Chapter 12 Rosie
Rosie
“You’re leaving already?” Casey asks as she sees us moving toward the exit. I step over to where she stands at the bar and smile at her.
“Yeah, I gotta get this one out of here before my luck runs out.”
“Smart. It’s karaoke night tonight, so you know something wild is bound to happen.
” I nod, knowing just how chaotic karaoke night can be.
It’s only ever beat in chaotic nature by game night, which the owners had to limit to once a quarter because it’s just that wild.
I give Casey a hug over the bar before smiling wide.
“Come to the store soon, yeah? We’ll find you a book and then go see Vi for some cookies and cake. ”
“It’s a plan. And you can tell me all about,” she tips her chin behind me to Jack, who is still wrapped in gold threads, “that.” I give her a smile and nod.
“Deal. Later, Case.” Then I turn, grabbing Jack’s hand and heading for the exit, desperate to get out of here.
“Hey, Rosie,” a low familiar voice says from behind me just as I’m about to step out of the bar area, and I close my eyes. We were so close. Instead, I turn and smile at the man standing in my way of a clean break.
Light, straight hair long enough to flop into his eyes regularly, requiring a lot of head flips or running his fingers through it, always paired with pensive looks of his bright blue eyes, mixed with a sharp, clean-cut jawline that models would be jealous of.
He’s not broad the way Jack is, though he’s well-muscled, just a bit leaner than the man at my side.
Up until recently, I thought he was unbearably handsome, the kind of man who would get looks when we were out together.
I used to think I was into his type: cocky blonds who smirked instead of smiled, who could pull off quirking a finger to get a woman to come closer without looking like an idiot.
But suddenly, it’s not nearly as enticing.
Recently, I’ve been daydreaming about dark hair and broad shoulders and black-rimmed glasses and—
Oh, this bond is going to be way worse than I anticipated.
“Hey, Caden,” I say through a tight smile. He’s the head of a local vampire den and, unfortunately for both past and present me, an ex.
I haven’t dated many supernatural beings, mostly because the bonds witches form are different than the other supernaturals.
Our mother taught us when we were young that witches have a handful of perfect matches across the world at any given time, and when our magic meets them, it becomes more powerful, more capable.
It’s typically a human, so I always told myself I would find a normal person to fall in love with, secretly holding out for that perfect match to fall into my lap.
It’s different than a fated mate bond like many supernaturals experience, where they see their match and instantly know that person is meant for them.
I avoided dating them since it felt like setting myself up for heartbreak, something I didn’t need any help with.
But Caden was a weak moment when I thought my one true love might be right under my nose, hidden by my own desire to live a “normal” life.
I regretted it quickly. Thankfully, I never let it get too far because I got the ick once and for all, so I never actually had my heart broken by him, but he is still convinced I cut things a bit too short and should have given him a better chance.
“You look beautiful as ever,” he says, and I fight an eyeroll.
“Thanks so much. Now I—”
“Who’s your friend?” I close my eyes once more and take in a deep breath, the only thing keeping me grounded being Jack’s hand in mine.
A current runs from him into my hand, sending calming vibes, and I wonder if that, too, is part of the bond or if it’s just some version of Jack’s own hidden talent, his unique ability to calm me.
“This is—”
“Her boyfriend. Jack,” Jack says, and my eyes snap open. I turn to my “boyfriend,” fighting against everything not to show the shock on my face. I have to play along while we’re within the walls of the club if I ever want to be allowed in here again.
“Clearly, this is news to our Rosie. Do you feel safe with this mortal, Rosemary?” My jaw tightens. I absolutely hate when people use my full name, but when Caden does, it always makes me feel like a little kid being chastised.
“Oh shut it, Caden. I just didn’t expect him to admit that to an asshole like you.
You know, because he doesn’t know you or owe you any explanation of who he is to me.
Yes, this is Jack, my boyfriend, not that it’s any business of yours.
” Caden’s face turns contemplative as he looks at Jack, taking him in.
“You look familiar. Have we met?” He definitely doesn’t miss the kiss bond glittering along Jack’s skin, and his eyes move from Jack’s face to the strands connecting us.
