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“Hello?”

“Thank God you answered”

“Dex? You okay?”

“Yes, but I need a favor I’m really sorry to bother you so late, but I need to know Winnie’s parents’ address”

“What? Why?”

“Because I have to see her tonight I promise to explain when I can, but I really need that address”

“Okay We’re at Tyler and April’s, so I can ask Give me a minute and I’ll text it to you”

“Thanks, man I owe you”

The wait see with nervous energy My leg bounced My thumbs tapped the wheel My stomach tied itself in knots

“What’s the big eency?” asked Hallie

“I have to tell her I rong about so But she won’t want to talk to me”

“So hoill you get her to listen?” Luna asked

“Good question” I looked at there say to Princess Minnie to get her to forgive him?”

“Well, he has to rescue her cat,” Hallie pointed out “And to do that he would have to face his fear of heights”

“Okay, but let’s say he’s ready to do that,” I said impatiently “Let’s say he’s ready to face his fear, climb the tree, and rescue the cat What does he tell her?”

Hallie tapped a finger on her lips “He’d fall to his knees and apologize for being a jerk He’d explain that he was only scared before but he’s going to be brave for her—like a knight Then he’d rescue the cat and ask for another chance to be her friend Because that’s what the ogre really wants—a friend”

“Girls,” I said “I have to tell you so serious”

“Is it that you’re in love with Winnie?” Hallie asked “Because we already know that”

I stared at them in disbelief “You do?”

“Yes, we made it happen,” said Luna triumphantly “With our noses”

“What?”

“Winnie taught us how to cast ic spells,” Hallie explained

“It worked for the cat” Luna shrugged “So we figured it h eren’t supposed to say anything about it Even Winnie doesn’t know” She turned to Hallie “Do you think we messed it up? What if it only worked on Daddy and not Winnie?”

Hallie shook her head “We did it the same way for both She has to love him”

I was still staring at them in disbelief when my phone lit up with a text from Chip “So you’re okay with it?”

“Duh,” Hallie said “We love Winnie And she ruht need to cast another spell to get her to move back here”

“I lanced at the address on as “I’ to try”

The MacAllisters lived on a narrow side street lined with two-story brick homes and shallow front lawns When I pulled up in their driveway, the house was dark I took outthe doorbell, but I would