Sealed with a Wish (20 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

What is it about breakfast food that makes you feel so lazy? As I slogged down the sidewalk, I tried not to regret my decision to go home now, instead of hanging out at Natalie’s house with her and Raj. She lived barely a block from the restaurant, whereas I had a fifteen-minute walk home to look forward to.

Despite the heaviness in my stomach, I shook my head and plodded forward. Raj and Nat deserved some time alone. It was Saturday night, prime dating-time. Even my parents were off doing a dinner-and-a-movie combo.

Not me, though. I was going it alone, and proud of it. I looked around my quiet neighborhood, not a soul outside except for me. It seemed kind of brave and poignant: a lone girl confronting the darkness, forging her own path. (Never mind the sidewalk underneath my feet, or the brightly lit houses gleaming around me. It was the principle of the thing.)

I wondered if my dignity and independence might be tarnished if I undid the top button of my jeans. Damn those delicious pancakes.

Just then, a raindrop splattered onto my cheek like a sloppy kiss. Then another. I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head and quickened my pace. Soon, the rain was heavy enough to make me jog, even if it caused an ominous gurgling in my stomach.

One more block,
I told myself.
One more block and we’re home.

So I ducked my head and forced myself to keep trotting down the street. I had almost reached my own driveway when a stitch in my side forced me to stop. Panting, I stared through the rain at my waiting house.

And saw Sean standing in front of me.

He was soaked with rain, but he didn’t seem to notice. Music filtered out through the half-open door of his car. Even in the dimness, his eyes were as bright as searchlights.

How long had he been there? A part of me wanted to rush over, my aching side forgotten, and--

And what?
demanded my more rational half.
Leap into his arms? Kiss him for the sixth time? Yeah, right.

I approached like a skittish animal, leaving a careful distance between us. I had to shout through the music and the rain as I asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m an idiot.”

“What?”

“I said--”

“I heard you.” I smirked. “Don’t worry. I already know that.”

He took a step forward. “Layla, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I wished for Diana. I mean, I know why...” He shook his head. “It’s over, okay? The second the magic wore off, we both knew it wasn’t real.”

My mind swam with confusion, and I grappled for the first thing I could wrap my brain around. “Why did you kiss her on
Thursday
, Sean? What if I was crossing the street or something? Did you even think about that?”

I had meant for the words to come out like acid, but instead, they had a kind of wounded softness. My face turned warm with embarrassment, but I didn’t look away. I stared straight into his eyes, willing him to say something.

Not just something. The
right
thing. I hoped for it, even though I told myself not to.

“That’s why I called you. I knew you’d be pissed, but I had to see if you were okay,” he said, taking another step closer.

I didn’t back away, but I didn’t return the gesture, either.

“Listen, Diana kissed
me
. I ran into her after school. It was an accident,” he said. “I didn’t know it was going to happen, or else I would have run away or something.”

I scoffed. “Don’t give me a speeding ticket, Officer. I was just running away from a pretty girl.”

“Layla... I’m sorry.”

I crossed my arms. Shouldn’t I have turned him into a pink nematode by now? All I had to do was say the magic words.

But the way Sean stared made me feel all raw and see-through, and somehow, I couldn’t do it.

“Why did you ask for Diana?” I said, my voice small.

“Because I’m a moron.” He took a final step toward me, bridging the distance between us.

At some point, my hood had fallen back from my face, and I could feel cool water streaming down my neck, soaking into my shirt. I should have been shivering, but I suddenly felt a little too warm.

“After what happened with my parents, and then all that stuff with Natalie...” He sighed. “I wanted to forget about you, but I couldn’t. Not even with magic.”

“What? Of course you forgot about me. I know my magic worked last Sunday. I came by and...” As I tapered off, the memory of spearmint and fuzzy tummies trickled back to me.

He shook his head. “I got distracted, but it didn’t stop me from thinking about you. I’ve been trying to figure out what to say all week. I just didn’t know what to tell you that wouldn’t screw things up more.”

I blinked. Was that why he had been ignoring me? I’d thought Sean was in some kind of love daze, but really he’d just been worried about saying something wrong and making things worse between us. All I could do was gape at him, my thoughts hazy.

“Look, I don’t know what the perfect apology is. I can’t even come up with a decent wish.” Sean leaned down close enough for me to feel his breath on my skin. “But I know what I should have done, Layla. I should have wished for you.”

A shadow of a smile curled at my mouth, darting past my reserve. “Good answer.”

And then I was up on my tiptoes. My arms came up around his neck and our lips connected, jolting me like a crackle of lightning.

I had no idea how long we stood there, wrapped together as the rain pounded around us. When we finally separated, my knees were wobbly. Sean pressed his hand into the small of my back, and I leaned into him for balance.

Something dark and watery trailed across Sean’s cheeks, like dirt or ink or--

“My mascara.” I put a hand on face, sighing as it came away sooty. “I must look like a homeless hooker.”

He laughed and planted a soft kiss on my forehead. (Did that count as Number Seven?) “You’re beautiful,” he said.

“Hmm. I like that line. You should keep using it.”

“Although...” He pulled on an exaggerated version of his Thinking Face, letting the moment stretch.

“Oh, yeah?”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing you in a belly shirt sometime.” He grinned and leaned forward for Kiss Number Eight.

Just before our lips touched, I smirked and told him, “You wish.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It’s been a long journey getting this book out into the world, and as with any long journey, I’ve had a lot of help along the way.

First thanks go to my husband, Matt, for being there when I needed him and for making himself scarce when I needed that, too. Thanks to my family, always. As for readers, I couldn’t have had better. Jaimie, Marcie – you guys are the bee’s knees. There’s no way this would have happened without you two. I owe each of you 500 cupcakes, and then some.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rose David is a writer, artist, and pop-culture junkie. She lives mostly inside of her head, but when she isn’t doing that, she’s in Indiana with her husband, two dogs, one cat, and an occasional goldfish.

She wrote
Sealed with a Wish
just for you... But don’t tell the others. They’ll get jealous!

Come visit Rose on Twitter!

@TheRoseDavid