with his knee.
Effie broke her gaze from the candle, turning instead to meet his green eyes. ‘That’s what happens when magic is involved. Things get weird.’
‘You don’t say.’ Theo chuckled. ‘But I think I might like weird, actually. I can’t say I hate the idea of making my home in a place filled with haunted libraries and spotty-eyed dogs throwing themselves at me. And the occasional witch.’
‘I never threw myself at you!’ exclaimed Effie.
Theo’s eyes sparkled with mirth. ‘Those were two separate sentences.’
Effie exhaled slowly. ‘So, you’re definitely staying.’
Theo regarded her seriously. ‘Would you like me to?’
‘Is it up to me?’
‘Not entirely. But I’d never presume to tread on a witch’s territory.’
Effie grinned. ‘There is nothing that no mere mortal man could do to tread on me.’
Theo chuckled. ‘I love your confidence.’
‘My confidence?’ Effie had never been accused of having that. She’d founded the Low Self-Esteem club in middle school.
‘Always do, always have.’
Effie regarded him, amused. ‘I was always under the impression that Bonnie was the confident one. I’ve always been the opposite.’
‘From where I’ve been sitting, it’s the other way around. You seem to know exactly what you want. Exactly how things should be. Your moral compass is like one of those witch pendulum things in your secret cellar. It knows precisely where it’s going.’
Effie considered this. ‘Perhaps that’s true.’
