“Blasphemy,” I say, mocking a gasp. A smile quirks up the corners of my lips as I pull out one piece from the dead center. I grab a corner piece for myself and hold it up. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” he echoes, making a fake clinking sound when he taps his brownie against mine. “Here’s to cracking the case, Detective Walsh.”
I laugh and take a bite, the chocolatey goodness melting over my tongue. We go through another brownie each, chatting about investigation strategies. Benton suggests we split up the guest list and interview our classmates as witnesses. I begrudgingly agree, and we head back toward my room.
My phone goes off again, and I finally pull it out. “Hang on a sec,” I say, unlocking my screen. There are three texts waiting for me. Two are from Gemma, but the first...
It’s from Morgan.
MH:You busy tomorrow?
Warmth spreads through me, but I can’t tell if it’s excitement or nerves or something else entirely. Before I give myself time to overreact—Is she asking me out? Is this a friend thing?—I check Gemma’s texts.
GG:Morgan is freaking out over here! What are you waiting for?
GG:Hannah. When the girl you have a crush on asks you out, it’s polite to respond.
My face burns. So shewasasking me out.
HW:Should I say yes?
“Everything all right?”
“Huh?” I glance up from my phone and find Benton staring at me. “Yeah, fine.”
Benton finishes the last bite of his second brownie and wipes his fingers on his jeans. “What’s that look about?” He tilts his head to one side. “You look all... embarrassed.”
“It’s nothing.” I tuck my hair behind one ear, trying to avoid Benton’s questioning stare. I don’t want to rub this in his face, butwe’re supposed to be friends, right? We shouldn’t have to dance around each other because of an impossible crush, one he’s promised to get over. “It’s that girl from the party. Morgan. I think she just asked me out.”
“You think?”
Before I can respond, my phone lights up.
GG:OMG of course you should!!! You two would be so cute together.
I bite my lip and turn back to Benton. “You know that feeling when you’re not sure if someone wants to hang out as friends or if they’re asking for a date? It’s like that, except it can be even more confusing when you’re both girls.”
“Ah.” Benton runs a hand through his messy hair. “Yeah, that sounds complicated.”
You have no idea.I open up Morgan’s text, but my fingers freeze over the keys. Even with Gemma’s endorsement, theYou busy tomorrow?still doesn’t seem super flirty to me. Did Morgan say something to Gem about how she feels, or is Gemma shipping us because we’re the only queer girls she knows? AmIshipping us for the same reason?
“What’s wrong?” Benton asks when my hesitation extends to ridiculous lengths. “Not sure if you like her back?”
“I barely know her,” I say, which isn’t entirely true. We’ve texted a ton, but I’m worried our easy banter won’t translate when we’re in person. Most of all, I’m worried that without the crystals I was wearing at the party, she won’t be interested at all.
“Isn’t that the point of a first date?” Benton asks, cutting into my thoughts. “To get to know someone?”
“I guess.” My phone buzzes in my hand as a new message comes through.
GG:Hannah Marie Walsh! Stop stalling. Put the girl out of her misery and respond already!!!
Fuck it. It doesn’t hurt to go out and see if we click. Even if we don’t, another queer friend is always a good thing. Gemma’s great, but she doesn’t always understand everything I go through. She hasn’t even noticed how much her parents have changed around me.
I glance up at Benton, who gives me an encouraging nod.
HW:Totally free. What do you have in mind?
I watch the screen, waiting for the three dancing dots to appear. Benton and I head for the stairs at the front of the house, and as we pass the big bay windows in the living room, there’s a loud crash. I jolt away from the sound, raising my hands to cover my face, but I’m too slow. A sharp pain blooms across my cheeks and arms. My magic tries to protect me, but the binding charm keeps it locked inside.
