Page 22 of Hexes and Exes

The potion is already starting to work. Technically, I don’t need ibuprofen, and yet, I find myself picking the pills up from her hand and tossing them back.

“Here, let me look at it again.” Ava steps up on a bale of hay and grabs my shoulders to turn me around. My hat is still somewhere on the ice. So she has unobstructed access to my head. She’s slightly taller than me on top of the bale of hay. When her fingers comb through my hair, my head falls back.

No one in my life has ever taken the time to take care of me, not really. Not since my mother died. Roman is there for me, no matter what, but he’s not exactly the kind to reassure with touch. Not with his brother, at least. My stepmother Diana has hated me since the moment she found out I existed. My father is a cold-hearted bastard. There were very few hugs outside of the ones our housekeeper Giana gave me growing up.

I have people who care for me in my life, but Ava’s touch is different. Honestly, she’s different from any other woman in my life and I don’t know why. I’ve had a few casual relationships in my past, but nothing that lasted very long. When a dark, raging beast lives inside you, threatening to take over everything that was once pure and good about you, it’s really difficult to care for someone else.

Ava gets under my skin in a way that irritates the living hell out of me. It also makes the magic hum in my chest.

Her fingers are gentle as she inspects my head. I can’t help but lean back into her. My shoulders against her chest. She could easily slide her arms around my shoulders and embrace me.

“I think it’ll be okay. Try not to hit it again. I can never remember, are you supposed to keep people awake if they have a concussion, or are they supposed to sleep?”

Ava pulls out her phone, like she’s about to do a deep dive and research the question. I, on the other hand, would be happy to stay put, her fingers in my hair, my head on her chest. I shake my head as I pull away and immediately regret it. Morty’s potion worked fast, but not that quickly.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

I turn and look at her, her brown hair peeking out of her awful hat. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes bright. With her lips slightly parted, it would be so easy to kiss her. Her hand is resting on my shoulder. One small movement and my hands could be wrapped around her waist. Her body could be pressed tight to mine.

“Long time no see, Ava.” Jamie, Ava’s snot nose, punk-ass ex-boyfriend saunters up like he’s the Maiden’s gift to women.

The beast inside me who feasts on rage and bitterness rears up.

12

AVA

Ialmost kissed Bram Blackthorn. The brooding bastard was just staring at me, and I swear I could see desire in his gaze. No, I must have made it up because I’m in the middle of a nightmare right now. My ex-boyfriend is standing next to Bram, grinning up at me. Like we’re long-lost friends running into each other after years apart. The last time I saw him, he was with his intern girlfriend, and he didn’t remember me.

I hate Jamie.

When the two of us first started dating a few years ago, I couldn’t believe we were together. The fact that he even gave me the time of day was unbelievable. I was this shy, pathetic girl who’d been told growing up that I was unworthy. Stellan was always my champion, but it’s hard to ignore those words from your father. A mother’s silence only affirming that he was right. I thought Jamie was doing me a favor by being with me. That I was the lucky one.

Looking at him now, he doesn’t seem so extraordinary. Definitely not standing next to Bram. At five foot ten, Jamie is still a good half a foot taller than me. He has a decent physique.But he spends way more time on his hair than I ever did, which I suppose isn’t saying much. He required at least an hour in the bathroom before work every day, and Maiden help us all if it rained or was too humid and his hair got messed up.

Now that I’m looking at him, his eyes are a little smaller and squintier than I remember. Honestly, they look a little mean as he grins up at me.

The feelings of inadequacy that I always felt with him sweeps back over me. At the time, I never realized how often he would remind me how lucky I was to be with him. He had this way of talking to me and manipulating me into feeling like he was doing me a favor by dating me. He liked me, despite all my faults, and I should be grateful for that. It’s nauseating to look back and see how long I put up with that kind of treatment.

“You’re looking good, Ava.”

Bram and I both turn to stare at Jamie with twin looks of disbelief on our faces. How does he even know who I am? Someone must have reminded him about me, or shown him pictures to jog his memory, because the last time he saw me, I was a stranger.

“Thanks, I’m kind of a mess, but yeah.” I fumble over the compliment, pulling off the yellow jersey I’m still wearing over my coat and dropping it to the bale of hay I’m standing on. I know I should just say thank you and move on. Even though his words don’t sound disingenuous, they feel that way. I’m a mess right now.

I dressed for warmth and comfort today. There’s barely a coat of mascara on my eyelashes and the only reason I’m wearing foundation is for the sunscreen. My body is mostly covered under winter gear, so I can’t imagine why he thinks I look good.

“Where is your girlfriend?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I cringe. I don’t really care where his girlfriend is. I don’tknow anything about her, except that she’s his intern and she’s got a landing strip. That’s not something I ever needed to know about another person. I don’t have any desire to extend this conversation.

“Oh, that. We’re not together. She was a mistake.” Jamie briefly looks at Bram, and then back to me. “Could we maybe find someplace private to talk?”

“No,” Bram says before I get a chance to answer. His aura has turned a dark purple and the black swirls are spinning like an eddy.

“Ava, I really need to talk to you.” There’s a scolding tone to Jamie’s voice that has my shoulders lifting with tension.

“Ava needs to take care of me. I have a concussion. I could die if I fall asleep, so she’s in charge of keeping me awake.” Bram’s voice is so low it sounds like he swallowed a fistful of gravel.

Jamie gapes at Bram, and then puffs up his chest. “Maybe you should go to the hospital then.”

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