Maybe It's Magic

Chapter 3

Jake wasn't sure how a clump of rocks could help anything, but he didn't want to be rude. "What is it?"

"Rose quartz with smoky quartz. It's pretty rare. Picked it up in Brazil." She placed it in his hand. "Feel that energy?"

"Sure," he lied.

"See, rose quartz is all about love, connection, drawing it your way and the smoky quartz," she let out a low laugh, "to be blunt, it could replace Viagra."

He tried to laugh, too, but the cringe was too thick. Not as bad as when his mom gave him the talk, but at least she'd been as embarrassed as he was. This lady just went on like it was nothing.

"Now, believe you me, these both pack a punch, but it's more like a wallop when they're bound together, so be careful."

"Well, thanks and everything, but..." He tried to think of a nice way to refuse. Somehow he didn't think "but I'm not a mentally unbalanced hippie" would go over. Shame. She'd seemed nice.

"Oh, go on. I did a cleansing on everything this morning."

Considering it had clumps of dirt in every corner, he wasn't sure how much store he set by her cleaning skills. Then again, she probably meant one of those weird hippie rituals. "Still, I can't just take your products."

She chuckled again. Full of chuckles, this one. She probably had some good weed somewhere in that box. He wondered if he could trade up. "Who says it's a gift? It's a loan. If it does the job, then I'm positive you'll be buying it off me tomorrow. You look trustworthy enough."

"Gee, thanks," he said dully.

"I can tell you're not a believer. Doesn't matter. It'll work all the same. But I mean it. Be careful with that. It might be a bit more than you can handle."

"Sure. I'll try not to drive any heavy machinery." He offered her a weak smile.

She chuckled again. "Now, leave me be so I can finish up. Placement is everything in my business. You don't want your carnelian and your blue lace agate touching."

"Yeah. I was about to say."

She laughed and slapped his arm. "Okay, wise ass. Go get your girl. You'll see."

He tossed her another weak smile and turned back to Juliet. What did Miss Crystal want him to do? Sacrifice this thing to Juliet's jewelry business? He supposed that was one way to sell a rock.

It wasn't a terrible idea. It would be an actual reason to talk to her. 

What the hell was he thinking? Was he really going to pluck down some unknown amount of money for an excuse to talk? This was insane. "Lady must be contagious," he muttered, turning away.

"Oh, hey, Jack?"

He froze. Juliet was calling him. Well, actually she was calling "Jack." He shoved the stone in his back pocket, only because he was not sure if he wanted her to get interested in it. It wasn't like he wanted to hold onto it for himself. It was pink.

"It's actually Jake," he found himself saying as he turned.

She smiled, but with a hint of suspicion. "You sure?"

"Or else my parents have been lying to me for twenty years." He put on a smile, hoping she didn't think he was mad or anything. "I felt weird correcting you before. You seemed so happy to guess right. Didn't want to take it away or anything."

She laughed. "Aren't you sweet." She leaned on her hand and stared up at him. "Anyway, I really meant it about lunch. I'd love to catch up with you and Molly. Maybe even just..." She trailed off and giggled, actually blushed a little. "It feels so awkward to just say it."