Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Five
I don’t want to leave this bed.
Gus stared up at the ceiling, the morning light illuminating his bedroom. When he woke up, Sirena wasn’t in his bed, and her clothes were gone. He held back a sob. Grief swept through him. It was done. The spell must have failed.
He looked over at his nightstand and snatched up his phone to see what time it was.
His phone was out of battery. Great. Who knew how many calls he had missed? Had Sirena called?
At least he had been able to spend another perfect night with Sirena before the reboot. She hadn’t heard anything about the interview. He didn’t know what the day held, but he wanted to see her again. Maybe he’d meet her at the Harvest Festival. Maybe this time around, they’d go to the pumpkin patch or the zombie stroll. This time around, he would romance her the right way. Gus pressed his nose to the pillow, trying hard to get a hint of her perfume.
He just wanted to hold on to a little bit of their magic.
She was his kindred, and he was hers. They’d find their way back to each other.
He had to believe in them.
A soft groan from the bedroom doorway startled him from his thoughts. Gus snapped his head up from the bed. Surprise lit up within him like a broken Atlantic City slot machine. There was a half-naked witch in his apartment. He sat up in bed and took in Sirena’s sumptuous form. With a bedsheet wrapped around her body like a toga, she appeared like a wrinkled goddess.
Her brown skin sparkled in the morning light.
There were remnants of glitter on her eyelids, giving her an otherworldly glow.
“You’re here!” He leapt from the bed and pulled on his boxers. Gus stood before her, drinking her in. He pinched his stomach. Ouch. Nope. He wasn’t dreaming, and if he was, it was a beautiful dream of Sirena in the morning light. They held each other for a long moment.
He kissed her forehead, nuzzling her skin with his beard and lips.
Her voice was sleepy. “I’m here. What now?”
Gus stiffened. Right. Things were much more complicated in the light of day.
Sirena stole a look at him.
“I didn’t want to say last night, but I… I have a hard time believing in the idea of soulmates and kindred because…” She took a breath. “I’ve never really been in love.”
Gus blinked rapidly, trying to collect his thoughts.
“You’ve never been in love? Ever?”
“I’m talking about storybook, happily-ever-after, buy-you-the-soap-and-cologne-set-for-the-holiday true love. I’ve never experienced that with any man.”
He regarded her quizzically, trying not to be shocked by this confession.
Sirena pointed at him, a helpless look on her face. “See, that look! You’re staring at me like I just turned into the Mothman’s sister! Like I’m a big old freak. I’ve seen that look on every one of my boyfriend’s faces when I told them.”
“Does that make me your boyfriend?” he said lightly.
Sirena stared at Gus. “Why would you want to be with me? I’m a hot mess.”
“A beautiful hot mess,” he joked kindly.
Sirena let out a dry laugh. “Thank you. We can talk about labels and names later, but I’d like to take it slow between us.”
“How slow are we talking? Like a sloth crawling up a branch slow?”
Sirena wrinkled her nose. “We can go faster than that. I’m thinking, like, a leisurely pace. Like a sea star living their best life.”
He grinned. “That sounds good to me.”
They could take this relationship slow for as long as she wanted. A wiggle of doubt nestled inside his chest, and a mocking voice spoke in his head: You’re not a sea star; you’re a marlin who likes to go super fast. Like sixty-seven-miles-per-hour fast when it comes to love. Gus willed that voice away. It’s fine. It is going to be fine.
Her forehead furrowed. “We go out on dates and hang out, but there’s no pressure to spend the night. I’m not seeing anyone else, but… if you find some other woman you’re interested in, you can see her.”
He met her eyes. “There is no one else.” There would never be anyone else for him, but he wasn’t going to tell her that fact right now. He was taking it slow.
Sirena blinked. “So, would you feel comfortable being my date to Lucy’s wedding?”
“Would you do me the honor of being my wedding date for Jess’s wedding?”
“It would be my pleasure,” she said.
“Okay, so what do you want right now?” he asked.
“I want scrambled eggs.”
Gus kissed her brow. “Then I’ll make them for you.”
Sirena clutched the sheet to her chest. He went to his closet and pulled out a few shirts and a pair of sweatpants. He handed her a distressed Freya Grove Gladiators T-shirt, which she slipped on, giving him a flash of her naked body. Want flared within him. Focus, Dearworth. She knows that she’s your kindred. Now you have to figure out how to convince her to believe in the idea of being a kindred. He went into the kitchenette and checked the fridge, groaning when he checked the carton.
“We don’t have eggs.”
He turned to the doorway. Sirena stood there looking deliciously rumpled. Gus itched to pull her into his arms and tumble back into the sheets with her. All he wanted to do was lose himself in her and forget that today was the tomorrow that he had feared.
Sirena reached for her purse. “I’ll go get some.”
“No, you rest. I’ll get the eggs,” Gus said.
He kissed her quickly on the cheek, stepping back before he could scoop her up into his arms again. How many times was he going to kiss her? Luther Vandross didn’t lie. A thousand kisses with her would never be too much for him. He’d charm her when she had a full stomach. He grabbed his phone from the bedroom and flashed a shy grin as he went downstairs. Last night and all the nights they’d spent together had been wonderful, if not disorienting. The loop was over. His legs were shaky and wobbly with excitement. It felt like he’d just gotten off an out-of-control roller coaster and was trying to get his balance after being on a ride for so long. He whistled a sea shanty that Beryl had recorded as he walked out the back door off the kitchen. His car, a beat-up green Grand Am, was parked in the back parking lot away from the front door. He got in the driver’s seat, plugged his phone into his car charger, and turned it on.
