Getting in trouble with the Board of Elders is never a good thing. Romy’s off to a rocky start, and I’m pulled into it too.
I don’t give a shit. I’ll defend her and her right to do her magic any way she wants as long as it’s within our values.
There’s no way they can remove my powers for this. That’s ludicrous. That would be reserved for grievous wrongs.
I killed my family, and they didn’t take my powers away then. Why would they do it now?
A few months ago, I wouldn’t have cared. Magic was worthless to me. But now…
Despite Ziggy’s threats, I can’t help the intense pride I feel for Romy. She made an impression even if they didn’t like it, and it’s because she’s smart and determined. She doesn’t give up even when things get hard, and she’s always trying to fix things and make things better.
I have a couple of meetings this morning, and I focus on work instead of Romy until it’s lunchtime and I can take off. I head to the Loop and find parking, then jog to the restaurant since I’m running late thanks to goddamn traffic. I meet her at Murphy’s Pub, an old-school place with dark wood, red leather seating, and low lighting. She’s already in a booth and waves at me.
Just seeing her lights up my insides. Her bright smile, her happy eyes… She’s beautiful and surprising and fantastic. I lean down to kiss her before I slide into the booth opposite her, and I have to force myself to not extend the kiss into pushing her down onto the seat and climbing on top of her.
Her eyes sparkle as I meet them across the table. “I feel better now.”
“Me too.” One corner of my mouth lifts.
“What’s wrong?” Her eyebrows push together.
“Ziggy called me.”
“Oh shit. Was I that bad?”
“Well, sweet thing, you definitely got their attention.”
“That’s bad, isn’t it?”
“Who knows?” I slide a menu closer to me.
The waitress arrives at our table, and I order fish and chips. Romy gets a Cobb salad.
“Okay, tell me how it went from your perspective.”
She tells me about the interview and the things she’s been doing with apps. “I thought I was showing initiative. I always get rated highly on that on my performance reviews.”
My lips twitch. “I guess this is sort of like that.”
“But I didn’t mean to insult them. It seemed like I offended them.” She sighs. “I guess I came on too strong.”
“Considering you’re brand-new, maybe so. Obviously I know you didn’t mean to insult them. But they don’t. They don’t know you as well as I do.”
Our lunches arrive, and we spend a minute arranging things, having our water glasses refilled, and picking up cutlery.
Romy gazes at me as she stabs her fork into an avocado chunk. “So what do I do?”
“Well. I totally get where you’re coming from.” I share some of my discussions with Joe about improving our business using technology. “And after spending time with you, I don’t see that you’re hurting anything. Keeping things the same just because that’s the way we’ve always done it isn’t a good strategy.”
“It isn’t in business. We always say those are the seven most expensive words: because we’ve always done it this way.”
I laugh. “Yeah.”
“But… a coven isn’t a business.”
“That’s true. But that’s not to say we couldn’t learn some new things.”
She sucks on her bottom lip, lowers her chin, and looks up at me through her eyelashes. “So you’re on my side?”
My heart knocks around in my chest. “There aren’t sides. We’re all witches. But yeah… I support you, Romy.”
Her eyes glisten. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“Maybe just slowing down might help. Backing off. Give everyone a chance to absorb what you’re doing.”
She nods eagerly. “I can slow down. Should I apologize to them?”
“That probably wouldn’t hurt. You can tell them what you told me—that you didn’t intend to offend them. Explain your motivations.”
“Okay. Thank you.” She takes a deep breath. “I feel better now.”
“Finish your lunch.” I nod at her barely touched salad. Meanwhile, I’m plowing through the fish and chips.
“Can I have a fry?”
I blink, then grin. “Sure.”
She reaches over to snag one and pops it in her mouth. “Yes, I am that girl. I will order a salad and steal your fries.”
“You can have all the fries you want.”
Our eyes meet, and somehow this discussion makes me feel closer to her. Like we’re on the same wavelength. I