Rowan
“Ro!” A gleeful, squeaky voice yells—Stella. She wiggles her fingers.
She’s loading up her little pink car, likely to get back on the road to school. And it’s just her. No Seth, no Natalie. I wave and cross the street.
“Need any help?” I ask, gesturing to the car.
It already appears to be packed: two duffel bags in the backseat, and a bag full of snacks. Everything they would need for the drive. It’s a short trip, one they’ve probably gotten used to, but I still worry about them—the same way I would worry about Laurel.
Perhaps more. It’s not as if they have magic to help them.
“No, no.” Stella rocks on her feet and shoves her hands into the pockets of her puffy pink jacket. “We have it all under control. Natalie is just grabbing a few things.”
“Good. You’ll come visit again soon, won’t you?”
Her expression softens. “Of course. And you can always text me if Seth is being a jerk, you know.”
Perhaps it’s a normal thing to say, but everything feels different now that Seth and I are together. As much as I try to hide that we’re an item, to keep it as a gift just for us, it’s only a matter of time before the others find out.
My face heats, uncomfortably hot despite the chill outside. “I will… certainly do that.”
Stella squeezes my arm, looking at me so earnestly that it breaks my heart. “We’re rooting for you.”
I’ve said goodbye to the twins before, but it’s never felt as heartfelt as when I wave them away now. They’re rooting for Seth and me, and while I’ve always felt like my feelings for him were invisible to everyone but me…
Maybe they weren’t. Maybe I wasn’t so alone after all.
With that on my mind, I begin the short walk to the Moonlit Tavern.
I step inside and quickly stop short.
Seth. On a barstool with a drink. I know him just by the back of his head.
He’s already here? I was going to text him to ask him to meet up, but it appears there’s no need.
He’s already at the bar. Next to someone I don’t recognize.
Must be from out of town.
I’ve spent so much of my life watching Seth talk to other beautiful people. Now, we’re together, and I need to trust him—I want to trust him. Familiar feelings return to the surface as I stand there, frozen.
Jealousy.
He’s taking this relationship seriously enough that his sisters seem to already know we’re together, but those doubts are still swimming in my stomach. Seth was always looking at someone else. Now, he sees me, but is it enough?
It takes several moments and three deep breaths for me to approach them, my expression even.
Seth smiles, and it’s the only thing that tells me nothing is wrong—but something still feels off about it. The person he’s with looks upset, and when she looks at me, she’s… glaring.
“See you around,” she mutters, scurrying off.
I turn my narrowed eyes onto Seth. “What is going on here?”
He scratches the back of his head. “I wasn’t trying to hide it, I swear.”
He jumps right to conclusions, and I suppose I have as well, but it does nothing to make me feel better. Seth claiming he isn’t trying to hide something—whatever he’s doing—only clarifies that he is.
But why? I already know everything about him. His past. His weaknesses. There’s no way he has a wandering eye already. I have to trust him better than that.
Good luck telling my mind what my heart already knows.
“Then what is it?” I grit out. “Surely a polite chat with a fellow patron.”
His expression becomes somber, and he steps closer, touching my elbow. I allow the moment of tenderness—for now.
I don’t want to be like Scarlet, bickering with Seth over minuscule things, but I won’t be like the others who let him trample over their hearts, nor do I think that’s what he needs.
“I’ve been talking to other people,” he says.
Never mind. Apparently, there was no reason to trust him.
I lift my eyebrows and step back. “I beg your pardon?”
“No!” he blurts out. “Not talking talking to other people. Not romantically. God, who even came up with that saying? We all talk to other people, don’t we?”
I pull away from him and rub my forehead. “Seth…”
He’s rambling, visibly nervous, and it nearly puts me at ease—even though he’s jerking me back and forth. Should I be concerned or not? I hate these games.
“I mean—we were talking about the hex. I’ve still—I’m—” He shakes his head. “It was nothing. I asked her to meet me here so we could talk, and she said she wasn’t involved. Not a witch, but I thought it would be good to check anyway.”
My stomach sinks again.
Seth doesn’t believe in this relationship, not the way I do. If he’s hexed, it doesn’t matter anymore. Even if my love for him isn’t enough to break it, we’re strong enough to withstand until it wears off.
Why is he still so worried?
“Why?” I shake my head, my expression softening. “You and I are doing well. You aren’t hexed anymore. We’re fine. Aren’t we?”
Does he know something I don’t?
“Yeah.” He nods. “Right. Everything is fine.”
But I can tell by the look in his eye that he doesn’t believe it. Perhaps there’s a part of me that doesn’t either. Not anymore. I want us to be fine—need us so badly to be fine—but small moments like that show we’re not. And maybe it doesn’t have to do with magic.
