I can do this, I think, in text anyway. In-person Rune will be more challenging. I’ll cross that bridge later. I have a few hours to wrap my head around Vivienne’s homework assignment and deal with the man in question in person.

My phone beeps again.

Rune: Doesn’t Theo have an excellent midcentury bed? Let’s use some of his furniture as props.

Oh God. Of course. Theo must have toured Rune around the whole house when he and Rueben first retired and revamped it. Yes. Theo has a very cool midcentury bed. I doubt I can make Theo’s room useable in time, but considering this is favor number two Rune’s doing for me, I should make an effort.

I tuck my bucket list notebook back between the bird bookends and open up Pinterest on my desktop monitor. Unfortunately, I sold all of Theo’s dress dummies to a friend of Luna’s who opened a new clothing boutique in downtown Poulsbo. Fortunately, the sight is full of great examples of how cleverly people lay out apparel on flat surfaces for photographs and make them inviting and alluring.

I create a new board and start pinning. People have discovered such clever, artful ways of laying out jackets, pants, dresses, sweaters, shoes, and boots, all folded, layered, and laid out just so. This is something my mom would appreciate. Each outfit includes all the right accessories, too, of course.

An hour slips by as I scroll through images and jot down ideas. I sit back and glance at my phone, contemplating how much of Theo’s room I can clean up in time…maybe if I take everything off the bed and clear more space around it?

That’s not putting your own oxygen mask on first, darling, Theo chides.

No, I guess it’s not. How disappointed will Rune be if we can’t use the bed? Could the dining room table, the coffee table, and even the back table would work instead? They’re all cool too.

My phone rings, jolting me out of my musings. It’s Luna.

“Are you around and free for a few?” she asks, “Can I stop by and share happy news about the fundraiser?”

**

“You’re a rockstar,” Luna tells me brightly as we hug at the door. Butterscotch is at our feet, wanting in on the action.

“Am I? I can use all of the good news I can get; we probably need a new roof,” I tell her as we sit down in the living room, and I hand her a glass of iced tea.

Luna’s black hair is back in its traditional braid. She’s wearing a bright mustard yellow t-shirt that looks great on her. It illustrates a moth that says, Protect the Pollinators if You Enjoy Eating.

“Oh no, that’s going to be costly if it’s true,” she laments with me but then teases, “I was hoping you’d answer the door in another of Theo’s groovy vintage outfits.”

“I’m too lazy,” I laugh, “can you imagine doing up your hair and makeup like that every day?”

“No, but if I had a dreamy date like Asher Dillion around, I might,” she winks at me and puts her hand over her brow, looking towards the Borstad house as if looking for Rune, “Where is your famous friend?”

“Not sure, either escorting his cousin to one of her day camps or recording an audiobook,” I tell her, trying to sound nonchalant. “But he’s coming over to help me photograph Theo’s clothes later. So, who spilled the beans about who Rune is? Amy Penington?”

“No, she didn’t breathe a word. My daughter Inga recognized him in the photo of the two of you from ReWild’s email newsletter,” Luna leans forward towards me from her place on the couch and touches my knee, “I was absolutely gobsmacked when Jack showed up on Amy’s arm but delighted when you showed up with Rune. Why didn’t you warn me?”

“Jack sprang the fact that he was attending with Amy on me at the last minute. I was embarrassed,” I admit, “and I didn’t want you to be in a difficult position with Amy.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Well, thank you,” she says, “but why were you embarrassed? I’d have been furious!”

“Oh, I was that too,” I tell her, “I was lucky Rune arrived with Lorelei, and he was willing to be my last-minute date.”

“Jack has a serious black mark in my book now, and so does Amy.”

“I’m not sure she knew that Jack and I were dating; he certainly didn’t tell her.”

“What an opportunistic jerk; I wish he weren’t so talented,” Luna scowls but brightens quickly, “are you sure Rune’s only a friend? He looked much more than that Saturday night.”

“That’s because he’s a good actor, I was honest with him about what Jack did,” I tell her, as someone else taps on the door.

Butterscotch starts yipping, and the door opens. Speak of the devil, Rune’s handsome head pops in as if he’s been conjured by his name. Again. In this, he’s more like Chrestomanci (one of Diana Wynne Jones’ other famous wizard characters) than Howl.

