“Can you believe it?” my mom says.

“No,” I say emphatically. We’re racing back down Essex Street, my brunch leftovers dangling from my wrist in a plastic bag. Our meal was so confusing and overwhelming that I could barely eat anything. I have no idea which “it” my mom is referring to, but after everything that has happened over the past twenty-four hours, it’s safe to say I can’t believe it. I think I’m experiencing emotional whiplash—too many strange things happening at once.

I even have plans with Mason. At least now I can return his notebook to him?

She keeps going. “I was positive we could be out of here in forty-eight hour or less, but Simon thinks it’s going to take at least another week to get it all on the market. I have an event next weekend, and my client is going to have an absolute meltdown when she finds out I won’t be there for the run-through. Hopefully they can extend our stay at the hotel. We’re only booked until tomorrow.”

“A week?” I say hopefully. For a moment, Essex’s bricks turn to clouds and I am walking on air. If I have another full week here, maybe I’ll figure out how to talk to my mom about the curse story. And spend more time at the house. The thought makes my entire body tingle.

My mom’s phone chimes and she lifts it to her face, sighing. “There’s the aunts again.”

“The aunts?” Energy springs through my body, and it takes all of my power not to wrestle the phone from her. “Can I see?”

“I think Poppy learned to text.” She reluctantly tilts the screen toward me.

The message says INVITATION FOR WILLOW AND ROSEMARY. MOON CEREMONY AT 8:30, WE WILL SEE YOU THERE and then has about fifty emojis after it, most of them moons, stars, cats, and, confusingly, a clown face. I’m going to assume that last one was an error.

I’m practically bouncing, I’m so excited. “What’s a moon ceremony?”

She sighs again, then begins stabbing at the keyboard. “It’s for their coven. They gather at full moons and new moons to hold ceremonies.”

“A coven?” I demand. “So, what, they gather around a cauldron or something? Cast spells?”

“Who even knows,” she says flatly, but she bites her lower lip, and suddenly I remember all of her sparkly writing. Spell to Pass Chemistry Test. Notice Me Spell. I’ve seen her Book of Shadows. It’s kind of hilarious that she’s pretending to not know what the witches do.

Her phone dings. “Oh, and there’s Simon sending the estate company’s info.” She lifts one eyebrow. “Mason seemed… eager to spend time with you.”

My eyes shoot to hers, but she’s back to her phone, a little smile on her face.