Page 80 of Returning to Everton

Well, he’s got me there. I look around the kitchen, “Where’s everyone else?”

“They went out back when they saw me giving you a hello kiss.”

“Does it upset them to see me kissing you?” I ask worriedly.

“Not at all. They were just being nice and giving us a minute alone. Don’t get used to it,” he chuckles.

I shake my head. “Alright, let’s go outside so I can give the rest of my guys kisses too.”

I try to take the bowl from Kayden, when he doesn’t let me, I give him a look and he smiles at me and hands it over. I walk over to the door with Kayden’s hand on the small of my back. He slides the door open for me and I step out into the warm summer afternoon. This is why I chose to wear jean shorts and a halter-top today, perfect summer clothes. Plus, the guys get a good look at my long legs in my short shorts and my cleavage in my navy-blue halter-top.

Once I set the bowl down, I walk around to each of the guys and give them all hugs and kisses. It takes a while, because each guy feels the need to out kiss the guy before him. By the time I end with Declan, I’m all hot and bothered from the all-consuming kisses my guys just gave me.

“Whew,” I fan myself. “Y’all need to stop kissing me like that if it’s gonna stop there.”

“It doesn’t have to stop there, gorgeous,” Ayden whispers in my ear. Where the hell did he come from?

“Uh, yes it does. There are two children here right now. You’re lucky you were able to kiss me,” I argue.

“She’s right Ayden, have a little decorum,” Hudson chastises him then turns to me. “So, are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Gah. Not really,” I groan. “I mean, I’m super excited for Violet, she’s been looking forward to starting school for so long. She’s excited to make new friends, and thanks to Declan,” I smile at the man in question, “she’s not nervous about being behind magically anymore. I’m just sad because it means my little baby isn’t a baby anymore,” I confess.

The guys all nod in understanding. “We all understand that. Logan may not be our kid, but we helped raise him from the time he was born.” Nate walks over to me and wraps his arm around my waist. “It’s hard sometimes, watching them grow, but you feel proud of them at the same time.”

I nod my agreement as I snuggle into his side. “I am proud of her. She’s come a long way in the few weeks we’ve been here. It’s a good thing she was so young when her dad died, she’s been able to adjust to life with magic remarkably well.”

“Speaking of her dad...” Nate trails off and I look up at him in concern.

“What about him?” I question him worriedly.

He sighs, but doesn’t let go of me, so it can’t be too bad... right? “We just have some questions baby, that’s all,” he attempts to reassure me.

I look around and everyone is looking at me like they’re anxious about whatever it is they want to talk to me about. “Okay? What’s going on guys?” They’re making me nervous. I’d really rather they just spit it out, whateveritis.

“Rowe, you said you don’t remember why you started dating him, and Quinn said you completely changed after you got together. I know we’ve talked about how we think he might have used magic to get you to go out with him, but since weknowhe didn’t have magic, we want to find out who helped him.” Nate declares, “Ihaveto know Rowe. That asshole ruined your life. He kept you from us for ten years! We could have been together this whole time if it weren’t for him and whoever helped him. We want to figure it out together.”

“I talked to my parents a few weeks ago,” Hudson jumps into the conversation rubbing the back of his head. “We’ve been going through dad’s books,” he admits.

“Okay, and? What Hudson? Tell me what you found,” I demand.

He sighs, “There’s a potion. It does a number of things to the person who takes it. One being that it makes them more compliant.” he trails off.

More compliant… meaning, I would do whatever I was told to do without much of a fight. Even if it went against everything I believed in.

“Wh- what else Hud?” I stammer. I don’t know if I really want to know, but Ineedto.

“It’s a relatively easy potion to make, and the magic works off of the will of the person that gives the potion to the intended recipient. Which means, the magic user that made the potion wouldn’t have to put a lot of their magic into it. Or thought really, since Harris would be the one giving it to you. Whoever helped him would have just had to give him simple instructions and then he would be able to spell you however he wanted. Did he ever make you drinks or anything? It would have been easy for him to slip the potion in that way.”

I feel like such an idiot for not telling them this sooner. I look up at Declan to see he’s not exactly happy with me. “Yeah, he made me tea at night to help me relax.” I groan and shake my head. “Of course, he wasn’t doing that to be a good husband. He was just making sure I stayed under his control.” Oh god, this is bad. He made me tea every night, pretty much our entire relationship! “Hudson? Did the book mention any side effects? If he was dosing me with this potion every night for almost ten years… Could it have caused me permanent harm?” I ask him worriedly as I chew on my bottom lip.

“I don’t remember, Sugar. Let me call my dad, okay?” I nod my head and he walks away to make the phone call.

Nate turns me into him and wraps his arms tightly around me. “It’ll be okay baby. We’ll figure it out,” he promises as he holds me while I cry into his chest.

I just can’t believe our whole relationship was a lie. The last ten years of my life have been just some sick ruse. I turned a guy down in college, so he decided to make me pay for it for the rest of my life? I knew our relationship wasn’t healthy or happy really, but this just takes it to a whole other level. What kind of person does that? And worse, what kind of personhelpssomeone do that?

“Hey, my dad thinks we should take you to see Dr. Johnston. Just to make sure you’re okay and there’s no lingering side effects,” Hudson gently explains to me as he rubs my back while I keep my face buried in Nate’s chest.

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