It vibrated, then buzzed with unread messages. That wasn’t a good sign.
As Gus flicked past his lock screen and read a text, a sense of dread filled him.
“Oh no.” Hurricane Anais was about to make landfall.
He switched the car off and went back to the house.
Sirena’s arm throbbed uncomfortably, and she was sleepy and hungry, but she felt deliriously happy. The time loop was done. She walked gingerly down the stairs, trying to avoid the squeaky steps and not make too much noise. Sirena relished the homespun academia vibe this place gave her every time she visited the society. You could find turn-of-the-century photos of Freya Grove alongside crocheted blankets and handmade kitchen poppets around every corner. It was no wonder Gus loved this space, and she didn’t want him to hand it over to anyone.
Her heart squealed in a low, happy whine. Gus. She spent her Halloween night with Gus.
He had peppered her with so many kisses this morning and been so tender with her last night. She wanted him to stay here and—maybe she could stay here with him. Was she asking him to extend his stewardship and stay in the Grove? Her heart raced at that idea, but her brain told her to stay under the speed limit. She was going to take things slow and not pressure him to make any big decisions.
Her current life and possible future were existing in the same space, and it felt overwhelming. She didn’t want to think about it. All she wanted was scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, and honey vanilla tea. Once she had food in her stomach, she was going to talk to Gus and learn more about this kindred idea.
Gus seemed so sure about their past, but she was unsure of their future.
She cared for him greatly, but she hadn’t felt the click, that telltale click that every Caraway witch felt when they met their soulmate.
Her phone beeped with a waiting message, but she decided to ignore it for now. Eventually, Sirena made her way to the society kitchen and opened the fridge, looking to see what was there. A clacking of heels came from down the hallway. It was probably Diane coming back to look for something she had left behind, rocking those high stilettos that she wore last night. But then the hair stood up on the back of her neck, and Sirena felt her skin tingle. The air grew heavy and dark, as if a raincloud hovered in the sky.
An amused cackle filled the kitchen. “So, you’re the fabulous witch my son likes.”
Sirena turned, immediately recognizing the voice from the reruns she watched. Anais Dearworth. The older woman was on point and perfect with everything about her. Nails, done. Hair, done. Outfit, flawless. Even the shoes were fabulous. She was meeting the lady magician in a borrowed sweatshirt, sweatpants, and bare feet.
Anais blinked slowly, her long lashes showing off her hazel eyes. “Are you or are you not my son’s new girlfriend? That’s what my daughter told me.”
Did she temporarily forget her name? “Um… I’m Sirena.”
Anais gave her an amused smirk, then extended her hand to Sirena. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m pretty sure you know who I am.”
Sirena shook her waiting hand. Um, yeah. Half the internet knew who she was. She’d watched Anais Dearworth read countless fools down for filth on her highly rated talent competition, Star Avenue . She could be kind and inspiring, then turn on a dime, putting the biggest star’s ego in its place.
Gus joined them in the kitchen.
He was breathing heavily, smoothing his hand on his shirt. “Mom! You’re here.”
She threw open her arms and hugged him. “August, love! I texted you to let you know I was coming over! Diane is parking the car out front.”
Gus stepped back and rubbed his face. “My phone died, and I just connected it to the charger. I literally just got your message.” He glanced from his mother to Sirena, a troubled look in his eyes. Her stomach dropped. “You’ve met Sirena.”
“Don’t worry. I borrowed Di’s key and let myself in. Yes, I’ve met your girlfriend, Sirena.”
Gus and Sirena traded a look.
“It’s not like that,” he said.
“Then what is it like?” Mrs. Dearworth drawled. “A month ago, you said you weren’t dating anyone, and now you have a whole girlfriend. I saw pictures from last night. Slow dancing? Kisses? It seems like something to me. Are you together?”
She shifted her designer bag to the crook her arm and tilted her head to the side, as if daring him to refute her statement. Gus opened and then closed his mouth.
Sirena bit the inside of her cheek, trying to come up with an explanation. Well. She had literally just asked Gus to take things slow and now his mom was asking if they were a couple. She’d let Gus closer to her than any man had gotten in a long time, and she liked having him close.
Were they together?
“We are,” she said simply.
Anais clicked her tongue dismissively. “Okay. You young folks don’t want to put labels on things, so I’ll leave you alone—for now. I’m ravenous. I’ll order something tasty on Empty Fridge. If it wasn’t for that app, I’d have to forage for mushrooms in the backyard and grow pizza in my garden.”
Gus grinned. “Mom, I can cook.”
Anais gave him a side-eye. “Excuse me, son. When did you learn how to cook? The last time you were near a stove, you couldn’t boil water.”
“You don’t know what I’ve learned in the Grove,” Gus said.
“I have an idea of what you been studying,” she muttered.
Sirena froze in place when Anais raised a plucked brow and looked her over. She forced herself to keep from making any sudden movements. Can she see into my brain?
Anais waved her hand. “Cook for us next time, sweetheart. Besides, I want to get to know your… new friend. Maybe you can take pity on my son and be his wedding date.”
Sirena grinned. “No need. He already asked me to be his date.”
“Wow,” Anais said. “My son actually listened to me! I don’t know what spell you cast on him, but keep it up.”
Gus groaned, but there was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. He was still her rogue.
Anais looped her arm around Sirena and yanked her to her side. She forced herself to relax. The lady magician is standing right next to me. She was suddenly enfolded in a cloud of eau de parfum that smelled of sweet honey and primroses. They walked out of the kitchen into the living room. Diane strolled in through the front door, giving Sirena a dumbfounded look.
Anais laughed. “Let’s talk about blueberry muffins.”