10. Chapter 10
A s soon as we’re outside of the restaurant, Matt loosens his tie and rolls up the sleeves of his dark gray three-piece suit, looking less and less like he has a stick up his ass with every second.
“All right, let me get this straight. So Josh went to be an idiot and explore a haunted town, trapped himself in a crypt, and nearly died until you two happened to show up. So why were you both there?” Is there some haunted town convention happening that I don’t know about?” Matthew chuckles.
Patrick glances at me, probably noticing my obvious reluctance to mention much about my reason. “Well, since some people end up wandering into Spells Hollow, then get lost, it’s always important to check on things. My ancestors have lived in the area for centuries, and we sort of take it upon ourselves to keep an eye on it.”
“I thought Josh said it was just some mysterious place full of ‘untapped potential’ because no one in their right mind would ever go there. Making the cursed town some big local legend or something.” Matt glares over at his friend. “Not that I believe in things like curses, but it’s obvious there are weird things happening there. And this idiot decides he just has to go and try to get himself killed.”
“Oh, you were listening when I told you that stuff? I just figured you’d zoned me out like usual,” Josh teases cheekily, tousling Matt’s hair until it’s fluffy and not at all in the perfect comb-over it had been. “You know I’ve always loved hiking and doing stupid things. Why not combine both in one adventure? Besides, thanks to that, I got to meet Mor and Patrick.”
I think I hear Matt grumble something like, “yeah, and almost died in the process,” but he drops it, heading towards a shiny new silver Bentley. “My lady?” He opens the passenger door, holding it for me to join him. “Josh, I’ve been crashing at your place since all these death threats have heated up. Would you direct Patrick on how to get there while I race ahead and show Morrigan all your embarrassing baby pictures? Thanks!” He doesn’t wait for a response, closing the door after me before running around to hop into the driver’s seat.
Once we’re a few blocks away, he shoots me a grin. “So, Morrigan, how did a cute gal like you get caught up with Whirlwind Josh?”
I chuckle at the nickname. “Just fate, I guess.” I shrug.
He glances over, arching one perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“Don’t tell me you don’t believe in fate?” I narrow my eyes at him.
He copies my shrug. “Not really. Who would want to believe that there is some force outside our control dictating what happens in our lives? I much prefer to think that we make our own destinies by how we choose to live each day.”
I purse my lips, processing his idea. “That makes some sense, but what about the times you can’t control? Like me and this connection to Spell’s Hollow.”
“Other people affect our lives with their choices, if that’s what you mean. So yes, you can’t control everything that happens in your life,” Matt states.
We both sit in quiet contemplation for the last few minutes of the drive before pulling into an underground parking garage.
“I shouldn’t take too long, but I’d recommend coming upstairs with me. Better safe than sorry, right?”
I nod as Matt opens his door. He hurries around the car, grabbing my door for me as well.
“Well, aren’t you the gentleman?” I joke.
“My mom always told me, ‘If you find something special, you take care of it, so you don’t lose it.’” Matt smiles, offering me a hand. “And I’m pretty sure you’re something special.”
My cheeks warm. I’m saved from answering as a squeal of tires rents the air, and Patrick’s car comes speeding into the garage.
Josh jumps out before the car is fully stopped.
“What the hell, Matt?!” he yells, running toward us. “Not cool, stealing my girl like that!”
My face, which had started to return to its normal pale shade, flames red again.
“Your girl?” I hear from two different voices and directions. Patrick sounds angry, while Matt sounds intrigued.
“Ummm… our girl?” Josh says.
“Well, that’s not what I expected,” mutters Matt under his breath. “But to each their own.”
“Moving on,” I practically yell, flapping my arms to start everyone moving as I take off towards a random wall.
“Where are we going?” Matt asks as he follows my directions.
“To get your bag…” I trail off.
“Then we should probably head to the stairs or the elevator, which are”—he points in the opposite direction from where I’m going—“that way.”
I spin on my heel and march in the direction Matt indicated. I pass Josh, who has a hand on Patrick’s arm, holding him back from following me originally. They quickly fall into step with me while stifling their laughter.
* * *
The sun is setting as we pull back up to the motel. Matt rode back with us, hoping the new car would make it harder for anyone looking for him to notice he left town.
I stiffly climb out of the backseat, then twist back and forth, cracking my back and sighing in relief.
“Well, this is…something,” says Matt, taking in the lack of buildings or people around. “Where did you find the azurite?” He looks around for the tree we’d described to him earlier, crinkling his brow.
“It’s in the town of Spells Hollow,” says Patrick.
“And aren’t we in Spells Hollow?”
