Page 44 of Wedding the Werepanther

“That’s what I mean by not being sure of his motives.” Jasmine points at me. “He gives off player vibes.”

“I don’t think there are other women,” I say. “But I’m also not sure he’s serious. I don’t want to be some kind of conquest before he moves on to the next challenge.”

“So what are you going to do?” Hannah asks.

“I don’t know.” I take a big bite of cupcake to give myself time to think and becausecupcake. “It’s my week to choose the type of date and wedding. I was thinking of picking things that will check how compatible we are. I have a few ideas, but I’m going to need some help to pull off the wedding.”

“Of course,” Violeta says without a second of hesitation.

Jasmine adds, “We got you,” while everyone nods.

Warmth fills me. I reallydon’thave to do everything on my own. These women are the first true girlfriends I’ve ever had. I’m so glad I asked them.

I take a swig of my cocoa puffs white Russian, then say, “Okay, here’s my idea…”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Shadow

When the chug of Kayla’s car fades from the end of the driveway, I spin toward the foyer’s translation parchment and point. “You and I need to have a little talk.”

“Who, me?”Victoria writes.

“Do you see anyone else here?” I lift an eyebrow. “We need to talk about that wedding. It was adisaster.”

Doors bang throughout the house, and a sulky feeling fills the air.

“Look.” I pat the wall. “I’m on your side. We have the same goal: to win the game and make this marriage permanent.”

The atmosphere lightens a little.“I’m listening.”

“But to do that, we need to make Kayla want it. We need her to enjoy the dates and weddings. We certainly don’t need any more dresses so uncomfortable she calls them diabolical.” I lift an eyebrow.

“Fine.”

“Kayla’s picking this next date and wedding, and this is exactly what we need to turn things around and make her enjoy all of this, if…”

“If what?”Eagerness saturates the air.

“We don’t change any of her plans or criticize or act in any way negatively about what she wants.” I say “we” to lessen the sting, but my words are all for Victoria. “No slamming doors, no sarcasm.”

“Kayla loves sarcasm,”Victoria writes.

I think of the purple-haired witch’s T-shirts and have to agree. “That’s beside the point.” My hand slashes through the air. “For this date and wedding, you’re going to be sweetness and light, or you’re going to remain silent.”

“Or else?”Curtains slam closed throughout the house, cutting off the buttery evening sunlight. It’s not dark enough to impede my night vision, but Victoria’s made her point.

I soften my tone and pet the wallpaper again. “Or else you don’t get what you want, which is Kayla happy and married and no longer alone.” Like a child, Victoria feels a complex combination of personal selfishness mixed with love for Kayla. The one doesn’t cancel out the other—I just need her to see past her own wants to focus on her love for the witch.

The curtains fling open as a sigh of wind whips past me.“All right, we’ll try it your way.”

“Thank you.”

“You better make it work after all your big talk.”

“Don’t worry. I play to win.”

If it’s the last thing I do. Kayla will be mine.