Page 23

Sterling

Not only is Aurora coming for my position in the coven, but it seems she’s about to steal my job. Enlisting other witches to perform rituals at events isn’t unheard of, but Jewel didn’t let me come up with the idea. She’s shoving it onto me, and I’m absolutely taking it personally.

It’s been a while since I’ve been this irritable, but when Aurora and I leave the town hall, I’m fuming. I can’t blame her for this. She isn’t doing anything wrong; that doesn’t make it easier to process.

Aurora is several steps behind me; I don’t bother slowing down, darting toward my truck as fast as I can. She follows me at the same speed.

“I guess I’ll have to use your number after all, huh?” she says, so full of mirth that it makes me cringe.

“Guess so.”

I should have exchanged numbers with her mother instead, but it seems like there’s no stopping us from having to spend time together. Not only are we competing—at least in my eyes—but we’re somehow stuck working together. That’s not even adding on the cottage, which creates an unbreakable tie between us, no matter how much I wish it didn’t.

I need a moment to clear my head and plan what comes next, but she’s. Still. Here.

She wasn’t this annoying when we first met, was she? Or maybe I spent years painting over that image of her with something preferable, akin to a daydream. It’s strange when your dreams come to life: soft curves, mouthy, and short enough that I have to tuck my chin to look at her.

Annoyingly cute but annoying nevertheless.

“When should we start planning?” she asks. “I mean—I probably need some time—look at the stars and all that.”

“Take all the time you need.”

I hop into my truck, and before I can shut the door, she blocks the door with her tiny frame. She’s not much of a threat, but the way she puts her hands on her hips tells me she’s trying to be.

I can still remember the soft stretch marks on those damn hips. Kill me now.

Does she not realize she shouldn’t be this close to me? Did my tie to the haunted cottage not give her at least that much of a heads-up? I’m dangerous, but she looks at me without any fear.

“How long are you going to keep pretending you didn’t fuck the life out of me three years ago?” she snaps.

Out of everything I imagined her saying, that’s nowhere near the top of the list, and she can’t realize how amusing her phrasing is.

I choke on air, looking around wildly. “You don’t know how much the people in this town love to gossip, Aurora⁠—”

“I don’t care.” Her nose crinkles. “Is that what this is? You’re ashamed of fucking a fat girl? Gods, you’re such an ick.”

No. Hell no. I’d love to set the record straight and kiss her in the middle of the town square.

Not an option.

“No.” I can’t keep having this conversation while glaring down at her, but when I hop out of the truck, we’re too close. She doesn’t step away, and I couldn’t if I wanted to. Blocked by my vehicle. “No one here needs to know my business. I don’t like the gossip. Period. You’re…”

I inhale slowly and close my eyes. It would be easy to tell her she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in years, and that no one has been able to stand up against her in my mind. I like her because of her fat body, not despite it—but no, I don’t like her. I don’t know her, but I know myself well enough to know I don’t like anyone. Just because she’s attractive, funny, and has magic so strong I can taste it, doesn’t mean I’ll like her.

“I’m…?” She watches me expectantly, batting her long, dark, spiky eyelashes.

It’s clear she isn’t going to let me off the hook.

“You know you’re attractive, and your body is appealing.” I narrow my eyes and inhale through my nose, sharp and long. Her sweet, smoky scent clogs my senses. Can’t escape her. I clench my hands into fists to stop from grabbing her hips. “Don’t act like you don’t. Modesty doesn’t become you.”

“True.” A smile curls onto her lips. “But I still like compliments. Who doesn’t?”

There she goes. Back to getting on my nerves.

“Not happening again. The… thing we did. It was always supposed to be a one-time thing. Right? You told me to leave after.”

I was so smitten by her after that, I would have stayed in the morning. Bought her coffee. Tea. Whatever she wanted. Her cunt hypnotized me, but years have passed, and I snapped out of it.