“Hey, hi Luna,” he says, giving her a charming smile as he steps inside and scoops Butterscotch up for a cuddle, making my lower stomach and pelvis do their giddy dance.

How in the world am I 1) become used to this? 2) imagineer a better love life, fantasizing Rune’s the one helping me do it without being constantly flustered when I see him? Vivienne’s crazy.

“Rune, perfect timing! You can hear my exciting news, too,” she beams back at him.

“Oh? He sits on the chair on the other side of the fireplace from me, dog in hand, as if he always does this. Butterscotch is wearing her most self-satisfied grin.

“The midsummer event beat its fundraising goal,” Luna says, clapping her hands together happily, “we raised $360,000.”

“That’s fantastic!” I say, amazed, and hold my glass up to toast hers, “I thought Amy was being overly optimistic.”

“Amy’s a total champ at getting money out of her wealthy friends,” Luna admits, “But well done to you and Jack too,” Luna clinks her glass to mine again, “We did $310,000 at the event and raised another $50,000 when the email newsletter was sent out with your brilliant video. It also included images from the event, including you two and your fabulous costumes.”

“It pays to have the right storytelling,” Rune agrees, getting up and going into the kitchen. My bad. I didn’t think to offer him any tea. My lust is making me forget my manners.

Luna gives me a quick, pointed look as if asking if you’re sure you’re just friends. I give her a head shake back, scowling no. Best to nip any rumors in the bud with my real friends, though, of course, I’m fine if Jack and Amy think this is the case.

“You’ve convinced us all about the power of video storytelling,” Luna says loud enough for her voice to carry into the kitchen, “especially our fearless leader, Emily.”

“Shelby and Jack created an engaging piece,” Rune agrees as he comes back into the living room and sits again with his own glass of iced tea, the dog on his arm, “What do you want to make happen next?”

“We were hoping you might guide us,” Luna says coyly, “with your background in entertainment production.”

I glance worriedly at Rune, but he seems thoughtful rather than annoyed.

“Not Jack?” Rune asks, using his innocent curiosity look, complete with that head tilt. I’m sure it’s designed to make anyone he’s using it on feel like the most important person in the room.

“Sure, when the time’s right,” Luna says, leaning forward eagerly into his focused attention. “But Shelby’s the one who came up with the idea of doing a video story in the first place…we thought we might entice the two of you to come up with some ideas together, maybe something that could be produced for end-of-year fundraising?” Luna looks imploringly from me to Rune and back.

I open my mouth to say he won’t be here, but Rune’s ahead of me.

“Will you have a budget again for Shelby?” He asks, which is not at all what I was expecting.

“Of course, she volunteers enough for us in other ways,” Luna says without batting an eye. Wow. Sweet.

“Then I’m sure we can come up with something that might spark your fancy,” Rune agrees. He’s combing his elegant hands through Butterscotch’s fur in a way that’s making the dog extremely happy and giving me those kinds of ASMR feelings that make your scalp tingle. Now is not the time to think about what those graceful hands might have the power to do to me, regardless of Vivienne's exercise.

“Excellent,” Luna stands up and puts her tea glass back on the coaster on the coffee table, “I’m off for more supplies for our Fourth party. You’re still good with bringing ice cream and cake?” She turns to me first but obviously includes Rune in the invite. Sly wench.

“If Rune can find the ice cream maker,” I hedge. I don’t know if he’s going to like being included, regardless of what he told Jack and Amy at the fundraiser. Maybe he has other plans.

“Done. Gunnar left it in an obvious spot,” he smiles with all of his teeth, this time hitting both of us with it. I wonder if it sent the same electric sizzle up Luna’s spine as it did mine.

“Beautiful! We’ll see you all on Monday!” Luna says brightly as she hurries towards the door.” I jump up and follow her.

“Hey,” I ask her quietly, “is your Tia Cecelia in town for the party this year?”

“She will be; Tom picks her up later this week,” she tells me as she steps onto the porch, “Want another Tarot card reading?”

“Yes, actually, although she only read my palm last year,” I tell her.

“That’s how she hooks everyone,” Luna winks, waves goodbye, and hurries off the porch back to her car.

The fragrance of roses fills my nostrils as I close the door even though I don’t currently have any roses in this room. Weird.

“Looking for advice on becoming a more powerful witch?” Rune asks his smile now the wry lifting of just one corner of his too-kissable mouth.