My pestle thuds against the mortar as I pulverize dried ginger. I’m making a prosperity potion for a werebear who wants to find a job that pays enough to finish getting him out of student-loan debt. As I twist my wrist methodically, I think about the fact it’s been two days since Cade and I got kicked out of paint night for my little temper tantrum. I still can’t figure out why I got so upset. If a guy I had been dating had flirted back with two girls in front of me, I’d have walked out and blocked his number. Yet Cade, who I’m supposed to be friends with, doing the same thing pushed a big red button that set me off, and I don’t know what to think about it.

Cinnamon sticks crunch as I begin to grind them too. I know Cade thinks I was jealous. And yeah, I was, but what I don’t understand is why. My attraction to him is purely physical, and I can find that in another man easily. Maybe this all stems from the fact I really don’t know how to be friends with a guy. I hate to admit it, but perhaps what bothered me was that he acted as if he was attracted to those other girls instead of me. This, of course, means I really do need to learn how to be friends with a man, because it’s seriously messed up that I think every guy should be attracted to me over everyone else.

I let out a sigh as I pour my potion ingredients into a container, and spring water trickles into the bottle as I add some. Now I need to find a new man to be my friend. I think about Nate, who is my next appointment. He’s about my age, a lawyer who is attractive but not in the pure muscle way that Cade is, and just may be the perfect candidate.

I smile when he knocks on the door, because Nate is going to walk out of here with more than a potion. He’s about to get a new friend.

I let him in. “Nate, I’m glad you’re here.”

Even though Nate isn’t a gym rat the way warriors are, he’s still got a large frame from being a werebear, and I gaze up at him as he steps through the door.

“Hey, Bella. I hope you’ve worked your magic for me.” He laughs at his bad pun, and I roll my eyes. He’s definitely friend material.

“I have.” I hand him the bottle with his potion and give him directions on how to use it. When I finish, he pulls out his wallet, but I hold up my hand. “I’d actually like to trade with you today if that’s okay.”

“Really? You need legal advice?”

“No.” I frown. “Do you have a few minutes? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“I can stay for bit longer. What’s up?”

I motion for him to sit at my kitchen table, where I usually conduct business. “This is going to sound odd, but I wondered if you’d consider being my friend.”

“I’m already your friend,” he says as he sinks into a chair.

“We’re more like acquaintances,” I say. “What I’m talking about is someone who will do things with me. Go places. As friends.”

“Sure. But you don’t have to barter with me for that.”

“No?”

He shakes his head. “All you’d have to do is invite me to go somewhere.”

“Okay, but if I asked you to go to the movies, wouldn’t you think it was a date?”

Nate shrugs. “I suppose I could think that, but only if you flirt with me while asking.” He pauses and leans forward a bit as he begins to speak again. “For example, let’s say you started talking about a movie you’d like to see. If I said I wanted to as well, then you could suggest we go see it together.”

“And you’d get that I meant as friends?”

“Yes. But...” He holds up his index finger. “If you turned your shoulder and dipped your chin as you gazed up at me when you asked, I’d be more inclined to think it was a date.”

I laugh when he acts out the motions. “I get it.” I look at him with a serious expression. “Nate, would you like to go to the movies with me this week?”

“Sure. That would be fun.”

I let out a whoosh of air. “Cool. That wasn’t so hard.”

His expression becomes one of concern. “Bella?”

“Yes?”

“What’s this really about? You can tell me since we’re going to be friends.”

I smile. I’d tell a girlfriend, so it makes sense I can tell Nate too. “I’m trying to change the way I think about men. I’ve decided that while being a carefree single woman has been a lot of fun, if I want to settle down some day, then I’m going to need to know how to relate to a man as a friend as well.”

“Ah, the old biological clock is ticking.” He leans back in his chair.

“Maybe.” I frown, because while I do want children, I’m not rushing for babies just yet. I’m more focused on finding a man I want forever. “But that’s not my priority right now. I’ve grown tired of meaningless relationships, and I want more.”

“Those are solid reasons. I’m happy to help. Can I ask why you picked me?”

Even though I don’t need to stroke this guy’s ego, I think even friends like compliments, so I say, “Because you’re smart and kind. And single.” I add, “Which means there isn’t a female mate to claw my eyes out.”

