Page 81 of De-Witched

“He’s not my Gabriel.”

“He would be if you were smart about it.”

Leah couldn’t help but laugh, even as her heart ached. “He’s going back to New Orleans next month.”

“There are planes,” her mother argued. “People move.”

If only distance was the obstacle. “It’s not like that between us.”

“Well, what is it?”

“I...” The secret fell like weight across her shoulders.

He’s a warlock, she wanted to say. I’m a human. It’s never going to work out.

“It’s just not that simple,” she settled for.

“It should be. Consider this my motherly advice for the decade: seduce him.”

Leah choked. “Mom.”

Joyce’s grin could only be described as devilish. “Honey, that man is an éclair waiting to be gobbled up.” She tugged on Leah’s hands. “He called me, a woman he’s never met, so I could be here for you. And it was more of a demand than a suggestion.”

Leah’s lips curved.

“He cares. That’s hard to find.” Joyce hesitated over her next words. “I know you’ve always been a little distrustful of men because of, well, your dad, how he left. How I...fell apart. You don’t like to let people in in case they hurt you. Leave.”

“Mom.” Pained, uncomfortable, Leah rolled her shoulders as if she could shrug off the topic. “Don’t. It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Joyce looked like she wanted to say more, but sighed and leaned in to kiss Leah’s cheek. “Just promise me you’ll think about it.” As Leah laughed again, she added, “You deserve happiness, baby.”

The words stayed with Leah as she waved them off and saw Gabriel waiting for her with Emma and Bastian. Their eyes locked, and a shiver trailed one finger down her spine.

Happiness, she thought again, exhaling a steadying breath. She was going to go get her some.

“You guys didn’t have to stick around,” she said as she approached, holding up her skirt and hopping over a puddle. It had rained and the night air was full of the scent of it. “You should’ve left when Tia did.”

Emma smiled at her, tucked under the protection of Bastian’s draped arm. She wore his tuxedo jacket and huddled into it as she said, “We just wanted to say how great it all was. Really.”

“Loved the little hot dogs,” Bastian put in. He flashed her a grin. “Next time my mom throws an event, I’m putting them on the menu. Little wieners for all the big ones.”

Leah laughed before registering someone was missing. She glanced around. “Where’s Kole?”

Awkwardness infused the air like spice.

“He decided to call it an early night,” Emma said after a moment, flushing.

Leah wanted to feel annoyance at the statement but all that came was regret. Despite the fact that she went long stretches without seeing him, she counted Kole as a friend. She didn’t want them to be at odds.

Still. It was her life and it was her decision.

He was her decision.

“And you?” She faced Gabriel, who stood slightly apart from her friends. Always apart.

He inclined his head. Unlike Bastian, who’d undone his bow tie, he was as buttoned-up as ever. “I will escort you home.”

The hint of care wrapped up in a haughty statement was so like him. “Are you worried about my safety?”

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