Chapter 25
BLAIRE
Iwake up in Jamie’s room with no idea what time it is.
The walls are still frosted and glow a soft white on every side of me, like I fell asleep inside a cloud. It’s the best sleep I’ve had in weeks, and I have him to thank for it.
I roll over, reaching for his side of the bed. It’s cold to the touch.
My dress hangs folded over the chair in the corner of the room. My boots stand beside it. Instead of wrestling with that, I pull his shirt off the floor and put it on. Then I slide on some joggers from a drawer and pull the string as tight as I can.
Two identical voices travel from downstairs. Then I remember yesterday and what happened. I want to forget that photos of Jamie and me are plastered all over the internet and that people are trying to find out who I am. I want to stay a mystery. I want my relationships to do the same.
Then I remember The Tower card. Was that my own reading? I didn’t question it until he did. Maybe we’re just going through it together.
I tuck my hair behind my ears and take the stairs down to the bottom floor. They’re both leaning against the counter, looking a little too identical for my taste. They’re wearing the same charcoal sweater and the same dark jeans. Their hair matches. Both of them are holding the same mug.
“I’ve had benders where I saw double in the morning. Reminds me of my early twenties,” I say, moving to the espresso machine and turning it on. I press the button, letting it auto-grind as I place an espresso glass underneath.
“You like espresso?” one of them asks.
“I worked in a coffee shop for years. I used to take two shots every morning,” I say without turning. “It’s where Autumn met Zane. My two best friends and I gave that place hell every morning.”
I miss hanging out with them, but they’re in their married stage and enjoying being with the loves of their life. I get it.
When it’s finished brewing, the crema on top is absolutely perfect. I turn, blowing on the top as I stare at them. “What kind of coffee is this? Smells good.”
They look at one another, then shrug at the same time.
“Oh, you two are good at this game,” I say, opening a few cabinets and finding the bag. “Cozy Coffee. Dark roast. Very good boy.”
I hear one of them snicker. Probably Patterson. Maybe not.
Cozy Coffee doesn’t ship beans. Jules roasts eight pounds at a time in a warehouse just over the hill and sells it over the counter to people who walk in. Everyone in Colorado knows they have the best brew in the entire state. That means someone drove.
“I guess you spoke to Jules. What did she say about me?”
Neither of them reacts.
“I can only imagine.”
I take in a deep breath, trying to figure out which is which. I have to force myself to use my intuition. It’s the same pull that’s been dragging us together since the day we met. I don’t mention it, but I feel it.
“Anyone have the time?”
“It’s just past six,” one of them says.
One of them pushes off the counter as the other pulls ingredients from the fridge.
I sit on the stool, watching them make omelets while they chat about the weather.
Eggs get cracked into a bowl. One handles slicing avocado while the other cooks.
They build breakfast together, and I try to imagine them as kids and how they interacted with one another.
I wouldn’t know. I was the only kid my parents had.
Instead of siblings, I had Autumn and Julie.
“Wow, I could get used to this.”
“Maybe you should.”
The plate is handed to me across the island with a fork. When I take it, my fingers slide over his.
He doesn’t pull away, but he doesn’t smile either.
Neither of us looks at Patterson.
“May I have the salt?” I ask.
It arrives in front of me.
“Unbelievable,” the other one says.
“What is?” I ask.
“Nothing at all. Eat your breakfast.”
I’m convinced he’s Jamie. The omelet is better than anything I’ve made.
“This is really good,” I say.
A phone vibrates on the counter, and one of them picks it up. He carries it toward the balcony door and stops halfway because whoever is on the other end has asked a question he doesn’t want to answer in front of me.
The door shuts behind him, and I look at the twin I’m left with.
“His wife?” I ask.
He turns and stares at me. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“What happens if you pick wrong?”
I think about his question as I take more bites of eggs. It’s a fair thing to ask.
“Then I’d take it as a sign.” I shrug.
“For?” He picks up his coffee mug and sips.
“Maybe to rethink things. That maybe it wasn’t as deep as I thought.”
He sets the mug down without drinking from it again.
Out past the glass, his brother walks the length of the balcony in the cold with one hand in his hair.
“You don’t do that,” I tell him.
“No?”
“Not that I’ve ever seen.” I continue eating.
When I’m finished, I slide off the stool and set my plate in the sink.
“Do you think you guessed right?”
“I know I did.”
“Prove it,” he says.
I cross the kitchen, take a fistful of that charcoal sweater, and kiss him.
