Page 83 of Ex Somnis

He uncaps a pen and writes 444 at the top of the page.

We all watch him as he writes underneath it, muttering the words under his breath.

4 better. 4 worse. 4 ever.

I stare at it longer than I mean to.

Four people. Same numbers. Same time.

That’s insane.

Absolutely insane.

“That dickhead Spencer didn’t even have a chance.” Jasper chuckles.

“Spencer?” Paul looks up from the sheet of paper while pushing his glasses up his nose.

“What has Boston Ken got to do with it?” Ridge chimes in.

“Nothing. I checked.” Jasper caps his pen again. “He’s not one of her connections.”

“Good,” I mutter automatically. Just hearing Spencer’s name puts me in a worse mood. “He kept texting her saying he was coming to Vernonia, then suddenly his car broke down or some shit. Whined about how he’s had the worst few weeks.”

Jasper makes a tiny sound, half laugh, half satisfaction. “That was probably me.”

“You?” Paul repeats.

“I sent hexes his way.” He shrugs lightly. “Nothing major. Mostly inconvenience-based manifestations.”

“Are you telling us you spiritually slashed that man’s tires?” Ridge huffs a laugh.

“I’m saying the universe agreed with me.”

Rule two.

“Good job, Jasp,” I praise, and his smile turns even bigger.

Fuck, I miss my best friend.

Ridge points his lollipop at him. “Between your hexes and me texting him that she’s ours and he should stay well back, he’s probably not coming anyway.”

Paul turns to look at him. “You told him she’s ours? Not yours. Ours?”

Ridge shrugs, one corner of his mouth pulling up. “Yeah.”

“Why would you, Ridge? We said that this discussion is not over. I won’t⁠—”

“I have her back,” he cuts him off but looks utterly unbothered. “She wants me, even if she wants you idiots too.” He cringes, then glances at me sideways. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” I say, because it is.

“So, if we manage to wake Sleeping Beauty up, I’m fine with whatever she wants, because if that happens, I have everything I want.”

Ridge turns to me and gives me a long look, and I nod.

Because yeah.

If I can have her. If she comes back to me.