Page 120 of De-Witched

Gabriel smiled his smile, the barely-there curve which always looked brand-new. “Yes. Thank you.”

“I figured the last full day before you go home deserved something special.”

His green eyes slid to the side as he picked up his fork. “Not the last morning?”

“I thought you’d want to make me breakfast,” she teased. “Some burnt toast? Rubbery eggs?”

He arched his eyebrows and cut a piece of French toast. “Who will keep my ego in check when you’re not around?”

That fist around her heart squeezed mercilessly. She shrugged a careless shoulder, cuddling Louie closer for comfort. “I’m sure you’ll find some society witch to do it. From what I hear, they ain’t no marshmallows.”

“No.” He stared down at the plate.

She indulged in a long stare, drinking him in. “Did you say you’re meeting with the board tomorrow afternoon?”

He nodded. “They’ll review the past three months, but I’m not concerned how the vote will go.”

Except she knew a part of him was. She set Louie down on the comforter and the King Charles sleepily curled up on the spread. She reached out, touched Gabriel’s knee. “They won’t be able to vote you in fast enough. They’ll be like, ‘Congrats, you’re the big fish we all want. Tell us, oh mighty one, what shall we do to serve?’”

He huffed what might have been a laugh.

“Seriously, how do you feel?” She drew a design on his leg beneath the blankets. “Nervous? Excited?” Devastated?

“I’m not sure.” He set the plate aside, still uneaten. Put a hand over hers to lift it so he could fiddle with her fingers. “Relieved? I’ve been waiting for this for so long, it feels surreal to know by tomorrow afternoon I’ll have everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Words bubbled up, desperate to be voiced.

She swallowed them down. He’d just said he was relieved it was almost over. She reached into herself and produced a bright smile she didn’t feel. “So, what do you want to do on your last day?”

“Actually, I promised I’d meet Bastian and Henry at the bar.”

“Henry is still going to Toil and Trouble, even after Emma forbade him?”

“When did she forbid him?”

Leah narrowed her eyes. “She didn’t?” Traitor.

He shook his head. Hesitated. “I apologize. I didn’t know if you’d be busy at the shelter.”

On his last day? As if she’d be anywhere else. “I’m here for your whim.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Leah leaned forward, looped her arms around his neck. Keep it light, she ordered herself. Playful. “How about you meet me at the shelter after and you can say bye to Chuck then, too?”

She didn’t know whether to find it funny or insulting that he actually looked grieved at the idea. Oh, sure, saying goodbye to her was easy, but a Labrador? Whole different story.

If she didn’t find it so sweet how much he loved that dog, she’d resent it. Okay. Maybe she did, a little. It’d be nice to know she wasn’t the only one twisting over this.

“We could do that,” he agreed, sliding his hands up her arms.

“We could have dinner.”

“That, too.”

“You could say you’ll miss me.” The words came out without any plan. Mortification sank into her bones. “Um...”

His hands stopped their sensual slide. “What?”

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