He has me backed into the counter before I finish. One hand slides into my hair. The other one settles low on my back and stays there. Nothing about this is careful. When I come up for air, my hip is against him with a leg around him, and I have no memory of getting there.
The balcony door slides open, and cold rolls in ahead of his brother.
“Oh, for the love of God! I was gone for ten minutes!” Patterson says. “Did you tell her?”
“Didn’t have to,” Jamie says without letting go of me. “I’m sorry he’s here to fuck things up.”
Patterson tucks his phone into his pocket. “Actually, if anyone fucked up anything, it was you. That was Nick. Your statement went out this morning, and nobody bought it. There’s also been a new development.”
I put my foot back on the floor. “Which is?”
Patterson picks up his mug, discovers it’s empty, and sets it down again. “They figured out who you are.”
Jamie freezes.
“Blaire Wardwell. Owns Charmed Cauldron on Main Street in Pine Haven, Colorado. She lives in the Wardwell Manor. Thirty-one years old. Only child. Generational witch and woo queen.” Patterson reads it off like a report.
“Woo queen?” I ask.
“You’re an only child?” Jamie asks.
“You didn’t ask her about her family?” Patterson turns to him. “Rude.”
“This isn’t good,” I whisper. “Shit. I’m supposed to open today.”
“Do you believe that’s a good idea?” Jamie asks, searching my face.
“Do you?” I meet his eyes.
“I won’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.
However … I think since your workplace was doxed, it would be in your best interest to stay out of sight.
They will park themselves on the sidewalk to take videos and pictures of you through the windows.
There’s nothing you can do because it’s a constitutional right.
If you want privacy in public, it’s your responsibility to ensure that. ”
My brows crease. “They wouldn’t.”
“They will,” Patterson says. “Many want to know more about Blaire Wardwell. Once you feed the monster, it won’t stop.”
“But I can’t let this affect my life,” I say, glancing between them. “That’s exactly what I didn’t want.”
Nobody argues with me. That’s worse than if they did.
“I’ll join you,” Jamie tells me. “We can scope it out, and you can make a decision then. It could be nothing. I tend to think the worst in situations like this.”
“Okay,” I tell him. “I’m going to change. Then we can go.”
He gives me a nod. I go upstairs and change into the clothes I had on yesterday, knowing I’ll need to go home and shower before work.
On the way down the mountain, he holds my hand.
The sky is transforming from a beautiful pink to a breathtaking blue.
By the time we arrive in Pine Haven, the streets are packed with people and pumpkins on the sidewalks.
October is in full force with the tourists already shopping.
The bakery has a line out the door, and so does Roasted Bean.
When we turn at the bank, I count at least twelve people standing on the sidewalk outside my shop. I glance down at the clock on the dash, and it says it’s 7:15 a.m.
We don’t open until ten. Jamie doesn’t slow down, but I duck in the seat. He makes another turn on the back street that leads behind the manor. He pulls off to the side, and I stare out the window at the colorful leaves rustling on the sidewalk.
“What do you want to do?” he asks.
I close my eyes, then face my palms upward. I wait and listen for someone or the universe to give me a nudge in the right direction.
“What are you doing?” he whispers.
“Meditating,” I tell him, trying to slow my breathing.
“Oh, okay,” he says, getting quiet.
I peek, seeing his eyes are closed, and he’s got his palms up like mine. I try to hold back a smile but then go back to it. A month ago, we were casting spells to break his curse, and now this man is manic meditating with me in his car.
The sound of songbirds in a nearby tree is all I hear. There’s no pull or no push or intuition download. My aunt used to say neutrality to situations is an answer too.
My phone vibrates in my lap, and we both jump.
Autumn
I can’t believe you’re dating Jameson and didn’t tell me first!
I realize it’s a group chat, and she’s added Julie, Winter, and Josie. My heart starts to race.
Winter
I knew!
Josie
Me too!
Jules
I’m actually pissed about this.
Julie sends a link to the article that shows pictures of Jamie and me in Salem.
Josie
Whoa, this looks serious! I want maid of honor!
Autumn
Excuse me? I’ve been her friend before you were born!
Josie
Blood is thicker than water.
Jules
Honestly, I’m the perfect pick for the position!
Winter
I will happily just be a plain ole bridesmaid. The wenches can duke it out!
Autumn
WHO ARE YOU CALLING A WENCH?
Jamie opens his eyes. “Is that the universe answering?”
“It’s something,” I tell him. “My friends know.”
He gives me a small smile. “We can end it right here. I can make sure people know we’re not together.”
“We agreed to Halloween,” I say. “If you want to—”