Chapter 8
Rowan
PARADISE CITY BY GUNS N’ ROSES
Willa’s at the front counter, working on her supply order, with a black cauldron shaped mug that says, “Witch Better Have my Latte” beside her.
Since my shop isn't busy at the moment and I'm keeping an eye on it through the doorway that connects the two businesses, I’m helping her unpack a new shipment of romance novels, stacking them in tidy piles for her while we talk and catch up.
Ivy’s perched on the stool at the counter, doodling cupcakes and confetti in her notebook, looking like she’s planning world domination one children’s birthday party at a time.
“Okay, so this party theme is ‘The Good Witch’s Garden,’” Ivy says, scribbling a note next to the confetti. “There will be sparkly potion bottles, decorating witch hats, and a butterfly release. Do you think these kids can handle glitter in their potions?”
Willa groans. “No one can handle glitter, Ivy. Glitter is the devil.”
I laugh, stacking another row of books. “Maybe we should put a warning sign up at the entrance to the party. ‘Participate at your own risk. You’ll sparkle for the rest of your life.’”
Ivy looks up with a mischievous grin. “Speaking of sparkle. Let's talk about your trip to Coconut Beach. Are you excited? You finally get to wear all those sexy bikinis you bought.”
Oh no. I forgot about the bikinis.
Jessica and I originally planned this trip to find hot beach guys and flirt our way through Coconut Beach. Now? I’ll have a hot guy with me.
I still don’t know if he was serious about actually going.
He seemed serious. And knowing us, it would be easy.
It always is with him, and he’d make me laugh the whole time.
We’d probably drink too many fruity cocktails.
It would be a good time. It might also break my heart if he meets someone there.
Because if Finn comes, there’s a chance of that happening.
I’ll have to smile through it while watching him flirt with another woman like it doesn’t gut me a little.
Willa arches an eyebrow so sharp it could slice someone. “Please tell me you are not still considering taking Jessica after she’s been acting like a dumbass.”
Before I can answer, Ivy gasps dramatically, pressing a hand to her heart like she has been personally wronged. “She doesn’t deserve a trip to Coconut Beach,” she declares. “She deserves a curse. Maybe she can always step on Legos.”
Willa spins toward her. “Legos? Ivy, aim higher. We’re witches.”
“Oh, I’m aiming,” Ivy says, eyes narrowing with mischief. “I’m thinking something that makes her eyelashes fall out one at a time during important conversations.”
Willa snorts. “I was thinking more along the lines of a hex that keeps leaving her on read for the rest of her life. Every single message. Radio silence. No dopamine for her ever again.”
“That’s diabolical.” Ivy looks genuinely impressed.
I try to cut in, but they are revving up now, feeding off each other’s outrage like it is a coven sport.
“And the mayor,” Ivy says, lifting a finger. “We’re not forgetting that worm.”
Willa nods sharply. “Oh, don’t worry. I have ideas for him.”
“Same,” Ivy says, rolling her shoulders like she is about to go twelve rounds in a magical boxing ring. “I’m thinking a tiny charm that makes him forget every single talking point during public speeches. Right when the cameras start rolling.”
Willa bursts out laughing. “Perfect. And I will add one that unties his shoelaces at the worst possible moment. Every time he tries to be dramatic or smug, boom, on the floor.”
“I would pay actual money to see that,” Ivy muses dreamily.
My head drops into my hands. “Guys. Please.”
They both ignore me completely.
“Oh, oh,” Ivy says, snapping her fingers like she just discovered fire. “A mild itching spell. Not harmful, just… inconvenient.”
“Yes,” Willa breathes, eyes sparkling. “Right in the middle of council meetings. The man would unravel.”
I groan. “You two are unhinged.”
Willa crosses her arms, chin lifting. “We’re your sisters. What did you expect? That we’d just let this crap happen to you? Not a chance. We’re here for revenge.”
“And someone is screwing with our sister,” Ivy adds, voice fierce in a way that makes my chest squeeze. “The audacity.”
There it is. The heart of it. Beneath the jokes and hex ideas and creative ways to ruin Sammy Briggs’s life, they are furious on my behalf. Protective. Ready to start magical warfare over me.
A warmth spreads through my chest, unexpected and a little overwhelming. I feel loved. Supported. Seen. And just a little exasperated because they really might try one of these spells if left unsupervised.
I sigh, but a smile tugs at my lips. “I appreciate the enthusiasm.”
They exchange a look that absolutely means there will be hexes.
Willa steps closer and squeezes my arm. “We always have your back. Always.”
Ivy nods, slipping her hand into mine. “No one messes with a Maren.”
