Sasha's heart lurched at the meaning. She remained quiet, soaking up the emotions that tumbled out of his mouth with his words.

"I don't know what I'm doing but I'm trying to change, it's just not that easy," his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. He gazed at his hands and then his head tipped up shyly, his blue sky eyes connecting with hers. Evan stared into her eyes, pleading his case as if trying to connect with her soul. She sensed his wanting, needing for her to understand what he was saying.

"I'm here for you if you want me," he said shifting uneasily in his seat. He was flushed as if he'd done exercise and looked so uncomfortable that Sasha wondered if he'd never expressed his feelings to anyone before. Sasha felt his offer was genuine; she was just reluctant to get her hopes up.

He tentatively reached his hand out to clasp hers that lay on the table. She watched his fingers entwine with hers and squeeze lightly. He gave her a small smile as if waiting for her reaction.

"You hurt me," her voice was husky with raw honesty. She rarely spoke of her feelings either, especially not to guys. She really liked Evan and he seemed like one of the good guys.

"Why did you do it?" She pushed. If he didn't give her a clear answer she knew she'd leave because there was only so much push-pull behavior she could handle.

He sighed deeply as if he didn't want to answer her question. "It's not going to make sense," he said softly, "because I don't really understand myself."

He squeezed her hand again and looked down at the table, avoiding her eyes this time.

"Every time I felt a need to be close to you, I felt an equally strong urge to run away," he confessed embarra.s.sed. The words hurt and Sasha felt tears p.r.i.c.k her eyes. She wondered if she had that effect on most boys because it certainly matched Cady's criticisms of her that she pushed guys away.

"Did I do something?" She asked her voice tight with restrained emotions.

Evan shook his head vigorously and smiled rea.s.suringly. "This has nothing to do with you," he said softly. "It's me, it's my problem."

Sasha frowned and didn't know what to say. She was relieved that she hadn't caused his uncertainty but was clueless as to how he was going to forge ahead.

He explained that he'd convinced himself that he couldn't date her because he needed to focus on school so he could get a scholarship and make money to help his grandmother. All those reasons were true but they were also excuses, he said, to keep himself closed off. He didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him about his dad's death and his mother's addictions. By keeping those details secret, it was just another piece of his life that he held back. He said he was glad he'd told her the truth and he hoped it hadn't changed how she saw him.

"My Nan is right," he said. "I need to start living life. I can't live for tomorrow when today is here now."

Sasha smiled tentatively. "That makes sense," she laughed. "I don't think I've ever lived for any day but today. It's not like my family is perfect Evan. We are equally as screwed up as yours minus the drugs. No family is perfect."

Evan returned her smile, visibly relaxing. "You're not mad at me?"

"I didn't say that," she laughed again. "But you can make it up to me."

"I will try Sasha," he said quietly. She loved the way he said her name, it sent a thrill up her spine and she shivered at the feeling.

"This week has been dangerous," he said squeezing her hands again, his thumbs tracing the life lines on her palms. "But life really is short."

Sasha squeezed his hands lightly.

"I want to be part of your crazy weird life," he laughed. "Is it crazy for me to want that?"

Sasha laughed too. "No," she said smiling. "Ok, maybe a little."

They smiled at each other.

"I thought I'd scared you off," she said embarra.s.sed.

He shook his head. "I scared myself," he said. "It had nothing to do with you."

Sasha felt her heart beat slightly faster in her chest.

"What now?" she asked.

He stared at her hard. His blue eyes were full of focus and intent. Sasha felt the rest of the room fall away as if it were only the two of them in the cafe.

"I want to help you," he said. "You're in trouble."

Sasha felt her face flush pink. "I know," she said withdrawing her hands and taking a sip of her drink. Ugh. It was too creamy.

"Did you see the news report about Cady?"

Sasha nodded too afraid to voice her suspicions.

"They weren't wearing masks but it could have been the same two guys from the robbery," Evan said.

"I hope not," she said. "Those guys were serious."

"And Nefar isn't? What else have you found out."

"I have tried to talk to my parents," she said earnestly. "My father knows nothing and my mother won't talk."

Evan shook his head. "Mothers," he muttered.

"I'm sorry?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said straightening in his chair. "I have my own mother issues."

"I think I have a double whammy," she said, "mother and grandmother issues."

Then she finally confessed what Nefar said to her about a curse and her grandmother before Evan came into the rear parking lot.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He said sounding hurt.

"You said magic was ridiculous," she said. "I thought for sure you'd think I was crazier than I seemed already."

"I still don't believe in magic," he said. "If the robbers were after you, guns aren't exactly magic."

Sasha held back about the blue sparks. He obviously wasn't open to the idea of magic. When he was, she'd tell him then.

"So what's your next step?"

Sasha told him about the Fifth Street store.

"How's that going to help?"

"Let's for a minute a.s.sume it's a curse," she said. Evan rolled his eyes. Sasha put up a hand to ward off his skepticism. "Let's just give it chance ok? When we've exhausted that idea we'll move on the next theory, ok?"

Evan stared at her, skepticism written in every muscle. He put up his hands in a motion of defeat and shrugged his shoulders.

"Fine," he said. "We'll dismiss this magic c.r.a.p and move on to the real threat."

After finishing their drinks, they waved goodbye to Teebow and walked to Evan's car. He put her bike in the trunk.

"You're not working today?"

He shook his head. "Not until Sunday."

