Page 33 of Spookily Yours

Back to my little witch.

* * *

I let the shadows cloak around me, hiding me from view as I watched her flit around the shop Willow and her sister owned. This time, I could fully take in the front of their shop. The sign above the door readThe Witches’ Brewand featured an intricately carved cauldron of bubbling coffee.

One of them had taped little bats to the inside of the windows, with the entire storefront fully decked out in Halloween decor. Fake cobwebs, little orange lights that lined the door frame, and even the sandwich board out front read ‘stop by for a brew!’

It was clear they didn’t need the advertising. Downtown Pleasant Grove was small and bustling, and it felt like half of the town must have popped inside since we’d first arrived this morning.

Letting my darkness dissipate, I opened the door, shoving my hands in my pockets as I stood, watching them talk behind the counter.

“Olivia, I have your pumpkin scone and Witch’s Cold Brew!” Willow called out as she handed a small paper bag and a cup of coffee to a customer at the counter with a smile. Tucking a brown lock of hair behind her ear, she turned to the next person in line.

She hadn’t noticed me yet, and I liked that I could study her like this. Unabashedly, without worrying about what anyone else thought.

There was a pull to her I couldn’t explain, a kind of magnetism that drew me in.

I rubbed a hand over my face. This was crazy. There was no way.

Even from here, her sweet scent wafted into my nostrils, and it was all I could do to resist burying my face in her hair and inhaling it.

I wanted her. With every fiber of my being.

But I didn’t deserve her. How could I ever deserve someone as perfect, as untouched by hatred and destruction?

She wasmine,and I knew that down to the depths of my soul—whatever part of it still existed—but she didn’t need me.

Fuck.

Willow’s gaze connected with mine, and I could feel my face softening as she walked over to me, the irritation clear on her face.

I had to fix this. I had to make her understand I hadn’twantedto go. Even if I couldn’t tell her the truth yet. No matter how badly I wanted to.

“I’m sorry.”

NINE

willow

Throwing myself into the bakery was my best course of action after Damien’s sudden disappearance. Once the morning rush was over, I took the time to sweep the entire storefront, leaving no corner untouched. Not only had I finished all the dishes, but I had also wiped down all the tables.

I’d given up on pretending that I wasn’t staring out the window for him to come back.

The worst part was I felt like a lovesick fool, consumed by emotions I couldn’t control. His vow to stay echoed in my mind, but a small voice inside me wondered if it was true.

Sighing, I turned back to the counter, brewing a fresh pot of coffee while I made an apple cider latte for one of our regulars.

“Is everything ready for tonight?” I asked Luna, who was sliding another tray of freshly baked cookies into the rack to cool. I checked the time. It was almost noon, which meant more than half of our day was already over.

She wiped her hands on her apron. “That’s the last of the cookies I had to make. Everything else should be ready to go. You’re still going to make the hot chocolate, right?”

The bell on the door chimed, as I called out another customer’s order, handing them their drink and pastry.

I nodded. “Of course. And I’m sorry for bailing so much this last week.” I’d already prepped everything I’d need for tonight, so when everything was set up, it would just need to be stirred and heated up.

Luna rested her head against my shoulder. “It’s okay. I know you’ve had your hands full with that one.”

That one?I looked over at her, and she raised her eyebrows, tilting her head towards the door.

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