“Really?” I said with a chuckle. “That never happens. Every time Hugh and I go out, it’s like something happens to turn our date on its heels. I’d be shocked if we ever got to go on a date where it was like he picked me up, we had dinner, he took me home. BAM, normal date.”
“Oh, come on now, darlin’, wouldn’t you say that normal is boring?” asked a twangy voice from behind me.
Without turning around I smiled broadly. Just the sound of his voice made me slightly giddy inside, even though I would never tell him that – or the girls for that matter.
“Nothing is boring where you’re concerned,” I replied smugly.
“Well, now that I have a challenge, Miss Mercy Mae Habernackle, would you like to go out with me on a nice, boring date? I pick you up, we have dinner, I take you home. BAM, boring date. What do you say?” he asked, from over my shoulder.
“I say it sounds like heaven!” And I wasn’t lying, it actually sounded perfect.
“Good, put a dress on. I’m picking you tonight at 7.”
“I have to wear a dress?”
“And fancy shoes. You have to wear fancy shoes.”
“Then I’m not going,” I replied staunchly, thinking of how much high heels were going to pinch my feet.
“Well, I like you well enough in anything, so shoes are optional, I suppose.”
“It’s a deal then,” I replied happily.
“Hot damn,” he said, smacking my cheek with a quick little kiss.
“Umm, Jax,” said another voice from behind me.
I swiveled around to see Tristan standing next to the scarlet oak tree behind me.
“Yeah Tristan?” Jax asked, trying to restrain herself from becoming visibly giddy.
“We really didn’t have much of a first date yesterday,” he said quietly.
“You’re right, we really didn’t,” she agreed patiently.
“I was wondering if maybe we could have a do-over? Take this one off the record books?”
“A do-over?”
“Yeah, like a real date?”
“A real real date?”
“That’s what I said.”
“You said a real date.”
“What’s the difference between a real date and a real real date?”
Jax responded immediately, like she’d been giving it thought all her life. “A real date is just normal and boring. A real real date is sweet and romantic.”
“Oh,” he said thoughtfully, silently considering what kind of date he wanted to take her on. “Well, then I’d like to take you on a real real date if that’s alright with you?”
“When?” she asked curiously.
“I need a little time to plan this real real date and I suppose a Tuesday night isn’t all that romantic, so how about Friday night?”
Her head bobbed up and down excitedly. “Yes!”
I had a feeling it was going to be a very long week.
“Ok, I look forward to it. Bye Jax,” he said, waving as he backed his way towards Warner Hall.
“Bye Tristan.”
“Alright ladies, you take care now,” Hugh said, tipping his hat at us as he and Tristan retreated back to the men’s side of campus.
Once they were out of earshot, Jax squealed excitedly. “Tristan asked me out!”
“You’re so lucky,” Holly said, plunking her head down between her hands.
Sweets nodded. “I agree. All of them are lucky. Jax has Tristan, Mercy has Hugh, and Alba has a husband, even Linda has two men after her. What do we have Holl?”
“Nothing, that’s what,” Holly agreed. “A big fat nothing.”
Alba chuckled. “Hey, I don’t count. My husband hasn’t called or texted me since I left for college two months ago.”
Holly sat up in her seat. “Yeah, about that. Don’t you think that you should call him?”
I nodded. “I’ve been trying to get her to call him. She’s so stubborn.”
Alba rolled her eyes. “I’m not stubborn. I just don’t want to be the one to make the first move, that’s all.”
“You’re married now. The whole cat and mouse game is over,” Sweets explained. “Now it’s about marriage and marriage requires work. That’s what I tell everyone that wants to be matched.”
“So you’re a marriage counselor now?” Alba asked dryly.
Sweets shrugged. “I’ve actually taken marriage counseling lessons,” she admitted.
“Have you really?” I asked. “That’s actually kind of interesting.”
“I want to be a full-time matchmaker someday. I have to do what it takes!”
“Look at Sweets, having goals and stuff. Good for you, Sweets!” I said with a big smile.
“Yeah, so I think maybe it’s time you put in the effort needed to stay married,” Sweets said to Alba.
Alba thought about it. Her brown eyes squinted towards Sweets. “It’s shocking, but I can actually see your point.”
“Invite him here for Thanksgiving. You should be with your husband for the holidays,” I suggested.
“Are you all staying here for Thanksgiving or are you all going home?” Jax asked, scanning the table.
Holly threw down her napkin. “I’m staying here. My mom has plans. I’m going to go home for Christmas.”
Sweets nodded. “Yeah, I’m going home for Christmas too, so Mom said I should just stay for Thanksgiving.”
“Well, my mom is in town,” I said with a laugh. “So I don’t have anywhere else to go. Maybe we could have a big dinner at Habernackle’s? You could invite Tony,” I suggested to Alba.
“You really think I should invite him here for Thanksgiving?”
“Absolutely. What would it hurt?”
“Well, maybe he won’t want to come,” Alba said, showing a hint of fear.
Holly looked at Alba with surprise. “Since when are you afraid?”
“I’m not afraid, Cosmo,” Alba assured her as her posture stiffened. “I just assume he won’t want to drive all that way. It’s like a five and a half hour drive.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to find out than to just assume?” Sweets asked.
“Sweets has a point, Alba,” Holly said.
“Do you all think I should invite him?”
Jax looked around the table. “Ok, I’m taking a poll. Who thinks Alba should call her husband and invite him to come visit her? Raise your hand.”
Four hands went up around the table.
“Motion carried. Alba, looks like you have a phone call to make,” Jax said with a perky little smile.
Alba nodded. “Looks like I do.”
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{About the Author}
Hello! I’m M. I live in the Midwest. I enjoy my house full of family, including my wonderfully amazing husband, four beautiful daughters, two handsome sons, and an amazing sidekick cat, who keeps me company all day while I dream up my crazy and exciting stories!
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Witch Degrees of Separation: A Witch Squad Cozy Mystery #3 Page 22