Nate laughs. “I don’t have to worry about a jealous boyfriend, do I?”

Now I laugh. “No. But even if you did, he’d be human and never stand a chance against you.”

“Whew.” Nate glances at his watch. “I need to get back to work. But text me what you’d like to see some night this week, and I’ll meet you there.”

Chairs scape across the floor as we stand up, and I say, “Thanks, Nate. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course. What are friends for?”

“See you later this week.”

“Later,” says Nate before he shuts the door behind him.

As soon as Nate’s gone, I grab my phone to deal with Tally. I managed to ignore her yesterday when she asked how things went with Cade, but she’ll probably send out a locator spell for me if I don’t reply soon.

She answers with, “You eloped, and you’ve just escaped from the honeymoon suite to call me.”

“No.” I let out a sigh.

“You’re hiding out in the bathroom?”

“Not even close,” I say as I imagine the reason I have called Tally back is because Cade and I have been naked in my bed for days, and desire fills me. “And you’re going to feel bad you’re joking when I tell you what happened.”

“Oh boy. Shoot.” I tell Tally about getting kicked out of paint night because of my tantrum. She says, “You realize you acted that way because you’re jealous.”

“Thanks for the compassion. I do know why I got mad, but I don’t think it was so much Cade as it was the fact that some guy I was with had the nerve to flirt with other women.” I walk over to the counter to clean up my potion-making mess.

“Bella.” Tally lets out a heavy sigh. “You’re not being honest with yourself. There’s definitely something between you and Cade.”

A spoon clatters in the sink when I set it down. “Pure lust. Just because you and Marcel have a special bond doesn’t mean that Cade and I do.”

“I’m not buying it,” she says. “You forget I’ve seen you two in action numerous times over the last decade.”

“So?” The sensation of Cade’s body pressed against mine flashes in my mind, and my insides flutter with the memory. “I’m a horny witch with a thing for hot werebear warriors.”

“Just one by the name of Cade. Now that we know witches and werebear can form a soul-mate bond, I believe you and Cade have an unusual connection worth exploring.”

“I don’t know about that,” I say as I recall how Cade said he was going to take Desiree up on her offer. But for a moment, I let myself believe that Cade and I have the soul-mate bond Tally and Marcel do, and that we could be happily in love forever.

“You’re head over heels in love with him, and we both know it.”

“Love? You are way off base with that one.”

“Am I? Think hard about what really made you mad when Cade was flirting those two girls, and I bet you’ll figure out it was because they were after your man. Your mate, Bella.”

I let out a dry chuckle. “This conversation is pointless. Once Cade and I were kicked out, he tried to convince me to go home with him. I didn’t, and we didn’t part on good terms.” I think about the way he pealed out of the parking lot, and then the image of Desiree in his arms comes to me. I clench my eyes shut and say, “I’m pretty sure he’s done with me. And besides, I’ve already enlisted the help of another man.”

“Another man?” asks Tally. “Who, may I ask?”

“Nate. He’s a werebear lawyer I know. He’s super sweet and kind of dorky, and I don’t have to worry about any physical attraction with him.”

“Of course not. You’re only hot for one man. The one you can’t stop thinking about. The one you dream about and--”

“Stop, Tally. Please.” My heart aches with the pain of knowing none of that can be. “I need to let go of my obsession with him, and you’re not helping.”

“Because I know better. I wish you’d trust me on this, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. If you two are meant to be together, it’s going to happen. No matter how hard you fight it.”

“You’re trying to make me feel better.”

“Definitely, because I’m right,” says Tally with confidence in her voice. “Hey, Marcel’s calling, so I’m going to get it. But we’ll talk later. Okay?”

“Sure. Bye, Tally.”

When I hang up with her, I gaze out my open kitchen window, and a bee buzzes around my echinacea. Tally is right that Cade is on my mind. Even though we parted on unfriendly terms, I can’t stop thinking about him, and it only makes me a fool.

“Give it a rest, Bella.” I let out an irritated huff and march myself outside to do some weeding. Maybe digging my fingers into the earth and getting dirty is what I need to focus on what I want in life. Because it is not a relationship with a werebear who can never do more than break my heart, and to move on, I have to figure out how I’m going to let my fantasies of Cade go forever.