They glow brighter where our hands touch, and it takes everything in me not to investigate it myself, to see what makes the strands change and shift.
“I don’t believe so,” Jack says. Caden continues to take in Jack before his face lights with recognition.
“Oh, I know. You live near Rosie, right?” Slowly, Jack nods, and now it’s time for confusion to run through my body.
How would Caden know where Jack lives? “Yes, I remember, I went to her place twice—” Jack’s hand tightens in mine, and I have to bite back a reaction. “And you were always out front.”
“We argue a lot,” I say with a sigh, understanding.
I kind of remember one time when we walked into my place, I did my normal routine of trying to bother and get under Jack’s skin for fun before dragging Caden into my place for a night that, to his benefit, was pleasurable for both of us.
Too bad he was kind of a tool. “You probably remember my bickering with him.”
“No, no,” Caden says, shaking his head. “He was staring at you. Kind of like he is now. Jealous.” Heat and confusion bloom in my stomach as I glance up at Jack, unable to hide my own curiosity.
Something familiar is on his face, but I don’t think I could coin it as jealousy. Irritation, maybe. But not jealousy.
Plus, what would Jack have to be jealous of?
“Not sure what I could be jealous of, not when I’m the one holding her hand right now and you’re the one stopping her when she’s out with another man.
” He drops my hand, though, which I find strange until he slides his hand along my waist, pulling me tighter into his side.
“Though I get it. A lot to be jealous about, losing a phenomenal woman like my Rosie. I mean, just look at her.” They both do just that, and I feel a blush crawling over my skin, a mix of embarrassment from being under the spotlight like this, and the bond sending over Jack’s heightened emotions and twining them with mine.
But the way his fingers tighten on my waist when Caden’s eyes move over me is something different altogether. Something I will not and cannot think about too much.
“Anyway, we have much…” There’s a hesitation in Jack’s words, and when I look up at him, I see there’s a snarky smile on his lips.
It’s so out of place, so unlike Jack, that I have to bite back a gasp at the look of it.
Instead, I smile and avert my eyes to Caden as Jack finishes.
“… better and more satisfying things to do together than talk to someone who left such an impact. She’s never mentioned you since we got together.
” Caden’s face falls, and he stands there stunned, something I find very entertaining but can’t focus on for long because Jack’s fingers are tightening on my waist and his head is dipping to press a kiss to the top of my head, something that soothes the ache of the bond a bit more. “Come on, baby. Let’s go.”
The use of the pet name sends my mind and body into a whirlwind, but I nod all the same, following Jack as he moves back in the direction we were going.
“Nice seeing you, Caden!” I say over my shoulder, trying to be amicable because even if Jack won’t have to face the man ever again, I probably will.
“No, it wasn’t,” Jack mumbles low, but since vampires have impeccable hearing, I’m sure Caden caught it as we head out the door of the club. We walk in near silence out the front doors and I note that it’s dark, the sun having set early now that fall is upon us.
“I’m so sorry,” he says once we’re back in the dim light of the streetlights, moving toward his car. Once we were out of sight of the bouncer, he dropped my hand like it was on fire, and I, despite myself, missed the connection immediately. It seems his touch might quiet the need for the bond.
“No, no. I’m sorry. I should have warned you about everything along the way, but I was just so focused on getting what we needed. I stupidly thought we could get in without the bond. And—” Jack’s steps slow, and I cut myself off looking at him. He’s giving me a small, entertained smile.
“I meant about being an ass to your friend.” I stare at him in confusion. “Your ex?”
“Oh,” I say, then shake my head. “No need. He’s a jerk.”
“I just felt very… protective of you.” That blush comes back, and I know the word he’s looking for is jealous, though I won’t make him feel more uncomfortable by pointing that out.
He opens the passenger door to his car for me and I slide in before it slams. While he moves around the car, I comb through my mind to find the right words.
“I’m sorry,” I say, deciding that’s where I need to start. “The protective feeling is my fault. It’s the kiss bond. It’s going to make both of us a bit… testy.”
“Testy?”