Rowan
I know David well. He’s a few years older than me—closer to Juniper and Maple’s age than mine—but we’re acquainted from the tavern and his family’s ice cream shop.
He’s kind, and perhaps I should have made our meeting with him the first one.
It will doubtless go better than meeting with Victoria did.
It doesn’t take much for him to agree to get a drink with Seth and me. It’s strange, all things considered, and I have to convince him we’re not looking for a third—why does everyone think Seth and I are dating?
David
Is this a sex thing?
Me
No. What?
David
I could be open to it.
Me
Sorry to disappoint, but it’s not.
Needless to say, I have my doubts that Dave is behind the hex, but stranger things have happened; he may be lulling us with a false sense of security.
Seth and I squeeze into a little booth at the back of the Moonlit Tavern—the bar owned by my oldest sisters.
They boast the best food, drinks, and potions in all of Starbrook, and the ambiance is unmatched.
Natural wood furniture, magical floating lights, soft goth music—likely Juniper’s choice—and spelled drinks for any intention.
Or perhaps I’m biased.
Seth looks around as he lifts his beer to his lips, taking a heavy swig.
I narrow my eyes. “You look nervous.”
He sets the bottle down with a clink. “Yeah, because… things with Dave didn’t end as easily as with Victoria.”
“Really?” I lift an eyebrow. “It seems to me that you’re on good terms. He practically asked me for a threesome when I texted him.”
His eyes widen, lips parting. “He—what?”
Hm… Seth is sort of cute when he’s flustered.
I want to smile, but I opt to roll my eyes instead. “Don’t look so shocked, or you may offend me. Do you think this is the first time I’ve been propositioned for a three-way?”
It is. Definitely is, but he doesn’t have to know that.
He clears his throat. “I’m not… not shocked. I can see why someone would want that, like you’re—and I’m—but I mean, what did you tell him?”
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him look so out of sorts. Any confidence he’s carried disappears as he flounders at the thought of—what? Being with me? Sharing me?
I shouldn’t be thinking about that either.
I stare at him, any hint of my smile disappearing. “Seth. Relax. He was probably joking.”
“Right. Sorry.” He runs his fingers through his hair, his chest puffing with each ragged, anxious breath.
The tavern hasn’t yet reached peak busy hours, and when someone enters, I easily catch sight of David’s tall, slender frame. He slides into the booth across from us and peers back and forth, locking eyes with each of us.
David is handsome—I can understand Seth’s interest in him—with brown skin and dark, shoulder-length locs.
He’s always been intelligent, too. As far as I know, he’s responsible, having taken over the family business.
He’s not the sort of man I would treat as a one-night stand, and perhaps that’s where the trouble comes in; Seth doesn’t appear to have gotten that memo.
“I still don’t know what I’m doing here,” David says, chuckling.
“I know, but thank you for showing up.” I sit up straighter. “I imagine you’d prefer us to be blunt?”
“Yes. Please.” He winks. “But buy me a drink first.”
Seth is all smiles, scrambling to his feet. “You got it, man.”
He all but runs off, and David lets out a long sigh.
I lean across the table, my face and neck blazing. “This isn’t a sex thing, I promise. The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”
“Trust me. That wouldn’t make me uncomfortable.” He smiles at me, back to the friendly energy he had been texting me with earlier.
Perhaps I should have come without Seth. I look away, fighting off a smile. After a stressful few days, it’s… nice to receive a compliment from someone like David. He’s a catch.
“I’m sure he would be interested if you picked someone else to do that with,” I say, lifting my drink.
“But what if I’m interested in you?”
I choke on my drink. “I—”
His brows furrow. “Are you and Seth really seeing each other? Is it serious? I would have thought the Starbrook rumor mill would have gotten that back to me by now.”
He’s right. It would have. That’s but one of the many problems with living in such a small town.
“No,” I squeak. “We’re—we’re just friends. Hardly that, really. Family friends.”
“Then you’re just not interested in me?” He nods, still as good-natured as ever. “No problem. I can take a hint.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Am I interested in David? And since when is he interested in me?
I’ve never considered it. I’m busy breaking a hex for…
for the man I’m in love with. Not that I particularly want to be in love with Seth.
