Page 31 of We Are All Sinners

I move through my routine and am out the door in record time after saying goodbye to my friends, who are all already hard at work in the dining room.

I take a deep breath of fresh air as I head down the sidewalk towards my shop, thankful for the cool breeze today.

I’m exhausted and scared of what the future could hold for me and Brix. Knowing, yet not knowing, is actually torture.

Will I survive this? Will I survive if I fail and lose him again?

I can’t help but feel defeated, wallowing in the fact that since the curse began back in the late seventeen hundreds, no one has been able to find a loophole or break it.

How are we going to be any different?

I get to my shop and move slowly through the day, looking at the clock on the wall every time my eyes try to close. Which is every fifteen minutes.

It’s funny, for the last two years I have tried to figure out who my father is and all along, the answers were in Mamas’ letter and hidden in our house.

My phone dings putting the first genuine smile on my face all day at seeing Brix’s name pop up on my phone with a new text.

Brix: “I’ll have dinner ready when you get home tonight. Any requests, my little witch?”

Evie: “Are you cooking?”

Brix: “Yup! And I’ll have you know I’m actually a pretty good cook since Noah gave me some lessons.”

Evie: Oh really? How about Chicken Piccata?”

Brix: Piece of cake!

Evie: Ooh, and cake! Impressive!

I reply with a smirk, knowing Noah is probably preparing dinner in my kitchen to make it look like Brix made it. I could be wrong, but he never cooked for me before.

I guess we were still kids, and I couldn’t cook either. I’m better now, with easy shit, but in all honesty, I’m no chef. Emily cooks most of our meals, and I love her for it.

I at least perk up and talk to the few customers that come in the store. Thank God they were some of my regulars and I didn’t have to help them much.

When it’s finally closing time, I lock up and hurry out the back door with Jinx fast on my heels. I didn’t even see him in the store today.

“Hey, Jinxy. Ready to go home and get dinner? Brix is cooking.” I can’t help but laugh as I get excited heading home.

When I finally make it up on my porch and open my front door, the smell of lemon, garlic, and capers hit my nose, making my mouth water.

“Smells really good Brix!” I holler, making my way to the kitchen.

Brixon is standing by the large, white, granite countertop holding two glasses of wine. Moscato, I presume from thebubbles. He knows I hate champagne ever since I got sick drinking it on my seventeenth birthday down in the bayou.

Liam and Noah snatched several bottles one night from one of our parents’ parties. We all got sick that night, mixing the champagne with hard liquor that Cami and I took from our parents’ liquor cabinets.

“How was your day, dear?” Brixon smiles as he hands me one of the glasses and kisses my lips softly, pulling back with the cheesiest grin on his face.

“Good I guess.” I reply with a smirk as he eyes me, cocking an eyebrow.

“Okay, I was bored out of my mind and all I wanted to do all day was take a nap.” I confess with a slight whine to my voice.

Brix chuckles, “I figured you would be nursing one hell of a hangover after last night.”

I shake my head, smiling, remembering the guys finally getting into the dance with us last night when we made them watch Practical Magic. We honestly didn’t give them a choice, “The worst.” I agree.

Come on, alchey, let’s make sure you eat enough to absorb what you drink tonight.” Brix takes my hand, leading me to the dining room.

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