Love Magick by Francesca Lia Block

Author:Francesca Lia Block [LIA BLOCK, FRANCESCA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781935073208
Publisher: Armory New Media

Shut Up, It’s Magic

Aurora Gray

I’m smoking a bubblegum cigarette and sipping a virgin margarita when I decide that I need a happy ending.

Henry and I are on the patio of a Mexican restaurant. I look away from his blue eyes to stare at the papel picado streamers; their Crayola colors against the noon sky leave spots on my vision.

“What’s the story, Minnie? You sounded weird on the phone.”

Blinking, I try to focus on Henry, and get derailed; “Henry, what’s with the shoes?”

“What do you mean?”

“Um, well ... why green checks? Why buy them?”

“Because they were in the store? And why not?”

His answer makes me feel judgmental, like he’s transcended to a higher plane where One Does Not Judge Another’s Choice In Footwear.

“Oh, no reason, I was just wondering if you were particularly into that pattern now or something.” They really are ugly, the shoes. With black jeans, a blue velvet jacket and a bowler hat, the ensemble has a uniqueness that is charming, but as a whole it has the quality of forcing your eye to keep moving, like looking at a Picasso.

“I shouldn’t have picked this restaurant, it’s kinda seeped with crap memories,” I say with my head down. Henry pushes the chips into my line of sight.

“I dunno, I have rather fond memories of this place. Of you and me here. Eat something. Minnie, when was the last time you ate?”

“Like the time I dumped a pitcher of margaritas on your head? … I had coffee before I came here.”

“You weren’t the last to douse me with a pitcher, though I prefer strawberry daiquiris to margaritas. I look good in red. … Coffee isn’t food Minnie.” He pauses, “Do you believe in it, anymore?”

“Believe in …?” He reaches across the table and squeezes my shoulder, “Dammit Henry! I hate it when you do that!” I place my hand on top of his and lightly dig my short red nails into his skin.

“Do what?”

“Gah! Look at you, all cat-who-ate-the-canary! Swoop in here after not seeing me for over a year and go all philosophical bullshit about heartbreak!” I pull his hand off my shoulder and kiss the top of it before releasing it. He quickly pulls his hand across the table and examines it for flesh wounds. “Can’t you just let me mope or some shit?”

“Nope.”

“Asshole.”

“Yup.” He flags one of the waiters in their black tuxes with red cummerbunds and orders a pitcher of margaritas and some guacamole. I look at my virgin margarita and wonder why I thought sobriety and heartbreak made a good power couple.

“Are you helping me escape from my heartache then today, dear Henry?”

“No. Not escape, plot. Isn’t there anyone? Come on I know you, there was someone on the backburner, wasn’t there?”

My eyes burn but there aren’t any tears left. “No. No. Not this time. No one else.” I laugh, “Well, no one real.” Henry raises an eyebrow in question, an enviable skill. “I’m in love with a character in a book.” I pull the book out of my purse and Henry flips through it for a long while.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.