Page 2 of Surviving in Everton

I shake my head violently. “No, let’s get it over with now,” I demand, then decide to soften my response a little, “please.” I look up at him with wide eyes, silently pleading with him to find something that could help us. We didn’t even ask what could happen to me if we don’t find the person who did this and make a counter spell.

He studies me for a moment before finally nodding his acceptance. “Okay, Rowen. Hop up on the bed.”

I turn my head and look at Hudson nervously.

He squeezes me to him and kisses my head. “It’s okay, Sugar. I’m right here. As soon as we’re done we can go home to the guys,” he promises, that small reassurance giving me the strength I need to stand up and go sit on the bed.

I lie there, waiting for the doctor to begin the exam.

“Okay, Rowen, I’m going to start at your head, since we already know there’s foreign magic there. Then I’ll work my way down checking for any other trace of magic that shouldn’t be present,” he starts to explain the process of this magic exam and I nod my head in understanding. “I know you want answers now, but I’m going to have to ask you to be patient. I’ve never had a case like this before. I’m going to have to do my own research before I feel comfortable giving you the answers you’re, understandably, desperate for,” he explains gently.

I sigh. “Okay… I’ll try.” That’s really all I can promise at the moment.

The corner of his lip tips up in an attempted smile. “I’ll take it. Let’s get started, okay?”

I nod yet again and he hovers his hands over my head. He stands there for a while, concentrating on searching my head for magic that doesn’t belong there. From the look on his face, I can tell he’s cataloging everything he sees or feels… I’m not really sure how this works.

I decide to close my eyes and try to think about something else, anything else, to take my mind off the bomb that was just dropped on me. So I think about my guys. They’ve always been able to distract me and make me feel better. They’ve really been great since we finally stopped being stupid and shared our feelings a couple of weeks ago. We spend a lot of time together as a group, but they’re also very considerate about giving me alone time with each of them.

I think back to last week when Ayden and Kayden showed up at my house. They had decided Kayden was going to take Violet on a date while Ayden stayed home with me for our own little date. It was the sweetest thing ever, and is now one of my favorite memories.

* * *

“Alright,now that they’re gone, what do you want to do tonight, Doll? I’m thinking we have a nice dinner, then we cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. Or play a game, if you’d rather.”

I smile at him. “That sounds perfect. What are you making me?” I ask him with my head cocked to the side.

He smirks at me and drags me to my kitchen. “Who said I was cooking?” he teases me and I pull him to a stop in the hallway.

“Ayden…” I start, giving him a warning look, but he cuts me off with a sweet kiss on the lips.

“Don’t look at me like that, Doll. We’re cooking this dinner together!”

My face lights up at that. “I’ve never cooked dinner with someone else before,” I tell him, bouncing on my toes. “Well, besides Violet, obviously.” I chuckle.

“Good, I get to be the first at something.” He smirks at me.

I roll my eyes playfully at him as we walk into the kitchen. “I don’t really have anything to cook though,” I warn him.

He just sighs and shakes his head at me. “We have magic, Rowe. Why do you keep forgetting that?” he teases me.

I really don’t know why I keep forgetting that. I guess I’m just so used to not using magic. I just shrug at him, laughing self-deprecatingly and take a seat at the island as we decide what to cook for dinner.

“You still like steak and potatoes?” he asks me with a raised eyebrow.

I roll my eyes at himagain. “Who the hell doesn’t like steak and potatoes? That’s like... sacrilege.” I shake my head in disgust at the poor people who have no taste at all if they don’t like a good steak.

Ayden just chuckles at me. “Well then, how about a filet mignon with a red wine reduction and parmesan roasted potatoes, with a side salad?”

My eyes widen and I start to drool. “That sounds amazing!” I gush, as I discreetly wipe my mouth to make sure I’m not actually drooling all over myself.

“Alright, you wanna help? Or are you just planning to sit there and distract me with your good looks?” he teases me, with a twinkle in his eye that makes me think sitting here and distracting him is actually an option.

Hmmm, I have to think about this for a minute. “I don’t know Ayden… I think I might enjoy just sitting here, watching you cook for me. There’s something very… sexy, about a man in the kitchen,” I tease him back, smirking to myself as his nostrils flare.

“Don’t tempt me, Doll. Tonight is about having fun and spending some much-needed quality time together. I’ve missed out on ten years of memories with you, Rowen. I’ve got some makin’ up to do. As sexy as you are sitting there in your short shorts and barely-there tank top, we’re not going there tonight, Rowen.”

I sigh dramatically. “Fine. But don’t think that’s gonna stop me from trying.” I smirk at him.

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