Page 104 of The Witch is Back

“Aren’t they the same thing?”

“Go ask her and you won’t believe the long-winded answer you get.” Tia smiled and watched as the young teen left the room. Then folded her arms. “Show us your wrist.”

Emma recoiled. Almost put her arm behind her back. “Why?”

“I have a theory.”

“Find a new one.”

“Why don’t you want to show us?”

“Because a woman’s wrist is her own.”

Tia snorted. “Don’t make me grab you.”

Emma could’ve argued more, wanted to on principle, but Sloane would be back any minute and ripping off a Band-Aid was supposed to be the best approach. Resigned, she turned her wrist to face the light.

All three read the word that was written at the bottom of the chain.

“Emma.” Tia’s voice was flat. “It says ‘passion.’ Why does it say ‘passion’?”

Leah’s grin took up half her face. “You had sex with him and you didn’t tell us?”

Someone flipped the temperature dial to Sahara and Emma began to sweat. She blinked, as if that was an answer.

A small scream from Leah covered Tia’s cursing—luckily not the magical kind. “You had sex with Bastian!”

Emma put a finger to her mouth, glancing over her shoulder for a hint of Sloane.

“How was it? Was it good? It was good, wasn’t it? He just looks like he was born with the knowledge of how to make a woman scream.” She caught the flicker in Emma’s eyes and crowed with delight. “Oh, my God, he does. When was the first time? Were you okay? Did he take care of you? How many times? What does this mean?”

The questions made her feel like she was in front of a firing squad and she inched back with every one thrown at her. “I, ah...” In a way she was glad the truth was out, but she wasn’t comfortable with the attention.

Or with the look on Tia’s face. “You’re falling for him,” she said tonelessly.

“No.” The word blasted from Emma, followed by a definitive shake of her head. “I just... Haven’t you ever wanted to do something crazy?”

“Sure, that’s why I buy shoes that cost six hundred dollars. I didn’t sleep with the man I once loved and who abandoned me, who could find out about a secret sister and tell the world.” She reached for her throat, rubbed. “I’ve got a bad knowing, a lot of black clouds on your horizon.”

Emma’s scalp prickled. “Sloane?” Her stomach squeezed.

“I don’t know. What I do know is you’re setting yourself up for a fall, Em.”

“No, I’m not,” she insisted. Tia’s “knowing” was rarely wrong, even if it was vague. “I know we’re not going anywhere serious. He’s leaving and I’ll wave him off with a smile when he does. It was time, Tia. And I wanted to sleep with someone I trust.”

“You trust him?”

Emma shrugged. “With my body.” Her heart and her sister were different matters.

Tia reached out, covered her hand with hers. “I’m just looking out for you. If you’re happy, I’m happy. But I don’t want you to fall into the trap of thinking he’ll stick around and love you like you deserve. Because he won’t.”

Ouch. “I know.” Emma exhaled. “I’m not twenty-one anymore. The rose-colored glasses are gone. My heart isn’t involved.”

“So, this is a friends with benefits situation?”

Leah eyed her. “From the look on her face, really big benefits.”

Emma covered her face before it gave any more secrets away, and she heard Leah laugh.

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