Page 58 of Cursing My Cheating Husband

MADDOX

Ihave never felt greater relief in my life than when Callie at last announced “there it is!”

We’d finally checked in at the convention center hotel a half hour ago, where I learned that Callie had requested one of the outermost units. The hotel had a grand central tower, but also sprawled out into the surrounding forest with arms of unassuming one-story row houses.

And of course, we were at the very last one. The hike there had felt like an eternity. A steep uphill climb, under a covered walkway illuminated by floating orbs of soft pink light.

The clerk had offered to have us whisked here on some kind of contraption that was basically a levitating golf cart, but Callie had brightly replied we preferred the walk. He then offered to have the bellhop transport the bags there, but Callie jumped in to say I simply insisted on carrying them myself.

I couldn’t believe the extent to which every muscle in my body was screaming. With the intensity of my workouts, I never would have guessed what a challenge carrying luggage could be. She’d had me lugging these things for two hours now, and I swear it somehow felt like they’d been getting heavier the whole time.

As I at last dragged the bags over the threshold, the modest nature of the room surprised me.

The one room.

With only one bed.

Had Callie… actually planned for us to share this intimate space together?

My heart was already racing from the exertion of the last two hours, but somehow it quickened further as hope surged through me. Back at home, each night she ascended the stairs, and I sank into the basement. We couldn’t spend our nights further apart and still be under the same roof. But here, in this cozy space, to be so near her again, out in the dark and quiet of the woods, with only one bed to share…

“You’re not honestly imagining you’re going to be sleeping in that bed with me, are you?” Callie snapped.

“No, no, of course not,” I hastily replied as I returned to painfully dragging the luggage into the closet.

Callie waved her hand, and suddenly the luggage was so light that the force of my dragging was a massive overcorrection. The abrupt shift sent me tumbling over, and I sprawled flat on my face at her feet.

Of course. “You’ve been magically increasing the weight all this time?” I felt stupid for not figuring it out earlier.

“Mmm hmm,” she hummed with pleasure.

I pulled myself up onto my knees. “I understand. I deserve worse.”

“And you’ll get it.” She walked to the sliding glass door, which magically opened itself as she approached. I followed her out into a private enclosed yard, surprisingly large and hemmed in by tall wooden fencing that blocked the view from the neighboring unit. “You’ll be sleeping out here.”

I looked around, taking in the space. A stone patio held some hard wooden chairs. Beyond that, the ground transitioned into forest underbrush, covered in tough flowering plants that were beautiful to look at, but would obviously be miserable to lie on for any length of time. Already, mosquitoes were descending on the exposed skin of my arms, and I felt something crawling up my leg.

Not to mention, it had started to drizzle. I held out my hand, feeling the drops hitting my palm with increasing force.

“The forecast calls for this to become a downpour.” She grinned widely. “They say it’ll go all night!”

This was clearly going to be even more miserable than my evenings listening to vermin skitter around me down in the frozen basement. Fair enough. “I understand,” I said, nodding my acceptance as I looked down at myself. “I’ve been so sweaty all night, I already feel like I’m underwater. The rain will be fine.”

But instead of the satisfaction I expected to see on her face, her lips pursed as she stepped away. “You’ve become quite compliant lately.”

I hesitated for a moment, wanting to share what I was really feeling but worried it was too much. I took a deep breath and decided to risk it. “Honestly… I’m still processing the fact that you’re a princess.”

She crossed her arms. “What? I’m not a princess.”

“Your mother is the queen of this!” I exclaimed in awe.

“Our coven is a democracy, and witches don’t have queens. She’s the High Priestess. It’s completely different,” Callie scoffed.

“Okay, but the way I saw everyone react to you tonight… you’re treated like a princess,” I said, my voice rising with enthusiasm.

“That’s only because so many other covens are here. Now that Nightshade Cove is the biggest thing going, they’re all thirsty to get in on it.”

“I was looking at the signs. There were plenty of witches from Nightshade Cove businesses that were excited to see you. You clearly mean something to this community. I can’t believe how clueless I was about this.”