Page 138 of The Witch is Back

“I set him free,” Emma insisted. “He didn’t come back when he knew the truth. I let him have the choice.”

“But you didn’t,” Leah pointed out. “You chose for him.”

“No, I—It wasn’t like that.” Unease slithered into a coil in her stomach. She fisted her hands. “I did this for him.”

Tia held her gaze. “You did it for yourself, Em.”

It was a slap and Emma flinched.

But Tia wasn’t done. “You’ve been so scared about him coming back into your life and falling for him again—”

“I seem to remember someone else worrying about that,” Emma shot back.

Tia grimaced. “So, I can be a bitch. Sue me. It doesn’t change that you’ve been so certain he’d leave you, that you left first.”

“I gave him a choice.” Or had she chosen for both of them? It was all tangled in her head now.

“You left him,” Leah said in her optimistic, peaches and cream voice, sunny and yet stern. “You ran.”

The words knocked Emma off her feet and she dropped to the seat. Her ears were ringing. “I didn’t run.”

The three sets of eyes looking back at her were serious.

“I didn’t,” she insisted, mind tumbling over the facts. “I... I wanted to...”

“You were scared and you ran,” Tia said. “You wanted to leave before he could leave you. And at first, I thought it was fine. If that was what you wanted. But it’s not.” Her lips pursed and sympathy stole into her features. “Is it?”

Emma stared at them blindly. Their words circled her, jabbing out, forcing her to face them. Her chest heaved and she drew unsteady hands down her face. It was all true.

“Oh, Goddess,” she breathed. “How did I not see that?”

“Duh.” Tia reached across the table, flicked her forehead. “Because you’re stupid.” But she grinned to ease the moment. “Luckily you have us.”

“I voted for the subtler approach, just so you know.” Leah gave Sloane a wink. “Clearly you needed a witch slap and your sister is more human than bitch. Sorry, I meant witch.”

“Clever,” Tia said dryly as Sloane giggled.

Emma ignored the byplay, absently rubbing her aching heart. “It doesn’t matter though, does it? He did leave. He’s gone. He didn’t want me.” The raw wound hissed at the salt she poured into it.

But Tia was only exasperated. “The man might have a smidge of pride, Emma. You ended the engagement and then asked his parents of all people to keep him away from you. He probably thinks this is what you want.” She rolled her eyes, muttered something under her breath. No doubt something flattering to both Emma and Bastian.

Sloane licked her spoon. “We think you should go after him.”

“I don’t even know where he is.”

“Egypt.” Tia conjured a piece of paper, held it out. “This location was bought at great expense, so use it well. And mention me in your vows, I think I’d like being known as a cupid.”

“I can’t just go to Egypt.”

“I’ll go with you!”

“Nice try, kid,” Tia said, “but this is something your cowardly sister needs to do herself.”

Emma shot her a glare.

“It’ll be very romantic,” Leah assured her. “You can sweep in and tell him you love him and then you can fall into each other’s arms.”

“Or he’ll cringe awkwardly and have to gently tell me he’s not interested anymore.” The idea of that made panic bubble to the surface. “No.”

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