And even though the world is still spinning and the mayor is still a disaster, and my life feels unsteady, standing here between my sisters makes everything inside me settle.
This is my coven. My family. My home.
And they will burn the world down before they let me fall.
I slide the last stack of books onto the shelf, but my hands are shaking a little. The words scrape out of me before I can stop them. “I am one hundred percent not taking Jessica. Not now. Not ever.”
It sounds firm, final, almost cold. But inside, something aches.
Because it is not about Pilates. It is not about Marilyn or Vanessa. It is not even about Coconut Beach.
It’s the way she laughed along when those two tore me apart, even though her eyes flicked away like she knew it was wrong. It’s the way she keeps dodging my calls and pretending nothing is wrong, like I imagined all of it.
It hits me harder than I want to admit. I thought she was my friend. A real one. Not another girl who gets close to me until the town’s pecking order tells her she is supposed to choose a side.
I press my palm to the shelf to steady myself. “She flaked on me, Willa. She let them talk about me like I was garbage. And she did not say a word.” My voice cracks, embarrassingly soft. “If she can’t even defend me when I am not in the room, then she never cared at all.”
The truth settles in my chest, heavy and familiar in a way that makes my throat burn. “I should have seen it sooner. She’s just another girl who decided it is safer to stand with people who hate me than beside me.”
My voice wobbles, but I force a breath. “So, no. I am not taking Jessica. I am done begging people to treat me like I matter.”
Willa and Ivy nod in agreement.
“I'm taking Finn,” I say, cheeks warming, knowing how much crap they're going to give me after this confession. But it's better to rip the band-aid off and get it over with. Let the teasing commence. They're obviously going to figure it out if he goes with me.
Ivy gasps like I just announced I’m marrying him. She leans across the counter, clutching her pen like this is the juiciest gossip she’s heard all week. “You’re taking Finn to Coconut Beach?”
Willa’s grin spreads slowly and wide. “Oh, this is good.” She sets down the pen next to her list. “This is really good.”
I lift my chin, pretending I’m unfazed even though my stomach is doing that dumb swoopy thing it always does when Finn’s name comes up.
“He offered to go with me,” I say, aiming for casual, but it comes out a little too fast. “Like you said, flights are already booked with no refunds, and I figured, why not? He loves Coconut Beach. And he has time to go. It’s practical. ”
Smooth, Rowan, I think to myself. I sound like a clown.
Ivy snorts. “Practical my ass. This is Finn Bennett. You’re going to be in a tropical paradise with the man who looks like a woman's wet dream. Alone. In a cute little one-bedroom beach cottage. And let's not forget that he'll be shirtless all week. Have you seen his chiseled torso?”
I try not to imagine Finn shirtless. It doesn’t work. I've seen it so many times, and it never gets old. His body is so ripped with muscle from all the physical labor he does every day. He’s a literal wet dream. But I’m never admitting that to them.
“Oh no,” Willa says dramatically, clutching her chest and pretending to swoon. “Poor Rowan. Forced to take a beach vacation with a hot, loyal, emotionally stable man who clearly adores her.”
“Oh, stop it,” I warn, pointing at her. “He’s my best friend.”
“Uh-huh,” Ivy drawls, clearly not buying it. She taps her pen against her notebook. “Friends who just happen to vacation together and have off-the-charts chemistry.”
“For the record, Tate is my best friend. And I do dirty things with that man,” Willa says with a smirk. “Maybe you need to do those things with your best friend, too.”
I roll my eyes, but my face is burning. “It’s not like that.”
Willa makes a little mmhmm sound that has me wanting to throw a cookie from the plate on the table at her. “You’re going to come back tan, relaxed, and in love.”
“They're already in love,” Ivy corrects softly, and that’s when I know I’ve lost. "Right now, they're just in denial.”
Willa looks at me thoughtfully. “Maybe we should put a spell on you so that you come back more in love than you ever could imagine.” She tilts her head at Ivy, and Ivy nods with approval.
Willa begins to gather items, and I stare at her. “Stop it. We’re not in love and you’d better not do any of your love spells.”
“Mom probably has already been working on a love spell for the both of you.” Willa shrugs. “I’ll just add in a little extra touch.”
“Great idea,” Ivy says, nodding fast like she’s had three cups of coffee. “Yes, this is a great plan. Sun, sea, and finally realizing Finn is your endgame.”
I nearly drop a stack of paperbacks. “He's not my endgame.”
Willa snorts. “Rowan, he literally built you a greenhouse and moved all of your plants onto his property. That’s husband behavior.”