Page 62 of The Nowhere Witch

“Because of all the things going on?” Gregor asked, perfectly willing to accept that it wasn’t him, even when it was.

“It’s just a lot. I can’t really get my head in order right now. You understand?”

“Of course. If you need some more time, I’m willing to wait.”

He’d be waiting a long time, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him that right now. There was a thread of truth; I had too much on my plate right now. I’d feel like that no matter who was standing in front of me, unless it was Hawk.

That didn’t make Hawk the right man. It merely proved I was a touch crazy.

25

When Bautere crouched low, getting ready, there was no part of him that appeared to be playing. This didn’t feel like a game or a sparring session. His growl filled the area, and when he charged for me, my heart beat like I was on the verge of death.

I leapt fifteen feet, rolled in the air, and landed behind him. It would’ve been amazing if it weren’t half of what I’d tried to accomplish.

He turned, growling his displeasure. “You aren’t attacking. As a protectorate, it’s not instinctual to be aggressive, but you need to learn. Now again. This time, you attack.”

I stretched my arms out, trying to psych myself up to purposely engage what appeared to be a massive polar bear. I took off, leapt into the air right before we would’ve collided, and tried to land a blow. It was as if all the gas in my tank had run out. I crashed to the ground on my left side, rolling a little too late to disperse the blow.

I didn’t groan. I’d learned early that you suffered in silence unless you just couldn’t hold it back. Any signal of weakness would simply alert your opponent where to aim.

“You need to find a way.”

“I know,” I said, getting to my feet, trying to ignore the pain.

He took in the way I was favoring my left leg. “We’re done for the day.” He walked off.

* * *

I got into the office an hour late for work. Zab, Musso, and Bibbi watched as I hobbled across the room.

“I tripped,” I said, shutting down any questions as I settled at my desk, looking at the slips piling up.

I wasn’t sure what was distracting me more: the pain in my knee or Bibbi staring at the door again, waiting for Hawk. Many people walked in and out of the office, but he was the only one she waited for. So much for our conversation yesterday.

Any second Hawk would walk in and pass by her, without so much as a nod. She’d get up and follow him, asking ten different questions that he would try to palm off on Musso or Zab. Did he not realize what was going on? When had I gone from resenting her neediness to wanting to build up her self-esteem enough that she wouldn’t wait for any crumb? Probably right about the time this became too painful to witness.

As predicted, Hawk walked in and Bibbi stared hard. Hawk might’ve gestured in her direction, but it was such a slight movement that it was hard to discern whether it was an actual nod.

To make it worse, the monkeys kicked into “Reunited” by Peaches and Herb. Just what we needed to make the moment more awkward. I was about to drag a finger across my throat, signaling for them to cut it out, but I stopped. They were getting pretty good, and I hadn’t heard this song in ages. Plus, Hawk had already walked into the back room.

Bibbi leaned forward, chin on her hand and eyes downcast. It was too much. Would it really kill him to say hello?

I stood, wincing at the pain as I walked into the back room, finding a perch on the edge of the couch.

“We need to talk,” I said.

He was over at the cocoa/tea station, his back to me. He turned, his brows dropping and his face instantly intent. “Is there a problem?”

Considering I never sought him out, it was understandable that he might be alarmed, especially with everything happening.

“Not a problem, exactly,” I said, shaking my head. I pointed to the office. “Can you mute the room?”

The din from the people talking in the office went away completely.

“So what did you want to speak to me about?” He tilted his head slightly, a spark in his eyes that made my breathing hitch.

Great. Now he thought this was about the kiss.

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