Page 48 of Hex Appeal

There are smiles. I know I'm never going to hear the end of this.

They finally head back toward the engine.

“Wait.” Serena touches my arm.

I look at her.

“Can we relight it?”

“No.”

Six women groan.

“Welles.”

“No.”

“We checked the rules.”

“I don't care.”

Her eyebrows rise. I hear myself. I drag a hand over my face. Then I look around the yard again.

Metal container. Clear space. Water bucket. Hose for backup. A group of most sober adults.

And me. The fire chief.

I sigh. “You can relight it.”

Cheers erupt.

“But I'm staying.”

More cheers.

Valerie points at me. “You're cleaning the extinguisher shit off everything tomorrow.”

“Fair.”

Someone hands me a beer. I look at it.

Then at Serena. “I'm technically on the clock.”

“We have water.”

A bottle appears. Apparently I've been adopted by the coven.

For the next half hour, I supervise the safest backyard bonfire in the history of mankind.

I check the distance from the house. Twice. Move the hose closer. Tell one of the women not to throw an entire cardboard box into the flames.

And endure an endless stream of commentary about the hot fire chief personally supervising Hexes for Exes.

Eventually, Beau arrives.

I glare at him. “What are you doing here?”

“You left me at your house.”