On the other hand, it also felt very right.
It was a split decision. Right in the midst of my curse trauma was this lovely little gift.
Sure, I was currently broke, but if I could get anything I wanted for free, that solved that problem, didn't it?
"I need this curse gone." I pulled my cell phone out of my purse and looked at the screen.
What was Thierry doing? Had he found Stacy yet? Should I call him?
No. I needed to let him do his thing. I knew I had a tendency to get in the way. I was trying to break myself of that habit. I didn't want him to think I was more trouble than I already was, especially since he was being so understanding and supportive about this bizarre situation. I slipped the phone back into my purse and shifted my lingerie store bag to my other hand.
Now that I thought about it, I could use a new purse. Possibly Burberry.
No. Not good.
"We need to leave now," I said, and looked at Butch and George. "Where's Amy?"
George nodded at a jewelry store up ahead. Amy's bright pink head was lowered as she inspected the diamond engagement rings that put her modest ring from Barry to shame.
I approached and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to me. "Hey, can you get me a free ring?"
"No, I can't."
She pouted. "Why not? I thought you were my best friend."
I cleared my throat and glanced at the girl across the counter. A smile appeared on her face. "Anything I can help you with?"
"Could you give us some privacy?" I asked.
Immediate eye glaze. "Sure thing." She turned and quickly walked to the back room of the store, closing the door behind her.
I sighed and looked down at the display of engagement rings. They were so beautiful. I glanced at my promise ring. Still gorgeous, but in a different way than a big fat three-carat princess-cut diamond solitaire.
Amy nodded at my new finger bling. "So that's just a Valentine's Day gift? It doesn't mean anything else?"
I curled my hand into a fist. "It means that he has very good taste in jewelry."
She blinked "Did he pop the question?"
"Being that he's already married, I think any question popping is a little out of the question."
She looked disappointed. "I forgot about that."
"That makes one of us."
She sighed and moved away from the glass case of engagement rings over to a display of necklaces and started looking through them.
Quick check: Was I feeling okay?
Yes.
Did I feel like biting anyone?
No.
Phew.
My cell phone rang. I pulled it out and looked at the screen to see that it was Thierry.
I answered it. "Thierry, hi."
"Where are you?" he asked.
"At the mall. Did you find witch-face?"
"Not yet. But we will." There was a strain to his voice. "I think we should meet at Haven in an hour. Can you be there?"
I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice that his search had turned up nothing.
I'd had high hopes. "Yeah, we'll be there."
"Have there been any incidents?" he asked.
Define incident, I thought. "No. I'm doing okay."
"I think it would be a good idea if we have you drink at the club to help alleviate any blood cravings for the next day or so."
"Is that an educated guess or do you know that for sure?"
"It is, unfortunately, only a guess." He was quiet for a moment. "I will find her, Sarah. I promise you."
The sincere tone of his words warmed my heart and I felt a lump in my throat. "I know you will."
I glanced over at the store opening to the mall and my eyes bugged out to see that the witch-in-question, Stacy McGraw, currently stood directly in front of the store. Our eyes met. She smiled and waved at me.
"Thierry… she's here," I whispered into the phone. "Stacy's here. I'm looking right at her."
"She's there? Don't let her out of your sight. You need to—"
Stacy flicked her hand at me and the phone flew out of my grip and crashed against the floor, where it exploded in a tiny puff of smoke and flame.
She grinned. "I did a location spell to find out where you are. How's it going?"
My eyes narrowed. "How do you think?"
"Ready to apologize to me yet?"