Page 29 of Happily Ever Never

I deserved all the wrath she gave me.

But I couldn’t just stay away and let her feel like she haddone something wrong. How was I supposed to explain that the code was thereason I stayed away? That we didn’t date within our group of friends. And as soonas I thought that, I knew I was an idiot. She wouldn’tcare about a bro-code or anything like that. She wouldn’t care that I stayed awayfor her own good.

No, I had made her feel like she was less than, and now Ineeded to fix it.

I had no idea how I was supposed to do that, though.

I parked in front of my sister’s house, knowing she probablydidn’t have time for me. She would have those babies soon and needed to focuson that and her kids, not my mistakes. But I needed someone to talk to, and Itrusted my sister more than anyone.

Caroline opened the door before I even had a chance toknock, frowning at me.

“What’s wrong?”

I blinked. “Why do you think something’s wrong?”

“Because you’re here, you didn’t call, and you have frownyface.”

“I have frowny face?” I asked dryly.

“You’re frowning. But it’s not only a sad frown. It’s aconfused, devastated, thoughtful one. Meaning, you probably fuckedup, and now you need to fix it. But it’s likely an emotional fuck-up, so nowyou need to figure out your feelings, too.”

I blinked at my older sister and wondered when and whereexactly she had gone to school for witchcraft and wizardry.

“Seriously, how do you do that? How can you just look at meand know what I’m feeling?”

“This is about a woman. May. The one you can’thave.”

I stared at her. “How the hell…? Do you have cameras infront of the bookshop?”

She blinked at me, then looked down at the bags in my hands.In my confusion, I had forgotten I’d even pulled them out of the car. “Youkissed May outside Beneath the Cover? What the hell did you do?”

“Seriously? How do you know these things? Wereyou watching? Can you read my mind? Is this a pregnancy thing? I feel like thisis a pregnancy thing.”

“It’s a pregnancy thing,” Caroline’s husband said as he cameforward, the girls in tow.

“I’m taking the girls out for ice cream.”

“Ice cream! We love ice cream!” all four girls said inunison.

I laughed as they shouted, “Uncle Leo!” and knelt to hugeach one.

“You are too cute. I love you guys.”

“We love you, too. Don’t be sad, Uncle Leo,” the eldest,Lane, said.

I shook my head. “I’m going to try. Your mom’s going tohelp.”

“You bet I am. My husband is amazing and was already goingout for ice cream with the girls, but now is the perfect timing. Maybe I dohave witchcraft in my family. Maybe I am a witch, and that’s how I know.”

“I want to be a witch!” Willow exclaimed before cackling.

Ashlyn and Beverly joined in, Lane dancing around them astheir father shook his head and corralled them out.

He kissed his wife fiercely, nodded at me, and left me alonewith my sister.

“I’m a little afraid of this witchcraft of yours.”

“Don’t be. I’ll only use my new powers for good. Now, whathappened?”