“Nor really,” Patrick answers. “There’s a small road back up the road a little ways. It leads to where the town was. We will head out there in the morning. The road isn’t in the best shape and is hard enough to pass when you can see where you’re going.”
“We’ve had a room here since last night, so you are welcome to join us, or we can get you another room,” I offer. “I doubt whoever is hunting you would come this far.”
“Or make it through the night if they tried,” says Josh.
“How would it work if we all shared a room?” asks Matt. “Like aren’t there only two beds?”
“Yes,” answers Patrick. “But I’m down to cuddle with Mor and I don’t mind sharing the space with Josh, too.”
My face flames again as Josh answers, “As long as I’m not the little spoon.”
“So I’d get a bed to myself,” Matt muses. “Sounds good to me. Lead the way.”
We take him to our room at the end. Opening the door, we find that the beds are made and our bags sit neatly lined up on the floor. Someone even added fresh flowers on the desk. Quoth is sleeping in his cage, barely opening his eyes before he’s back to snoozing.
“I call first shower,” I announce, heading to the bathroom before anyone can reply.
Closing the door behind me, I let out a long breath, wondering how my life has gotten this off track.
I hurry through my shower, aware that the guys may want a turn. Reentering the room, I find the three guys sitting around talking and laughing with an episode of Friends playing in the background.
The conversation cuts off as Josh meets my eyes, quickly followed by the other two.
“Way to make a girl feel welcome,” I say, dropping my gaze to my feet.
All three men start speaking at once.
“It’s not what you think,” Patrick blurts.
“We weren’t talking about you,” Matt says.
“Mor…” Josh beseeches.
“It’s fine,” I say, blinking hard.
Patrick hops up from the bed he was lying on and comes to me, gently cupping my jaw and forcing my gaze from the floor.
“Mor,” he starts. “Morrigan. I was just stunned by how gorgeous you are, as I assume the other two are as well.” They both nod in agreement. “We were talking about our favorite shows growing up.” He nods to the television.
I take a deep breath and nod. “I’m sorry. Growing up, I was always the butt of the jokes, or the one who made everyone stop talking when I entered the room. After thirteen years of that through school, it’s where my mind jumps to automatically. But I know you and Josh enough by now to know I should trust you. You have been nothing but kind to me from the beginning.”
I meet Patrick’s ice-blue eyes, and my heart skips a beat. My tongue slips out and slides along my bottom lip. Patrick’s eyes darken as he tracks the movement. I suck in a deep breath of his musk and bergamot scent.
Patrick leans forward slowly, keeping his eyes locked on mine. I forget that Matt and Josh are in the room with us. His lips press into mine gently. He pulls back, and I lean forward, chasing him. He smiles before taking my mouth again. I feel his tongue run along the seam of my lips, requesting entry. I open my mouth, and his tongue darts in, stroking mine and lighting a fire in my belly. Something flutters through my arms almost like ants running down toward my fingers.
I moan, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer as his hands move down to my hips.
A hand pulls my hair around my shoulder, freeing one side of my neck, and I flinch, pulling back from Patrick’s mouth.
“Sorry,” Josh says, turning red. “I wasn’t sure if you remembered we were here. And I want you to know that he’s not the only one interested in you.”
“Definitely not,” Matt adds from his place near the small office table.
“But…” Josh smiles at me. “I’m open to sharing if that’s something you would like, too.”
I gape at the three men before me. “You can’t be serious,” I splutter. “Sharing?! Who does that?!”
“Someone who believes they have enough love for more than one person,” Matt answers.
“Or someone who doesn’t want to choose,” Patrick adds.
“It’s not as taboo as you might think,” says Josh. “There are clubs dedicated to all kinds of lifestyles, and more and more people are living their lives openly. If you want to think about it a little longer, that’s okay, too.”
My mouth opens and closes while I try to form words. I have never thought about having multiple partners and how that would look. Sure, in some of the journals and diaries I’d transcribed, the men had been with multiple women, but they typically didn’t know about each other, let alone all be together at the same time.
I’m saved from answering when movement catches my attention on the far side of the room. The young boy from the tree walks into the room.
I turn to see what he needs.
“Is someone here?” asks Josh.
I nod. The little boy is looking straight into my eyes, smiling softly.
“What?” says Matt. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Long story,” Patrick answers. “Who is it? What do they need?”
“The little boy who helped me,” I say, still watching him approach. If he had been a person, I would be able to hold the hand he is holding out.
His smile gets larger as he reaches toward my face. “Thank you for helping us,” he whispers as his fingers touch my cheek, then my world goes black.