Even without the hex, I don’t have time for love.
And what are the chances that David’s interest is solely to make Seth feel bad?
The last thing I want is to be used that way.
It’s all too twisted.
Seth returns, all smiles, likely unaware of whatever transpired while he was gone. I’m still wrapping my head around it myself. David takes the beer from him and thanks him.
“Well.” I clear my throat and sit up straighter. “I’ll get to the point—”
“Trying to get rid of me already?” David asks.
I think I’m blushing again. “No. Not that.”
He chuckles. “Go on.”
Seth watches us, and I get the feeling he knows what’s happening—even though I can still hardly believe what’s happening.
David is flirting with me, and Seth must know.
His eyes dart between us, narrowing ever so slightly.
I know Seth, as annoying and impossible as he may be, and I believe he knows me as well. Too well.
“Someone hexed Seth to give him bad luck in love,” I intone. “We’re speaking to the witches he’s dated to see who it was.”
“Ro,” Seth whispers harshly. “I know he said to be blunt, but Jesus—”
“That’s what he wants.” I don’t look away from David. “Right?”
“Right.” David leans in, never looking away from me. “And I’ll be blunt right back. I have no clue what you’re talking about, but I don’t cast hexes, and my mom would kill me for casting one this petty.”
He drinks his beer as I speak.
“But your relationship didn’t end on a pleasant note. Is there any possibility it was an accidental, intention-based hex?”
“Nope.” David shrugs. “I got my feelings hurt, sure, but Seth let me know what was up from day one. Friends with benefits. My fault for hoping it would be more. I’m a big boy.”
Seth relaxes next to me, his shoulders slumping.
“There’s no curing commitment issues.” David continues to rant, his fingers making marks in the condensation on his glass. “I don’t blame myself either. It is what it is. Onto better things for both of us, right?”
If anyone else were to say those words, I would think they’re coping, but there’s genuine confidence in him and…
He’s looking right at me.
“I—” Seth looks between us, shaking his head. “Right. Well, thanks for not hexing me, I guess.”
I set my glass down with a thud. “Seth.”
“I’m trying.” He looks at Dave. “Rowan told me I need better apologies.”
“That wasn’t an apology at all,” I mutter.
David laughs, throwing his head back. “I don’t need an apology. I mean it. No hard feelings.”
I exchange a look with Seth, who nods subtly—he trusts him. David wasn’t the one who hexed him, either.
“All right…” I cross his name off my mental list.
My hope is wavering. There’s only one more witch to go, and we’re no closer to solving this.
And of course, I saved the worst for last. I would rather have three more awkward encounters with David than face Scarlet Moreau just one time.
“But I meant what I said.” Dave lowers his voice and leans in closer. “I’d like to see you again—not like this—if you have time. I know you’re a busy witch.”
“You’re busy too.” I clear my throat, all too aware of Seth watching. “How has your father been?”
“Still spry enough to work at the shop. Not sure he’ll ever let it go.”
“That’s good.” I bite my lower lip and look away. “And you have my number if you’d like to get in touch again. About… anything.”
Seth makes a choking sound.
“I do, and I will.” David lifts his beer and stands, tilting the drink toward us. “See you around.”
I watch him saunter to the other side of the tavern, and I turn to Seth. “I think that went well.”
“I’ve never seen you smile like that.” He leans closer the moment Dave is out of earshot—thank the gods for not giving witches stronger hearing. Seth would certainly embarrass me. “He was flirting with you.”
What’s the point in denying it? I lift a shoulder. “And?”
“And… are you going to date him?”
“I haven’t decided if I have the time for anything like that, especially not considering that he’s apparently looking for something serious. But I like him.”
“Like him, or like him?”
I roll my eyes. “Stop it. We’re not children anymore. And besides, there’s a chance he was only flirting with me to make you jealous.”
“I doubt it.” He crinkles his nose. “That would be a dick move. Dave isn’t a dick.”
“Perhaps not. Time will tell.”
He frowns and stares down at his drink. “I, um… I had something for you after this. But, like, if you want to go hang out with him—”
“Seth. Stop.” I place a hand over his. It’s natural, thoughtless, but it sends my heart racing. “I have time. Whatever you want.”