Chapter 8 #2
The hiss from the box stays steady. Blaire nods, and I focus on the moon. It’s bright, almost blinding. Or maybe that’s the witches’ brew taking over. I can’t tell any longer because everything seems more intense.
“If you could have anything in the entire world, what would it be?” she asks.
“Truthfully?”
She nods.
“For someone to know me.”
Her brows relax as she reaches forward and squeezes my hand. “I hope you get that. Everyone deserves to be known and seen.”
The spirits stay silent, which I take as approval.
The candles burn lower in their jars, and the cold comes up through the blanket.
Blaire counts the stars. She points out constellations and galaxies.
Her fingers trace invisible lines I lose track of while the hint of licorice still sits on the back of my tongue.
I decide right then that I could listen to her all night.
But that could be the shit swimming through my veins, messing with my head.
I don’t know how much time passes. It’s racing by but also going slow.
“Have you ever been in love?” I ask her.
“That’s not how this works,” she whispers into the night.
“Oh, come on.”
A pop of static comes from the box, followed by a woman’s voice. “Tell him NOW.”
“Traitors,” she mutters. She pulls the blanket tighter around her. “Yes. Once. It was a messy ending. Broke me into a million little pieces.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugs. “It’s okay. The moon’s nearly down. It’s time.”
From her pocket, she takes a length of black cord. She kneels in front of me and ties it around my left wrist, murmuring low words again while she pulls the knot snug. “The cord will pull the last shards of the curse’s grip from your soul. When the moon touches the ridge, we’ll cut it loose.”
We sit with that while the moon drifts. When its bottom edge meets the tree line, she snaps the cord off my wrist and drops it into the nearest jar, and the flame eats it. Blaire reaches inside her pocket and throws salt over the flame, and the spirit box answers with gibberish.
A breeze slides through the trees, making the leaves rustle on the ground, and then several candles blow out.
She sucks in a deep breath and then exhales. “It’s done.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.” She looks exhausted as she tucks hair behind her ear.
I don’t know which of us moves closer—maybe we do at the same time.
I turn my head, and our mouths are inches apart.
Our breaths mingle, and her eyes flutter closed.
It starts slow, careful even, and then she grabs my collar, pulling me closer.
Our lips crash together. She tastes like sugar and licorice, sweeter than the brew ever was.
The cemetery and the candles and everything around me vanish.
It’s just her, holding on to me like she never wants to let go.
As her tongue slides against mine, she moans, then pushes me back onto the blanket.
I wrap my arm around her and groan into her mouth.
That’s when she places her hand on my chest and gently pulls herself away.
“I’m sorry,” she says, licking her lips, eyes wide. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Don’t apologize.” I tuck my arm under my head, studying her beautiful brown eyes.
Fuck, I don’t want this moment to end.
“I can’t cross this line with you,” she whispers. “You’re a tourist.”
“And?”
“There’s someone else out there for you. It can’t be me, Jamie.” She says it like it’s written in the stars. Blaire stands and pushes her hair over her shoulders, then looks down at me. “The session’s over. I wish you the absolute best. Genuinely.”
I rise to my feet. My lips are numb from kissing her. “Are you busy on Tuesday? I’d like to—”
“I have plans.”
“Cancel them. I’ll make it worth your while.”
She lets out a sigh. “It’s the equinox. It’s important that you spend that time welcoming the new season properly. Have fun. Meet new people. Enjoy life.”
I take a step forward and place my finger under her chin, tipping her face up to mine. “You’re extremely stubborn. There’s a vibe between us. You know there is.”
She places her hand on top of mine, then pushes it away. “You paid me to do a job, and I did it. I’m a professional.”
“You’re avoiding the unavoidable,” I say.
She smiles but doesn’t answer. The glimmer in her eye tells me I’m not imagining this. If I were imagining it, she would’ve said so.
“Good night, Jamie.”
“I want to see you again,” I say.
“Let the universe decide.” She does a little spin. “If it’s meant to be, you’ll see me again. And if not, you won’t. Try living your life without trying to control every aspect of it. See what happens for the season.”
“So, that’s it?” I ask.
“Yes. I expect a five-star review from a skeptic when you finally fall in love.” She strolls toward the house, refusing to turn around and look back at me.
The manor door opens and shuts behind her, and then I’m alone.
“Curse broken,” a low voice in the box says, and nearly scares the shit out of me.
I laugh. “Really?”
“Crush. Crush.”
I don’t argue with it. I stare down at the box, feeling raw and ripped open.
The moon has disappeared, and I’m suddenly wide awake. The haze from the witches’ brew dissipates. I blow out the remaining candles and walk back to the Mustang, a different man.
This can’t be the last time I ever see Blaire. I refuse to believe that.