Page 95 of Hexed & Hazy

I didn’t think it was possible, but his smile breaks again—another tiny shard in my heart. “But I like those things. A lot. I mean, I didn’t really care about them before, but I like them with you.”

His passion for romance makes my chest clench. If only I could be on the receiving end of those things without something terrible happening.

“I know.”

“It’s probably hard to believe, but I’ve always wanted someone to do these things for.” He shakes his head. “I know I haven’t been the best boyfriend, but I want to be now. And with you… it’s so easy.”

“Seth.” I hold the side of his face. “I’m not breaking up with you.”

He closes his eyes tightly. “I didn’t think you were, but now that you say that⁠—”

“Shh…” I chuckle. “We’re going to break this hex. Together. We’ll just put a pause on the dates and flowers for now. Deal?”

He’s quiet for several moments, shaking his head, but eventually he says, “Deal.”

Even through the fog of exhaustion, I can see the shadows of the hex clearly around him. Stronger than ever, pulling at his hair, wrapping around his neck. It’s not fading, it’s getting stronger, which means the witch may be actively hexing him.

Another thing I keep to myself.

It’s midnight when Laurel creeps into my bedroom. She leans in the door and watches me, her arms crossed. “Can’t sleep?”

“Napped too long.” I set down my Kindle. “This should be a good opportunity to work on my knitting, but my hands are tired. I could barely hold up a paper book, so…” I wave the device in the air. “This will have to do.”

“As long as you’re resting.” She sits at the foot of my bed, so much like when we were younger. Crisscross, hands on her knees. “You really fucking scared me, you know? A flower allergy? I mean, really…”

“Why are you saying that like it’s my fault?”

“I know. It’s not.” She bites the inside of her lip. “I was happy for you and Seth, you know. I’ve never been the sister who’s like… don’t date my friends, blah blah blah.”

Was. She was happy for us, and perhaps she realizes that Seth and I are struggling now. Is there anything to be happy about? I want to hope there is, but I can’t get his sad smile out of my wretched head.

“But…?” I press the button on my Kindle to darken the screen.

“But I’m worried.” She plays with the ends of her long, green hair. “The hex seems to be getting worse. It’s threatening lives now. You could have died, Ro⁠—”

I roll my eyes. “I could still breathe. Mostly. It was just a little throat tightness.”

“Still.”

If Laurel, the most adventurous of us, is worried… perhaps I should be more worried than I am. When have I ever been the type to put love above rationality?

“Seth and I have decided to step back from the romance for now,” I say. “We won’t so much as hold hands again until we confirm that it’s broken—with a spell this time. We’ll have Ozan check again.”

His magic seems more trustworthy than mine these days.

Her shoulders slump, and she lets out a long breath. “Good. That’s good.”

“Yes.” I nod tightly. “I suppose it is.”

It doesn’t feel good, not at all. Perhaps the medicine is still making me loopy, because I would take it all—another hospital visit, being drenched in the sprinklers on the coldest day in winter—for another kiss from Seth.

Chapter 31

Seth

This isn’t too much, right? Isn’t it too romantic? Rowan is coming over for dinner, sure—but my mom is here. Laurel and Nerissa are coming, too. She doesn’t seem alarmed when I extend the invitation, but I am.

The last thing I want is to put her in danger, and I can’t fight the feeling that I’m risking all of them. Everyone I love. My mom. My friends. And Rowan.