“Here, you can stand out here. Your driver’s name is Jeff, and he drives a gray Honda Civic. Nice knowing you, Clover.” I shove her out onto the front porch and lock the door behind me. This house is eerily quiet, and I consider telling Stevie that I did it on my own and that I didn’t need her help. That her advice was shit and magic can help me solve all my problems. I don’t think so, at least I’m mature enough not to do that. What I really need to do is give Ryan this potion before he meets with Dax tonight.

I know I promised Dax I would tell him if I left the house, but how do you say ‘I left the house to poison your son with a potion so he would forget I existed so we could be together’? I don’t think there’s a Hallmark card with anything like that on it. I look down at my phone, knowing that Ryan will probably be getting to the restaurant at any moment. How the Hell am I supposed to get him to eat it?

I park my car in the parking lot of Lucia’s, just waiting for Ryan to get here. My plan is faulty and I know that, but desperate times and all that. I watch as Dax hops off his motorcycle, looking hot as fuck. I made sure to park in the corner so he wouldn’t see my Jeep. When he takes off his helmet and shakes his hair out, I almost want to come out of hiding and tell him to give me a ride and forget about dinner.

With what could be the worst timing of the century, Ryan pulls up in his BMW and parks right next to Dax and gets out of his car.

Okay, plan B. I watch as Dax and Ryan enter the restaurant. Knowing I will need to put it on his food somehow. Here’s to hoping that he orders something with Pesto.

I wait about five minutes until I know they’re seated and I enter the establishment from the employee entrance. Shockingly, I don’t get any questions as I glance through the kitchen door to see where they’re seated.

“What table number is that? I forget,” I ask one of the sous chefs.

“Table twenty-one.”

“Thanks,” I reply, nodding my head before I grab an apron to fit in.

“Who are you?” one of the workers asks.

“Filling in, Hex is shut down for renovations. Lucia asked me to come fill in.”

The man looks down at me. He’s skinny, tall, and he literally looks down at me over his large nose. His dark eyes looking at me menacingly.

“This is my kitchen, don’t fuck anything up.”

“You got it,” I say. As soon as he walks away, I wait for the waitress to bring their order to the back.