It’s my same old insecurities, and I don’t know how to shake them. It’s clear Seth isn’t entirely certain of us either. I press my lips together. This isn’t the night to put it into words.
I don’t want to scare him away. I don’t want to lose this.
“The hex can’t get between us,” I say. “It’s temporary, remember?”
It should surely be wearing off any time now, if it hasn’t already.
“I know.” He lets a sigh loose and wraps his arms around my shoulders, drawing me into his warmth. “You’re right. How are you always so right?”
Being in his arms makes everything else fade away. This is becoming my new safe place. I know better than to make homes out of people, but I could get pretty comfortable right here.
I inhale his scent deeply, trying to make a memory out of it. Leather, orange, and something sweet, like chocolate. “It’s a gift and a curse.”
“Nah. Just a gift. And I’m the lucky one who gets to be with you.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “That’s enough flattery.”
“Sure, sure. I’ll save the rest of my compliments for later.” He pulls away and gives me an unsure smile. “Let’s, uh… let’s get a drink.”
And we do. For the night, all is well. We drink, we laugh, and we forget.
But how long will these moments last?
Everything goes back to normal—or as close to normal as it can get when I’m living my dream. Between our shifts and family duties, Seth and I find plenty of time to sneak off together. Sometimes he spends the night; other times he goes over to his place.
And while he always invites me, I turn it down. It’s too soon for his mother to know we’re together, even though I’m sure she has her suspicions.
A family breakfast is probably our biggest challenge yet. Everyone is downstairs—my sisters, their partners, and his mother. We should be there too, but instead we’re ducked into a hallway just beside the stairs.
And after a long day of work, we can’t keep our hands off each other.
His lips press against my neck over and over, moving lower.
“We should go,” I say, quiet enough that no one can hear under the sound of laughter and clinking plates...
Well, perhaps the werewolf, demon, and vampire can hear, but my sisters’ partners are less nosy than they are.
“One more minute.” He squeezes my waist and nuzzles his face into my neck. “We can’t do this down there.”
I prod his chest, and he easily backs off. “We’ll have plenty of time for this later. Come on.”
It’s getting harder to keep our relationship a secret.
Spring is blossoming outside—a March day with sparse sunlight, snow turning to slush, and flowers soon to spring to life—and with it, my love life is blossoming.
I’ve never been the sort to share that part of my life with anyone, but it’s different with Seth.
We’re already so intertwined in each other’s lives.
I struggle to keep from holding his hand as we enter the kitchen, where Maple is flipping pancakes, and Juniper is scrambling eggs.
Juniper, the only person who has complete confirmation of our relationship, gives me a sharp look. “Where have you two been?”
Well, Maple likely knows as well, considering that I told her about my feelings for Seth, but she’s kind enough not to press us about it. Her lips purse as if she’s fighting off a smile.
“Around,” I say vaguely. “Do you need any help?”
“Sure. Set the table.”
Seth springs into action before I can. “On it!”
He works in perfect tandem with my sisters, setting out plates and silverware and dragging over extra chairs for our abundance of guests. And when everyone else has sat down, he’s the last one up…
Leaving only one available seat: the one next to mine.
It’s normal for Seth and me to sit next to each other, but the proximity makes me hot now. While the others joke and laugh throughout breakfast, I keep my head down, enjoying the food without saying a word.
“Why are you being so quiet?” Laurel asks, leaning across the table. She’s whispering, sure, but her version of a whisper is far too loud.
I look up. “I’m not.”
Nerissa, her demon girlfriend, chuckles. “Rowan is always quiet. Aren’t you?”
“Almost always,” Seth says.
As if my face could get any hotter. Laurel giggles, Juniper shakes her head, and I want to melt into nothing. The words are innocent, unless someone knows what Seth and I are doing together, and none of them should…
Gods. Why do I even bother?
“Fine.” I set my fork down and cross my arms. My lips twitch as I do my best to suppress a smile. “Seth and I have been seeing each other. Are you happy?”
Maple lets out a sound between a gasp and a giggle. “Yes!”
Liezel, who’s seated in the living room with Mac’s mother, waddles over. “Are you really?”
I look at Seth. It’s probably too late to take it back, but it’s still his family—his choice.
It doesn’t even take him a moment to respond. “You bet your ass we are.”
“SJ!” His mother laughs, though I can tell she means to scold him. “Language.”
“Sorry.” Seth rests his hand on my knee. “I’m just really happy.”
I give him a slight nod and, to my relief, the attention doesn’t stay on us for too long. As happy as Seth may be, I doubt he knows just how happy he makes me. I’m not the best with words, but I’ll show him soon.