Page 85 of Novice Girlfriend

“Kelton knows you didn’t come to campus yet and was worried,” Clare filled in for me. “And he didn’t want to push, but his brother is working for Taylor now and will be pushy it seems.” She gave a half shrug when Kevin shot her a less than friendly look.

“He didn’t want to act like he was trying to make a move when things are tense with Sergey but yeah, he’s a good guy and worried about her,” Kevin replied but really explained for me. “And sometimes he’s still a trusting twit, so he thought the abduction story was real and was extra worried but doesn’t know where he stands, so he didn’t want to make anything worse.”

Wyatt moved in front of me a bit and waited until Kevin focused on him. “Not what you’re thinking. You know I’m her priest. You’re not stupid.” He waited until Kevin nodded. “The others don’t know that much, so keep it to yourself. I was on the couch. She severed the bond with a familiar. Would you leave her alone after she did that kind of magic?”

“No,” Kevin accepted and glanced at me. “You okay? I didn’t know you severed it. That had to be rough.”

I rubbed my hands over my face. “Don’t worry about me on that. Check on Link. I’m glad that familiar is free of Jason. It’s just all—fuck all the fucks, you know?”

Kevin snorted. “Yeah, that sums up nicely how I feel about a lot. Like… A lot.”

Everyone there snorted. It really did sum up a bit too much too well.

20

Kelton

I felt like there wasn’t anything I could ever do to help. After I messed up so big, I couldn’t make my way back to her. Sure, we’d had IKEA, but then Clare had taken over and done better. Sergey had designed her damn bathroom and was right there next to her.

There wasn’t any place for me and I’d done that. I’d pushed and made her hesitant to let me back in.

I’d pushed her to where she’d moved from the place that had room for me next to her. And if I didn’t move with her, figure out a way to have a place next to her again… I would lose her. I’d be left behind again.

And this time I was going to do more than bitch to my familiar, Spike, later.

I had considered several things, but after what happened with Jason Berns, I was locked into one idea and used probably the last of my favors to make it happen. Was it over the line?

Yes, but for Bevin I was fine with that.

Leigh Moon—Councilman Moon’s eldest daughter—was the psychiatrist Bevin had gone to for help, but everything had backfired. She’d found out the woman basically hated being a witch and couldn’t help Bevin.

Except I had faith in people and thought Leigh Moon needed the curtain pulled back on her to show her reality.

The moment she saw me leaning against the wall next to her swank condo’s door, recognition flickered in her eyes. That wasn’t something I had anticipated.

“You know me?” I hedged.

“Yes, I know who you are, Mr. Rose,” she replied. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

I raised an eyebrow. “My dad or almost losing my brother?”

Something weird filled her eyes that I couldn’t put my finger on. A mix of annoyance and more. Professional curiosity? “I said loss, so that would be your father. I heard my father say he was a good man when I was younger. It was a tragedy for our people. But I’m sorry for what happened to your brother too.”

“So you know I know and yet you’re not doing anything about it?”

Now it was thick annoyance in her eyes. “What do you want me to do about it? Why does everybody expect me to—forget it.” She let out a slow breath. “I know why you’re here and I’ve already tried to apologize, but she wasn’t open to listening to me. She probably thinks it was only so my parents weren’t upset with me, but it was a genuine apology.”

“I can’t tell you either way. I know she wasn’t going to tell your parents and wasn’t happy you did so she had to deal with their feelings and felt in the middle of it instead of receiving the help she needed,” I told her honestly, nodding when she seemed surprised. “She was upset like she’d disappointed them that it hadn’t worked out when she really likes your mother.”

“She’s a good person,” Leigh said and set down the grocery bags, realizing this conversation was going to take a bit longer and clearly not wanting to invite me in. “I’ve heard you’re involved with her.”

“That’s complicated, which I’m sure you understand.”

“That’s fair,” she accepted, but went on when I opened my mouth. “Everything is, which other people need to accept as well. Why are you here today? You didn’t come to my condo on a Sunday for therapy. You’re making a point, so make it.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and pushed off the wall. “The point is that I could, Leigh. I could find you and easily.” I glanced at her door and around it. “Not even a fucking camera? I didn’t think you’d be that stupid.” I snorted when she bristled. “But no, I wouldn’t come to you for therapy. You’re the one who needs therapy from what I hear.”

She got annoyed again, likely because that probably wasn’t fair and it was a stupid way to handle this, but well… I wasn’t perfect and I’d heard again and again how upset Bevin had been that the chance with Leigh had fallen through.