Page 81 of Hexed & Hazy

I think.

“It’s about time.” Stella giggles. “She’s been crushing on you since forever⁠—”

“Has not.”

“Has too.”

I shake my head and press my lips together. “You could have given me a heads up sooner.”

“There’s no way you didn’t know.” Natalie scoffs. “You were just too busy dating the rest of the town.”

Leave it to my sisters to be this blunt.

I wince. “That’s not true.”

“So, what changed?” Stella asks. “Why are you giving it a try now? I really thought you were going to be the type to wait until you’re, like, ancient to settle down.”

“He’s already ancient,” Natalie mutters.

I roll my eyes. “So did I.” In fact, I never imagined I would settle down at all. Even when I tried with Scarlet, it didn’t feel quite right. And now… “Well, I guess it started with a hex.”

“A hex,” Natalie deadpans. “Did Rowan hex you? She’s so cool.”

“Not Rowan. Someone else.”

“Scarlet?”

“No.” I lean back in my chair—on two legs, something my mom would lecture me about—and run my fingers through my hair. “Someone else. Rowan was helping me break it, but it wasn’t until I opened up to what we have that we actually got rid of it.”

At least, I think we got rid of it. I hope we did, but those doubts are still nagging, and they won’t stop.

“Huh.” Natalie nods and stands up, rinsing her mug and leaving it in the sink. “Well. Don’t mess this one up.”

I smile tightly. “I’ll try.”

My sisters doubt me, and I can’t blame them. I don’t doubt what I’m feeling for Rowan, or what she feels for me, but there’s a reason no one trusts me with her heart.

I don’t trust myself.

Chapter 26

Rowan

“Ro!” A gleeful, squeaky voice yells—Stella. She wiggles her fingers.

She’s loading up her little pink car, likely to get back on the road to school. And it’s just her. No Seth, no Natalie. I wave and cross the street.

“Need any help?” I ask, gesturing to the car.

It already appears to be packed: two duffel bags in the backseat, and a bag full of snacks. Everything they would need for the drive. It’s a short trip, one they’ve probably gotten used to, but I still worry about them—the same way I would worry about Laurel.

Perhaps more. It’s not as if they have magic to help them.

“No, no.” Stella rocks on her feet and shoves her hands into the pockets of her puffy pink jacket. “We have it all under control. Natalie is just grabbing a few things.”

“Good. You’ll come visit again soon, won’t you?”

Her expression softens. “Of course. And you can always text me if Seth is being a jerk, you know.”