Magic & Mistletoe (4 page)

“In my bedroom,” Jason called back.

Harry slipped out of his shoes and took his coat off, hanging it up along with his hat and gloves. “Alone?”

“Unfortunately yes. Why?”

“Because”—Harry marched through the living room and along the short hallway to Jason’s bedroom—“I need to talk to you.”

“Oh, did you finally ask Andrew out?”

“No.” Harry frowned and grabbed Jason’s laptop from his desk. “I never got the chance because things kept happening. Weird things.” He fixed Jason with a pointed stare. “
Magic
things.”

Jason covered his face with his hands and fell back on the bed with a sigh. “Not the girl again. I thought we agreed that was a load of rubbish.”

“No, you said it was rubbish because you don’t remember it properly. There was fire and purple lightning, and bloody magic powder!”

“Oh my God!” Jason peeked at him through his fingers, and Harry glared back. “Do you hear yourself? There is no such thing as magic.”

Harry tensed, fully expecting lightning to strike them at any second. He was almost disappointed when nothing happened.

“I don’t know what planet that girl was on, but none of it was real,” Jason insisted. “She didn’t curse you or cast some spell on you.” He sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. “Why don’t you tell me about today’s weird shit?”

Jason’s scepticism made perfect sense. Harry wouldn’t believe it either if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, but it still smarted. They’d been friends since their first day at uni—when Jason almost ran him over with his car and then insisted on buying him a drink at the Student Union to make up for it. Jason had never doubted him before. Granted, these were exceptional circumstances so maybe he should cut Jason some slack just this once.

“Fine.”

Harry spent the next ten minutes telling Jason everything, including the odd text messages he’d received.

When he finished speaking, Jason sat there watching him but not saying anything. In fact, he hadn’t spoken for a while.

“Well?” Harry asked when he couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “What do you think?”

“I….” Jason held up his hands in defeat. “I have no fucking idea.”

“I know, right?” Harry grinned for a second before poking Jason in the thigh. “Do you believe me?” He hadn’t realised how important it was that Jason should say yes. After the last few days, Harry was certain magic existed and somehow the girl in the woods had done something to him. He really didn’t want to be on his own in this. “Jase?”

“It sounds totally far-fetched and made-up,” he answered quietly, and Harry’s heart sank. “But I can tell that you believe it, one hundred percent. So yeah.” He smiled and knocked his fist against Harry’s. “I believe you.”

“Oh, thank God.”

Harry’s phone chimed with an incoming text and he was almost afraid to look at it. He gingerly thumbed open the message and read.

Aww, you believe in magic now! I feel so special. I think that deserves a reward. And you’re welcome :)

“Was it her?” Jason made grabby hands for Harry’s phone, so Harry hastily passed it over before the message disappeared.

“Why does it say ‘you’re wel—’” Jason dropped the phone onto the bed as his head snapped up, eyes wide. “Fucking hell! I remember now. She had a fireball in her hand and—” He wiggled his fingers in the air. “—lightning.”

Harry grinned at him.
Thanks.

Two hours later and they were still none the wiser. The Internet was rife with blogs about witchcraft, and Harry’s eyes began to glaze over after the first twenty minutes. The only reference to anyone called Melia and magic was in Greek mythology. The Meliai were nymphs of the ash trees, and while another search revealed there were in fact ash trees in Puzzlewood, he didn’t think the girl with the purple hair and the cloak looked much like a wood nymph. Not that Harry would know what one looked like, but he couldn’t picture them roaming around in the Forest of Dean.

“That was a waste of fucking time.” Jason snapped his laptop closed and clapped his hands. “We need a plan.”

Jason looked suspiciously like he had something in mind, and judging by the stupid smile on his face, Harry was going to hate it.

“I don’t see how this is going to prove anything,” Harry muttered as they walked down the street towards the coffee shop. Jason had been waiting for him when he got in from work, and had hustled him out the door before he had chance to take his coat off.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to test out our theory. We think that whatever she did to you stops you from saying stupid shit in front of guys you like, right?”

Harry nodded. “I guess.”

“Which is great, because you need all the help you can get. No offense.” Harry ignored him. “So, I know you quite fancy the barista in there.” He pointed at the front of the coffee shop.

