. Grammy.
Grammy from the bakeshop stood in a tux with a bow tie, and her long white hair bound up in a bun. The godmothers were flittering here and there, and . . .
It was a wedding.
This was his answer? A wedding? This was as useless as that True Love’s Kiss nonsense.
He pinched his fingers over the bridge of his nose. “I know that love is the answer. This isn’t helpful.”
“Look again,” Hunter advised.
Phillip looked again and realized the bride wore lavender. When he tried to see any distinguishing marks, all he could see was her dress.
And Esmerelda flying next to them.
He almost dropped the ball.
“No, that’s not . . .”
Ravenna just watched him, obviously waiting for him to come to the correct conclusion.
“That can’t be right,” Phillip tried again.
“Listen, pal. I don’t make the rules. This is what the ball says. That’s your answer. Take it or leave it.”
“What? What does the ball say? I can’t see anything,” Hunter said.
“I . . . wow, so I really don’t want to offend you, but . . . ,” Phillip started. “I’m already a frog, please don’t smite me.”
“Whyever would you think I’d be offended? That implies I’d be game for this little stunt.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re right. I’m a total dick. Still. Maybe I deserve to stay a frog.”
“Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” Hunter growled.
At Hunter’s growl, Ravenna blushed and then coughed. “Well, there might be a wedding in our future. At least that’s what the ball says.”
Hunter looked the way Phillip felt: like he’d been bashed in the face with a shovel.
“I don’t know what to tell you, boys. We asked, it answered. I told you there was a price.”
“Always a price,” Esmerelda repeated.
“You two must be going. Great pâté, but I’ve got to motor if I want to get my beauty sleep. Off you go.”
“Ravenna, you can’t just drop that kind of a bomb and then . . .”
“Ah, but I can. Go on. There’s the door.”
They found themselves being shuffled out the door, and it slammed behind them.
“What the hell was that?” Hunter asked.
“Obviously not the answer we were looking for.” He clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Except you did get an invite to tea on Thursday.”
“If you’re going to marry her, it would be pretty pointless, wouldn’t it?”
“I’m not going to marry Ravenna. She doesn’t want to marry me. The crystal ball is cracked.”
“Phillip,” Hunter began.
“I don’t want to hear another word about it. Petty was right. We shouldn’t have come. At least, not about my curse. Just think about Thursday.”
But what if Ravenna was the only way he could be free?
Looking at his best friend, he knew that wasn’t an option he could take.
Hunter had been alone for a long time. He deserved to be happy. Even if that meant Phillip had to give up his only chance at breaking the curse.
He could eat a few more dragonfly wings. After all, Hunter would do it for him.
Chapter 6
Cinderella and Fella was the local dress and tux shop run by one Rosebud Briar, who seemed to be an absolute goddess with a needle and thread.
The shop itself was full of what Zuri liked to call wedding magic.
A lot of dress shops had a certain scent that she wouldn’t quite call musty, but they were unpleasant. Cinderella and Fella smelled like spring and flowers. Not like perfume, but actual blooms. Sometimes it was lilacs, sometimes it was jasmine. It was always relaxing.
Rosebud had the windows open, allowing a gentle breeze into the shop that brought with it the melodious sounds of songbirds.
Zuri was sitting at the planning table drinking a cappuccino and munching on a wedding cake cupcake for breakfast while perusing the various dress styles that Fairy Godmothers, Inc., wanted to show to each bride.
She had pictures of each bride, examples of their styles, and pictures of their wish lists, and it was easy to imagine the women in all these beautiful dresses.
Helping with the dress was one of Zuri’s favorite parts of the job. Some brides didn’t want the wedding planner’s help, but for those who did, Zuri just loved it. So much went into choosing a dress.
It wasn’t only about how the dress looked. It was about the memories that would be interwoven in the stitches. It was about the past, the present, and the future. It was about how the bride felt in the dress and about fulfilling a dream.
Zuri sighed with happiness and took a sip