Love & Other Cursed Things by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie

Author:Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie [Ritchie, Krista & Ritchie, Becca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781950165322
Publisher: K.B. Ritchie
Published: 2022-01-10T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Zoey Durand

Parry parks his convertible in the empty parking lot. A couple of bikes are chained to the rack, and when we approach the ticket booth, I realize it’s empty.

And then I smell the pungent unmistakable odor of weed. Parry and I exchange a knowing look. Teens getting lit in the ticket booth is classic.

“Knock knock.” Parry taps on the plexiglass.

“Oh shit,” a boy curses. Scrambling from the floor of the booth, two scraggly-haired teenagers stand up, wearing lilac-collared shirts. The Museum of Curses & Curiosities logo is embroidered onto the breast pocket.

The blond blinks a ton, eyes bloodshot. His nametag reads: Matt Beech.

The brown-haired boy tries to straighten out his half-untucked shirt. “Welcome to the Museum of—” He coughs into his fist.

Okay, I laugh. I see his nametag. Lucas Ricci.

“Guys, we’re locals.” Parry points to the crown on his head. “We’re not here to do the whole tourist thing. We’re just looking for our names in the books.”

“Yeah,” I nod. “We just want to do a quick in and out.”

“That’s what she said,” Matt mutters into a fake cough under his breath.

I narrow my eyes. “What are you, ten?”

“Fifteen.” He barely blinks. “And you’re what…thirty?”

Ugh. I hate stoned teenage boys. “Thirty isn’t even that old,” I tell him like he’s not making sense.

He makes a face. “Ma’am, it’s ancient. That’s another lifetime for me.”

“Did you just call me ma’am?”

They’re both snickering.

Parry puts a hand on my shoulder and whispers to me, “They’re trying to get under your skin, Zo.”

Mission accomplished.

“Can you let us in or not?” I ask.

“IDs. We have to confirm you’re locals,” Lucas states.

Parry pulls out his license, and while I fish for mine in my leather backpack-purse, I realize that I’ve changed my address. I’m not a resident of Mistpoint Harbor anymore. But maybe they’ll recognize my last name…

Lucas appraises Parry’s license in a quick second, while Matt glances at the card from behind Lucas’ shoulder. “Checks out,” Lucas says.

“DiNapoli.” Matt squints as he scrutinizes Parry. “Are you the vampire brother or the squirrel?”

Parry rolls his eyes.

“Squirrel?” I question. That term didn’t float around when I lived here.

Matt nods. “When’s the last time you’ve seen a squirrel at night?”

I open my mouth to respond, but Lucas cuts me off. “Never,” he says for me. “Because squirrels sleep at night. Well…usually.”

Matt narrows his bloodshot eyes on Parry. “Vampire or squirrel?”

“You’re an idiot,” Parry says, snagging his ID back.

“Squirrel,” Lucas says pointedly and looks to Matt. “It’s daytime, dude.”

Matt laughs a slow, clearly inebriated laugh. “Riiiight.”

I slide my ID over. Lucas takes it first, and he immediately shakes his head. “Nah, you’re not from here.”

“I’m a Durand.”

“Don’t care,” Lucas says. “It’ll be thirty-five bucks.”

“What?” I gasp. “Since when? I thought it was twenty.”

Parry gives me a consoling look. “There’ve been some significant curses in the past six years.”

“So I take it business is booming,” I grumble and fish out some cash from my wallet.

“I can cover it, Zo.” Parry reaches for his wallet.

“I got it.” I’m already sliding over a couple of twenties, and I wait for Lucas to give me change.

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