“You mean Kyle.”

“I don’t know his bloody name. But yes, him. So just go in, chat him up, and see if anything weird happens. If you make an arse of yourself, then we were obviously wrong, but if you don’t, then you might get his number. It’s a win-win situation.”

“But what about Andrew?”

“What about him?”

“I don’t think chatting up another bloke is going to improve my chances with him.”

Jason deflated a little but looked resolute. “No, probably not, but it’s not like the two of you are going out or anything. And how is he ever going to know?” Harry glared at him. “Fine. Just go in there and talk to Kyle. No getting phone numbers.” Jason smirked at him and added, “Not that I think there’s any chance of that.”

“Get lost.”

Jason had a point, though. He’d never said more than two words to the guy, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of a line of customers. This time he was going to have to try and hold a conversation. Hopefully Melia’s magic—both he and Jason decided they’d better start calling her by her name rather than Crazy Witch-Girl—would save him from making an arse of himself.

“Go get him, tiger.” Jason laughed as he pushed Harry towards the door, and Harry inwardly groaned when he saw there was only one person waiting. At least he wouldn’t have an audience.

Kyle was his usual flirty, charming self. His blond hair—shaved at the back and sides, longer on top—fell forward, and he kept brushing it back with his long fingers. He had most of it tucked up under a red Santa hat with white fur around the rim, and it instantly reminded Harry of some NSFW pictures he’d seen on Tumblr that morning. He sighed, flushing with embarrassment when he realised Kyle was talking to him.

“Sorry, what?” Harry spared a quick glance behind him and caught sight of Jason sitting at their usual table, shoulders shaking with laughter.
Bastard.

“I asked if I could take your order.”

“Oh, yeah, of course. Two coffees, please.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow and gestured at the huge board behind him detailing all the many varieties of coffee they sold.

For fuck’s sake.
Harry felt his cheeks getting redder. Either the whole witch curse-spell thing was a load of shit or it only worked on one person. His phone vibrated against his hip as he ordered two lattes. Kyle took his money with a smirk, and Harry escaped to the relative safety of the end of the counter, where he waited for his drinks.

His phone buzzed again and Harry slipped it out of his pocket. The fact that he wasn’t surprised by what he saw spoke volumes about his life lately. He could practically hear the eye-roll as he read it.

I’m not helping you cheat on Andrew.

He wasn’t cheating. They hadn’t even been on a date, and never would at this rate, so Harry resented the guilty feeling now tugging at his insides. The other barista, Claire, set his drinks down in front of him with a smile. Harry muttered his thanks as he picked them up and then took them over to Jason.

Jason took one look at his face and laughed. “Come on, it wasn’t that bad was it?”

“No, but….” Harry sighed and played with the handle on his mug. “Never mind. Obviously I still suck at talking to hot guys.”

“Except Andrew. You’re definitely getting better at not pissing him off.”

“Hmm.”

“What does ‘hmm’ mean?” Jason leaned over the table and poked him. “I think progress has definitely been made.” He sat back in his seat and glanced out the window.

Harry had just taken a sip of his coffee when Jason suddenly turned back to him with an all-too-familiar expression. Harry braced himself, knowing he wasn’t going to like what came next out of Jason’s mouth.

“Speak of the devil.”

Harry looked up quickly and froze, coffee halfway to his mouth. Andrew was heading their way. He had his coat zipped, collar pulled up around his neck, wore a black beanie and gloves, and he still looked freezing. When he got inside, he shivered and then relaxed as the warmth hit him. Harry imagined him sighing in relief.

Now Andrew was closer, his red nose and flushed cheeks were easy to spot, but he looked just as attractive as ever. Maybe closer to adorable this time, especially when he rubbed his gloved hands together and grinned at Kyle.
Wait, what!

Harry watched in horrified fascination as Kyle smiled back, his eyes bright with mischief, and then Andrew laughed at whatever he said. It was like Harry’s hottest fantasy and worst nightmare all rolled into one. On the one hand, the thought of Kyle and Andrew naked together made his jeans feel tight, but unless Harry was there to see it—and hopefully be part of the action—then it was not okay.

“They’re flirting,” he hissed and kicked Jason under the table.

