Page 89 of The Soulmate Bakery

And then the tears came.

It was the cathartic kind of crying: ugly crying. Sobs that broke through my ribcage, and salty tears that cascaded down my cheeks. I let it all out.

When I was done, I was heaving and rubbing my palms against my cheeks to wipe away my tears. Breathing in and out, I tried to calm my racing heart. How could this mess have gotten so bad?

And I must have looked bad, because I felt something warm and furry find its way on to my lap. A wet sound left my throat as I found Jinx curled up in my lap, his green eyes looking up at me.

‘So, I look like I’m on the brink of dying, right?’ I said, stroking a hand down his spine. ‘That’s why you’re here?’

He nuzzled my hand, and it was the sweetest gesture I’d ever got from him. But it was working – stroking Jinx made my heart rate return to normal, and my breathing was becoming less haggard with every breath. It was only inevitable that I’d start talking too.

‘Mum’s probably out there, calling the Coven,’ I said to myself and Jinx. ‘I should expect an angry letter soon. I wonder if they’ll snap my licence in half. Or maybe because Rani will stop all this, we’ll get some sort of token of forgiveness. Maybe they’ll halve my punishment.’

Jinx raised his head under my palm, almost questioningly.

‘Of course Mum is calling Rani, Jinx. They’ll both come together to solve this,’ I explained to the cat.

Jinx turned his head to one side, as if he was saying, ‘Why?’

‘Because I failed to do it, Jinx,’ I said, the words tearing out of my mouth. ‘And it’s better that I just step back. I’ll just make things worse. I mean, yes, I know the counterspell. And yes, I’ve been working all month to solve this issue with Orion, but he’s not even answering my calls.’

Jinx stared unblinking at me. If he could speak, I’m pretty sure he’d be saying, ‘What else have you got to lose? You’re getting a point on your licence and your mother knows the truth. What’s the harm in trying again?’

Or he could be saying, ‘Everyone fed me late today and I want you all to burn.’

‘You think I should go after him?’ I asked, and Jinx licked his paw in response. ‘Portal to Rose Glenn?’

What did I have to lose? I’d chased after Orion before, and, as exhausting as it was, I could do it again. I was preparing myself to go when a loud banging on my door catapulted me out of my seat and to my door.

I swung it open to find Raven and Sofia standing there, looking at me like I’d grown two heads.

‘You left Silas in the forest?’ Raven said, stepping inside.

‘Are you OK?’ Sofia followed up, closing the door behind them.

I don’t know why the sight of them brought a fresh wave of tears, but my gaze turned glossy. Before I knew it I had arms wrapped around me, and I was pulled into a hug.

‘What happened?’ Raven asked, when I had finally calmed down.

I looked at her, my throat aching, heart racing. ‘You’re going to hate me.’

Raven held my gaze like it was a lifeline. ‘Maya Reverie, there’s nothing you could say that could make me hate you.’

‘I think I’m in love with your brother.’

Raven stared at me, Sofia held her breath beside me and even Jinx had stopped moving.

‘I’m about to portal to Rose Glenn,’ I babbled, the words spilling out of me. ‘I was going to take this risk, this reckless, stupid risk, because I think we’re meant to be together. And yes, maybe he might reject me. Maybe he’s not my soulmate. Maybe I’ll cast the spell, and my real soulmate is right back here in this town, but I want to take the risk, just in case it is Orion.’

‘You thought you and Silas should’ve been together,’ Raven noted, and her voice was clinical. ‘What’s different this time?’

‘Everything,’ I whispered, because it was true. ‘With Silas, I could see myself being happy, but I wasn’t being myself. I wouldn’t dare to dream wildly, and I wouldn’t have the courage to speak those dreams out loud. Orion sees me and makes me feel like I can make the risky choice, ’cause he’ll be right there to catch me in case I fall.’

Raven went quiet, watching me with contemplative eyes. I was sure I’d ruined it, destroyed our friendship with one declaration.

‘I knew,’ Raven said, and then shrugged. ‘I just had to be sure you were making this choice because you actually loved him. He is still my brother at the end of the day.’

I felt my jaw drop, and even Sofia gasped. ‘You knew?’