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“No wonder we’re all single,” Thad said, sighing. “We’re all totally weird.”
“Everyone’s weird in their own way,” Atticus said.
“I think we’re weirder than most,” Thad said.
“Who cares if we are?” Soren asked. “We have one another. What else could we want?”
“A warm body in the bed next to us?” Rafferty asked.
I peered at my middle brother. “Do you want to find someone?” For whatever reason, this surprised me.
“Sure. I mean, if the right woman came along,” Rafferty said. “She has to be special though.”
“She’ll be special all right if she falls for you,” Soren said.
“Very funny.” Rafferty shoved Soren’s shoulder. “Same could be said for you too.”
“No woman’s going to want to live out here with a ranch man,” Soren said. “I’ve accepted my fate. Meaningless flings and flirtations—that’s me.”
I thought about that for a moment. He did have a woman who showed up at the house every so often. Cassandra something. She’d moved to Bluefern last year and worked at our local grocery store. She stayed over but always left before dawn. When I’d asked Soren about it, he’d said she was just a friend. “A friend who stays over in your room?” I’d asked.
“A friend with similar needs to mine,” Soren had said. “Which is perfect for me.”
“What’s going on with Cassandra?” I asked. “Are you still casual?”
Soren scratched behind his ear, grimacing. “From my point of view, yes. Lately, I’m getting the feeling she wants more.”
“And?” Rafferty asked.
“She’s not really marriage material,” Soren said. “I wouldn’t describe her asexactlystable.”
“What does that mean?” Atticus asked.
“She thinks she’s a witch,” Soren said matter-of-factly.
We were all stunned into silence.
“What kind of witch?” Thad asked. “Like voodoo dolls and stuff?”
“I’m not privy to that kind of information,” Soren said. “Meaning, I don’t ask. If there’s a cauldron and a regular meeting of her coven at her house, then I don’t want to know. The last time we got together, we had a little tiff and she stormed out of the house and drove home. I texted to say I was sorry but there was no reply. A few hours later, I didn’t feel so well.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Let’s just say I had to stay close to the toilet for the entirety of the night.” Soren crossed one jean-clad leg over the other. “I haven’t seen her since then.”
“She cursed you with the runs?” That asked. “That is definitely not good.”
“Tell me about it,” Soren said. “I’ve never been involved with anyone who could make me physically ill.”
“Then you haven’t been in love,” Atticus said.
The type of sickness Atticus referred to was not like a night with the stomach flu. It was a dull ache that no amount of medicine would alleviate. I should know. Elliot Young had given me a permanent stomachache. If only there was something I could do about it without risking our working relationship. Not likely. Anyway, my feelings were not reciprocated by the object of my admiration. Story of my life. Always the odd man out. Alone.
I should be used to it by now.
5
CASPIAN
