“I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not.” She returned his smile.

“You’re right. I’m not.” He continued to look into her eyes, and then he was pushing one of his hands back through his hair. “Katie,” he said as if reminding himself why they were meeting. He opened the folder on his lap. “Any concerns?” His demeanor changed from light and flirtatious to serious.

“No.” Lina shook her head. Even if she had concerns, she wasn’t sure if she’d remember them. She’d been flirting with Dr. Drayton, and she felt a stab of guilt at the realization.

Katie gnawed on her thumbnail as she sat on a chair beside the desk in her bedroom, watching Emma, who was lying on her bed reading a section in the magic book Katie had snuck from her grandma’s house. “Well?”

Emma raised her eyes. “You have to do it,” she said. “Can you imagine if it works?”

Katie felt a tingling of excitement in her chest. “I have a feeling it will, but how am I going to get a piece of his hair?” The spell called for a few strands of Matt’s hair. “Everything else is easy. One of us can just ask him his birthday.” She’d seen him twice since the night they met, and although they hadn’t really spent any time alone, she had talked to him enough to feel okay about asking him his birthday.

Emma’s eyes returned to the book. “So we just need his hair and your hair and a Bible. Maybe you could pretend to want to brush his hair or something.”

“I can’t imagine him letting me touch his hair.” He looked like someone who spent a lot of time perfecting his spiky look. “Does he ever spend the night at your house and do his hair?”

“He does spend the night,” Emma said. “So he must do his hair. Next time he spends the night, you should spend the night too.”

“I wish,” Katie sighed. “You know I’m not allowed to do sleepovers.”

“Oh right. When is your dad going to lighten up? You don’t even drink.”

“I should have gone to Megan’s stupid graduation party. I think he’s still annoyed I stayed in my room the whole time.” Katie thought he wouldn’t notice, but instead he tried to force her to come out of her room. Then her mom had said something to him and he didn’t bother her for the rest of the night.

“So how long will it take for him to fall in love with you?” Emma asked. “I mean once the spell starts.”

“I don’t know,” Katie said. “My grandma said it depends on how much I believe. The stronger my belief, the faster the universe will respond.”

Phil was off with Logan at an early lacrosse game the following morning, and Lina was enjoying a few extra minutes of sleep when Katie entered her bedroom demanding a Bible.