Chapter Twenty-One #3
“Even worse, he was also an investigative reporter. Instead of taking me home that night, Grayson wrote a scathing article about the ‘dangers’ of my experiments. He used everything I’d shared to argue that witches shouldn’t be self-governing.
All ‘how can we trust witches to regulate themselves when the head of NACOW can’t keep her own daughter in line.
’ The article was everywhere the next morning. ”
“Oh no.”
“In the best of times, Nanette Erikson’s reaction would have been apocalyptic.” I brush a stray tear from my cheek. “But it was the middle of her reelection campaign. Her approval ratings plummeted among both witches and mundanes. She decided I was a complication she didn’t need.”
You have disgraced this family for the last time.
You are no longer an Erikson.
“Mom kicked me out, stripped me of my last name, and hasn’t talked to me since.
” I shrug like it doesn’t matter despite the tears escaping the confines of my lashes.
“She managed to spin the article and ultimately won the election, but that didn’t change her decision.
And, honestly, even if it had, I wouldn’t have gone back.
I’d rather not have a family than have one that hates everything about me. ”
“You have a family,” Xander says from the doorway, and I drop Elle’s hand in a panic. “You have me. And Dea.”
“And me, too,” Elle says, slipping off the bed to put space between us.
I swallow past the emotion tightening my throat and return my focus to Xander. “I didn’t hear you come in,” I say, hoping I don’t sound as startled and guilty as I feel.
Xander winces. “Sorry for barging in. Laney wants to talk to you, and their messages were getting shouty.”
Fresh guilt batters against my ribs. Sebastian liked the new ghosts, but that doesn’t mean Laney will. That doesn’t mean they’ll forgive me as easily as Xander and Elle have. “Which spirit board are they at?”
“They asked to speak to you face-to-face.” Xander holds up a pair of ghost goggles. “I had a feeling you might need these. I assume your magic is still drained.”
“You know what they say about assuming,” I quip as I pull myself out of bed. “You are right, though. This time.” I accept the goggles and slide them on.
Xander nudges me out the door. “Laney said they were heading to the library. When you’re done, come find me in the kitchen. I had Olli put together something to tide you over until dinner.”
I find Laney standing alone in the library, staring out the massive windows that overlook the manor’s property. They glance over their shoulder at me. “You’re back.”
Their voice is neutral, and I have to swallow past the lump in my throat to get words out. “I’m sorry, Laney. I didn’t mean to banish everyone, but it was my fault. I overstepped my magical limits, and you have every right to hate me.”
Laney turns fully around and drops their head to one side, teal hair spilling down past their shoulder. “Yikes, Pip. Have you ever seen a therapist? Because I think you should see one. That’s some hardcore self-judgment.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Alex explained what happened. You obviously didn’t do it on purpose.
And sure, am I sad that the four of them are gone?
Obviously. We’d started to click. But we were together for like two weeks.
” Laney props their hands on their hips and rolls their eyes at me.
“You act like you ripped away my lifelong best friends. And like you did it on purpose to be an asshole.”
“Oh.” I sink into one of the chairs at the table where Elle and I sat and worked together my first week here. “So…we’re good? You didn’t ask me here because you want to leave? Xander made it seem like you were upset. He said your messages on the spirit board were shouty.”
They sigh. “See, this is why I wanted to talk to you. The spirit boards are great, but they don’t convey tone. I was excited to talk to you. Besides, I always use all caps. That doesn’t mean I’m angry. It’s just how I write.”
“Maybe include a smiley face next time?”
Laney laughs and rolls their eyes. “We’re good, Pippa. Really. And I don’t want to leave. I like being here with Alex and Elle. I like the new ghosts. Did you know Betty’s death is basically that song about Grandma getting run over by a reindeer?”
Relief courses through me. “She led with that with me, too.”
“Plus, this place is about to be a functioning B&B. I’m going to meet so many interesting people.
It’ll be like traveling without needing to travel.
I’ll get to talk to living people again.
” They breathe deep and let out a small, appreciative groan.
“And between Olli’s cooking and Elle’s baking, this place always smells amazing. ”
Laney and I chat until the ghost goggles run out of magic.
I swap them for a fresh pair from the selenite charging plates to continue catching up while I grab something to eat like Xander suggested.
I spend the rest of the afternoon checking in with the new ghostly inhabitants of Midnight Manor to make sure they’re adjusting well to their new home.
The ghosts keep me busy until Xander announces that dinner is ready.
As we settle in to eat—me sitting across from Xander and Elle, the ghosts filling in the spaces around us—Xander raises a glass of champagne.
“A toast,” he says, and waits for Elle and me to lift our glasses before continuing. “This past month has exceeded all my expectations. I was excited about the prospects of the B&B from the moment the idea was born, but the reality the three of us have created is beyond anything I imagined.”
“Agreed,” Elle says, turning her pale green gaze on me. There’s a heat there, a sense of claiming that warms me from the inside out.
“To a job well done,” Xander concludes.
“To a job well started,” Elle corrects.
We clink our glasses together and dig in.