Page 137 of The Witch is Back

“But he said he wanted to stick around a bit,” Sloane persisted, dismissing that. “He told me. Leah told me.”

“Are you guys having meetings or something?”

“So, if he wanted to stick around, why didn’t you just tell him about me and all of it? You must have liked him to have had sex.”

Emma groaned at the return of the subject. Her face burned as a passing waitress shot them a startled look.

“And if you liked him that much, why not just tell him? Unless you thought he would tell on me.”

“No,” Emma said swiftly, now knowing it to be true. “Bastian would’ve never ‘told on you.’” She fiddled with the paper napkin that came with her “drink,” scrunching it up into a ball. “Some people stick and some people leave. You know that. So, why should I share the most important part of my life with someone when he was always going to go away?”

Sloane studied her, and Emma didn’t know if it was the light or the thoughtful way she cocked her head, but suddenly she saw the resemblance to her dad so strongly it brought her heart to a standstill.

For a moment there was only the clink of silverware and the hushed chatter from the diners around them.

“You want to know what else Tia and Leah said?” her sister said in a soft voice. “If it helps, I think they’re right.”

Emma sighed and gave in. “What did Toil and Trouble say?”

Sloane grinned at the nicknames. “They think you were scared that he’d hurt you when he left so you built a wall and you kept things—like me—behind it. And then you could use them as an excuse to push him away.”

Emma blinked, shook her head. “No, I... I gave him freedom. From me and all of it. I did it for him.” She had. Right? She hadn’t deliberately held herself back. It was just... She fumbled for the answer.

Sloane heaved a breath. “Okay. Plan B.” She lifted her cell, punched in something.

“What’re you doing?”

“Sending for backup.”

“Sending for...” Emma slumped as the diner door opened and Tia sailed in with Leah walking along behind her. “Great.”

“Fancy seeing you here. Sloane, scoot a bit, would you?” Tia plopped down next to the willing teen and folded her hands as Leah crowded Emma on the other side of the booth. “I thought you’d hear the truth from your sister, but clearly the blunt approach needs to be used for someone with such a thick head.”

Sloane watched with interest as she scooped some cream into her mouth.

Leah gestured. “Gimme a try?”

“Okay.” Sloane pushed her drink across as Tia and Emma squared off.

“I don’t need any approach,” Emma gritted out and stood. “I’m fine and I don’t appreciate being manipulated.”

Tia barked a laugh. “There’s irony, and sit your prissy ass down. We gave you time to get over it. You didn’t. Goddess, if I’d known you dumping him would’ve brought down the mother of all mopes...”

“I didn’t dump him—I gave him the choice,” Emma spaced out, planting her hands and leaning in.

“Did you ask him?” Tia’s eyebrows slammed together. “Did you go to him, explain the veto and ask if he wanted to be set free?”

“I didn’t need to.”

“So, now you’re clairvoyant as well? That’s a new power. Congrats.”

Emma scowled at her. “Harsh, Tia.”

“You need it,” her friend—although that was a debatable term right now—retorted. “Someone’s got to slap you awake. What you did was cowardly.”

Emma gaped at her, then Leah.

Leah shrugged, smiled in apology. “I agree.”

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