Evan put the key in the ignition but didn't start the car. He stared at the windshield but didn't seem to see anything.

"Is everything alright?" Sasha asked.

Evan turned to her, one of his hands reached for her cheek. He stroked the skin in a circular motion with his thumb and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

"I don't want to let a moment go by without doing this," he said reaching for her with a pa.s.sion she'd only dreamed about. He slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled her mouth down to his. His lips pressed against hers with such urgency it took Sasha's breath away.

She felt herself melt at the light touch of his warm lips. She was unable to contain her eagerness and opened her mouth to his and wound a hand into the hair at the nape of his neck. His lips were soft and seeking. She felt a swell of happiness in her chest. She hadn't been wrong about him and he'd come back to her. She felt herself smile.

She pressed closer to him, the gear shift jabbing her in the ribs. He slipped a hand around her waist, his fingers brushing the bare skin on her side. She shivered at his touch and sighed. This was everything she'd been daydreaming about..

Evan pulled away quizzically until he saw the grin on her face. He leaned toward her again and rested his forehead on hers.

"I wasn't wrong about you," he whispered. "You need me as much as I need you."

Sasha slipped a hand into his and squeezed. She was too overcome with emotion to speak. Evan sat back in his seat and put the car in gear. They held hands as he drove.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

As Sasha stood outside the crystal mumbo jumbo shop she wished Cady were with her. This was one of the first times she ached for her company. She missed her snarky laugh and quick wit even if the wicked comments were sometimes about her. It was all for fun wasn't it?

Cady was super smart and courageous. Nothing could scare her. She would have marched into the shop, demanded to see the faux magician and gotten answers.

Now Evan and Sasha were standing outside the store peering in. It was a cross between a junky tourist trap and antique store. Its black sign had glowing stars around the name Cast Your Spell. Since most people knew nothing about real magic, the shop seemed geared toward the Harry Potter crowd. There was a bubbling cauldron spewing dry ice smoke in the display window. Crystals hung on nylon wire from the ceiling and glittered in the sun Through the front door Sasha could see a floor basket overflowing with black capes and a counter vase with glowing sticks presumably fake wands.

Sasha glanced with a bemused expression at Evan. She feared she wasn't going to find a legitimate spell caster who could explain what was going on with her.

"I'm surprised there isn't a Disney logo on the sign," she said sarcastically.

"I warned you," Evan said. He backtracked when he saw the hurt expression on her face. "Maybe it's all for show."

A bell chimed when they walked into the shop. One wall was lined with book shelves containing volumes of new age philosophy and recipe books pitching how to hold a magical dinner party. Sasha withdrew one thin volume called Spelling One. Its thin onion sheet pages contained spells that looked like poems. Since she wasn't familiar with real spells she didn't know if they were authentic.

A young man came out of a curtained alcove at the back of the store. He was tall and skinny with a mop of black hair and pale skin. His dark eyes were coal black and fringed with inky lashes. His facial features were sharp and angular as the bones protruded prominently from his skin. His clothes were nondescript baggy black jeans and a black T-shirt.

Sasha was surprised. Despite the phony appearance of the store, this guy looked like a genuine bada.s.s magician or at least what she thought a magician should be.

When he extended a hand, Sasha was surprised at the roughness of his palm as if he worked with his hands.

"Sasha," he said astounding her that he knew her name. Evan tightened his grip on her upper arm as she dropped the guy's hand as if it were scalding.

"How--," she said.

"Don't worry. It wasn't me. Gus said you'd be coming."

Confused Sasha took a step backward. "Gus?" she said trying to keep her voice steady even though her hands were trembling.

"He owns the store," the guy said.

"How--," he cut her off again.

"That you'll have to ask Gus. I'm Trick, short for Patrick. Why don't you look around the store before I take you upstairs?"

Sasha drew Evan to her as they stepped away from Patrick and whispered in his ear.

"I have a bad feeling," she said.

"Can you excuse us for a minute?" Evan asked the guy. Once alone Evan spoke into her ear in a low voice. "Is it because he's more Halloween trick or treat than a Patrick?"

Sasha suppressed a smile. "Sort of," she smothered a giggle.

They walked over to a corner that contained antique lamp shades. Some were Tiffany lamp knock offs, while others were covered in a yellowed aging silk. Sasha froze when she saw hanging on the wall stained gla.s.s pendants like the one around her neck.

"Evan look," she said pointing to the necklaces. He glanced over at the jewelry but there was no recognition on his face. She hadn't told him about the conversation she'd had with her mother about the pendant. "It's like the one my mother gave me."

She pulled the necklace from beneath her shirt. Evan picked it up gently and the colors flared bright as if charged with electricity. The blue glowed as glittering as the blue sparks and Sasha felt blinded by the brightness. Evan dropped the necklace as if it had burned him.

"Are you hurt?" she asked concerned. She'd never seen the pendant do that.

"What just happened?" he asked his voice containing an angry edge.

"I don't know," she whispered loudly.

Evan glared at Patrick over her head. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Patrick staring at them from across the room, his eyes burning a hole in her back.

"Are you ready?" he called.

Sasha turned back to Evan. "Do you want to leave?"

Evan shook his head. "We aren't going to let these guys scare us. Let's get what we came for."

They marched back to the service counter where Patrick waited. "Ready?" They nodded and Patrick picked up the phone. He said a couple of words into the hand set that Sasha couldn't hear and hung up.