“Kyle flirts with everyone—even me, and he’s seen me with Karen.”

“Andrew likes it. Look at them.”

Jason shot him a withering look. “Of course he likes it, Kyle’s hot.
You
like it when he does it, so stop overreacting.” He raised his hand in the air, grinning and beckoning someone over.

Harry didn’t need to look behind him to have his suspicions confirmed. The smug expression on Jason’s face said it all. “I hate you,” he whispered.

Jason kicked his shin. “Sit up, smile, and look happy to see him.”

Two minutes later, Andrew was pulling up a chair and setting his drink on the table.

Harry looked at the red takeaway cup topped with a mountain of whipped cream, and grinned. Instead of blurting out the first thing that came to mind—“Are you really gonna drink that?”—because God only knew what would happen this time to make him stop, Harry paused and took a sip of his coffee.

Andrew darted a glance between Harry and Jason, beginning to look uncomfortable, as though he thought he’d interrupted them.

Harry took a deep breath, then gestured at Andrew’s cup. “Is that one of the Christmas specials?”
That wasn’t so hard, was it?

He relaxed a little as Andrew smiled at him and settled back in his chair.

“Yeah, it’s the gingerbread latte. I don’t normally indulge, but it’s bloody freezing out there today, and I fancied something delicious and bad for me.” His gaze caught Harry’s and lingered.

A flare of warmth filled Harry’s chest. This was flirting, right? It wasn’t his imagination.

Then Jason opened his big mouth and ruined the moment, saying, “Yeah, I think Kyle has that effect on a lot of people.”

Harry choked on his mouthful of coffee, just managing to swallow it instead of spraying it over the table. He glared daggers at Jason, who feigned innocence.

Andrew glanced over at the counter, then back at Jason, and laughed, his eyes crinkling at the edges. Harry bit his lip in frustration. Why couldn’t he get Andrew to laugh like that?

“Yeah,” Andrew said, “He’s not bad to look at.” Then his gaze slid back to Harry and his smile softened. “Not my type, though.”

And
oh
. That was definite flirting. Even Harry couldn’t mistake it for anything else.

Andrew looked away to stir cream into his coffee, and Jason took the opportunity to bat his eyelashes and pretend to faint. Harry went to kick him under the table again, but his aim was off and he got the table leg instead, spilling everyone’s coffee when the table wobbled.

Shit
. Heat crept up from his neck until Harry was positive his whole face was red. “Sorry,” he mumbled and mopped up the worst of the mess with some paper napkins. Then he hid his face by taking several sips of his drink, and hoped no one would mention what had just happened.

No such luck.

“Did I miss something?” Andrew looked between him and Jason again. Harry knew he was still as red as a tomato, and Jason sat there trying not to laugh. Where was a hole in the ground when you needed one?

“Nope,” Harry said, at the same time as Jason replied with, “Harry just tried to kick me under the table and missed.”

Jason crossed his arms, grin firmly in place. Andrew smirked, and looked to Harry for an explanation.

With a resigned sigh, Harry picked up his coffee and enjoyed the last few mouthfuls. It was only going to go downhill from here. “Jason was being a dick.”

“I think that’s a little harsh.” Jason pushed his chair back and stood. "Anyway, as much as I’d love to stay and watch you two moon over each other, I have to get back to the flat and get ready.”

Harry frowned, pretending he didn’t hear the “mooning” part of that comment, and tried to gloss over it. “Get ready for what?”

“It’s Karen’s Christmas do at work. I wasn’t gonna go, but one of her friends dropped out at the last minute, so I thought I’d tag along. I offered to drive so she can have a drink.”

“That’s nice of you.” Harry started to stand, but Jason put his hand on his shoulder as he squeezed past. “You might as well stay and keep Andrew company.” He looked pointedly over at the counter where Kyle leaned against the sink, looking hot and appealing. “You don’t want to leave him here on his own, do you?”

“No,” Harry replied a bit too quickly, and Jason laughed as he passed, patting him on the back.

“That’s what I thought.” He turned back to Andrew and smiled. “Please put him out of his misery and ask him out for a drink. I can’t take the pining.” And with that parting shot, Jason was gone, leaving destruction and misery in his wake.