Page 16 of The Heartbreak Hex

I chuckle back and then say, “Well, you should get some sleep. We have a busy day at your shop tomorrow.”

“My shop?” she asks. “What about your work at City Hall?”

“I’ll have Bridget reschedule my day. Your work at your shop is just as important as mine and I don’t want you to fall too far behind right before Halloween.”

Gertrude is silent for a moment and in the space of that silence I think that I may have said something wrong, but then she finally replies, “Thank you for being willing to do that, Vlad. My workisimportant and I’m grateful thatsomeonesees it.”

The unspoken words hang heavily in the air, the implication obvious. Harry didn't think that her shop was important. Stupid of him, since that’s how she supported them both of them, but then that werewolf has always been stupid and selfish. What she ever saw in him is a mystery.

“Anytime, Gertrude,” I say, tamping down on my anger at her ex. “You’ve worked hard to build up your shop. I remember when you first opened . . .”

“Oh, boy,” she says, sounding amused. “I was so scared and confused. I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn’t believe that Halloween’s youngest ever mayor was my first customer.”

“I would never have known,” I assure her. “You just looked so happy and proud, even though the shop was small and bare. But you’ve worked hard and earned the reputation as the best potion witch in the village now. Your shop is thriving and I would never do anything to jeopardize that. Eye of Newt is an institution and your hard work is what made it that way. It’s worth a day or two of rescheduled meetings for me.”

“Let’s take turns going to my shop and City Hall then, okay? That way, neither of us gets too far behind and we’ll both be ready in time for Halloween.”

“That seems fair,” I agree.

“And I’ll keep trying to figure out how to break this curse. I’m sure you don’t want to be around me forever.”

That’s a loaded statement if I’ve ever heard one. My answer is important. I need to let her know that I most certainlydowant to be around her forever, but not scare her with the intensity of my feelings. “It certainly wouldn’t be feasible to keep having to take turns going to each other’s places of work, “ I begin, “but if I have to be tied to anyone, I'm glad that it’s you, Gertrude. I like you.”

I hold my breath waiting for her response.

“I like you too,” Gertrude says, making my heart sing, right before she says, “I’m glad we’re friends.”

Friends.The word is like a stake through the heart and I feel my hope sink. Then I mentally slap myself. Gertrude’s friendship is worthwhile and precious and if that’s all we ever are then I’ll be a lucky vampire to have her in my life. But I can't help but hope that she might grow to see me as something more someday.

Before I can respond, Gertrude yawns. “Well, I’m exhausted and we have an early morning. Good night, Vlad.”

“Good night, sweetheart,” I murmur back. Within a few moments Gertrude starts to softly snore and I know she’s asleep, but my mind is still racing. After thinking about it for a long time I finally resolve that if I’m Gertrude’s friend, I’ll be the best she’s ever had and that if she doesn’t develop feelings for me, then she’ll never know about mine. I would never make her uncomfortable for the world. But I’d be an idiot if I didn't leave myself open to the possibility of us getting together. To at leastleave the door open and try to show her the kind of boyfriend I could be.

Closing my eyes, I will myself to sleep. Tomorrow’s a new day and at the very least I get to spend it with Gertrude. I’ll at least treasure this time we have together.

Even if nothing else ever happens.

Chapter 8

Gertrude

As the alarm on my phone goes off, it’s evident that one or both of us didn’t stay on our sides of the bed. Waking up, I find myself in a tangle of bodies. A strong arm holds me to a firm chest, my cheek pressed against a cool pec and my left leg is slung over a thick, muscular thigh, my core dangerously close to his manhood. I open one eye experimentally and look up. Vlad is still asleep, dead to the world, his mouth open slightly, showing off his long fangs. Good. At least he doesn't know that apparently I tried to climb him like a tree in my sleep. I’m not surprised at how good it feels to be this close to him, however. He’s a very attractive vampire and I’m just a hot-blooded witch; I’d have to be a fool to not enjoy being held by him.

My alarm is still going off, blaring in the early morning air, the pale autumn sunrise coming through the balcony doors. If it weren't for that fact, I’d be tempted to just go back to sleep, to stay exactly where I am. But it’s time to get up and Vlad probably will wake up because of the alarm soon and I don’t want anotherawkward moment with him where it looks like I’m coming on to him.

Gingerly, I extricate myself from our embrace, sliding out from under his arms and then grab my phone from the nightstand, hitting the off button on my alarm. Turning back, I see that Vlad is still asleep.Poor guy.He must be really tired after our crazy day yesterday. I’d be tempted to let him sleep some more, but I have to pee and can’t go all the way to the bathroom without him.

As gently as I can, I start to shake Vlad’s shoulder. “Vlad, time to get up . . . Vlad . . . .”

It feels surprisingly domestic to be waking him up. Almost as intimate as the position that we woke up in, just in a different way.

Friends,I remind myself.We’re just friends that are tied together by a potion.

Slowly, his eyes screw together and his brow knits.

“Five more minutes . . .” he groans and then turns over.

I laugh. Who knew that the charming, affable Mayor of Halloween wasn’t a morning person?

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