I knew. I knew all of that. The weight of it pressed on my lungs as I took a deep breath, let alone when I tried to get some sleep, knowing I was only feet away from Dom, yet again laying his massive body over my tiny love seat.
My impending mental crisis was another reason. Besides, with my horrible luck that I brought with me wherever I went, I couldn’t go to see Lu or anyone.
I’d cave if I saw them. Any of them. I’d probably burst into tears like a child and spill the entire magical beans of how badly I had screwed up. Especially now, without any sort of good feelings the past few days, like some sick, twisted nightmare.
It would be almost a relief to let it all out, but I couldn’t tell them.
I couldn’t let them know what I’d done. Not when I know the disapproving stares and the shock that would be written on their faces. I could still fix this.
I cleared my throat. “Actually, I can’t stop by for the next few days.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry. I took up some extra shifts at the salon.” Lie. If anything, I’d had to cut back to make more time for researching how to fix this stupid life-wrecking spell as well as avoid any more ire from Kim. “And have been a little busy since something came up.”
“Something?”
“Yeah. It’s no big deal.” It was only the biggest.
“Is it your family again? Is your dad trying to get back in contact with you?”
I shut my eyes, feeling Dom’s attention perk up from the couch as he listened in. I hadn’t realized the volume was so loud. “No, he hasn’t contacted me again. It’s not about any of that. I’ll fill you in later. Promise.”
“Well, okay. If something changes though, I would love to see you. Faith also told me that she’d hopefully stop by to give me some literary advice on metaphysical books I need to order for the shop. It could be a girls’ night, like Faith is always going on about.”
That sounded really nice. More than nice. I couldn’t remember the last time it had just been a quiet night between me and Lu or the three of us without the need for theatrics or the pressure of having meaningful conversations at meetings.
“I’ll let you know.”
“Okay,” Lu said, resigned. “Let me know.”
I slid my phone back into my pocket. I took a deep inhale and then exhaled. Calm. I needed to remain calm if I was ever going to figure this out, and yet it felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore.
* * *
Even my temperhad been slipping up the past few days. I could only imagine how much longer Dom’s would last if we kept up at this pace of figuring out how to minimize the fallout of the hex. If we did before it hopefully wore off on its own.
And who knew how long that would take? Forever, at this rate.
“Next few days …” said Dom. “You think you’ll figure it out by then?”
After a few seconds, I slowly nodded.
“That doesn’t seem like much of an answer. At this point we are going to be cursed forever.”
“Well, it is the only answer I have to give you right now, okay?” I snapped, not liking how much he could seem to read my face. “Just please, can you keep your thoughts to yourself? Or can you not actively tune in on the fact that I’m not feeling so hot right now? Yes, Dom, this is a mess. I messed up. For the millionth time! I haven’t seen my friends or my family or anything because I’ve been spending all my time trying to make up for the terrible, awful thing I did. Care for me to say it again?”
Dom looked up toward the ceiling, as if praying for something. “You seriously have no idea how to make this go away?”
I pause. “I don’t know …”
“You don’t know?” He seemed as unsure as my words sounded.
Because, yes, I had gone through all the options, but there were some things that just wouldn’t work. I knew that.
“In theory, if the wrongs were righted and we acted like we were madly in love, I guess the hex would reverse. Maybe it would chill the fuck out then,” I ventured, trying not to look at him. Because we wouldn’t be doing any of that. “But that obviously isn’t an option for us.”
“Madly in love?” Dominic’s eyebrows creased as he refocused solely on me. I thought I preferred him silent and irritated. “Like what?”
