Page 34 of Hexes and Exes

“Avalon.” My father glares at me, as if I’ve said a single word during this conversation. “I really hope you’re not trying to take control of the planning. She thinks she knows everything. Even as a child, there was no convincing her that she could possibly be wrong about anything. Isn’t that right, dear?” My father looks down the table at my mother.

Her smile is forced, but she doesn’t look at me as she says, “Yes, very stubborn.”

“You think she would know better. Her life’s been one failed exercise after another.” He picks up his glass, peering at me over the rim. “She disappeared from the family after taking up with a low-level witch. No loyalty these days,” my father says, and half the table nods in agreement. Assholes.

I push back from the table, throwing my napkin down on my untouched soup. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Sit back down, Avalon,” my father snarls low enough that I doubt anyone but Stellan hears.

“I have to use the restroom.” I speak loudly so the others hear. If my father forces me to stay when I have to go to the bathroom, that would not be a good look. I keep my head down as I hurry out of the room. The second I’m out in the hallway, I yank off the knitted sweater and unbutton the first few buttons on my shirt. That suffocating feeling is back, and I drag my fingers down my neck like that’s going to help me breathe.

Winding down the maze of hallways, I reach the billiard room and push inside. There’s one lamp lit on a desk, but most of the room is hidden in shadows. I toss my sweater aside and lean my butt against the pool table. My head falls back, and I try to control the avalanche of emotions assaulting me.

“Your dad is a dick.”

I snap my head down so fast I give myself whiplash. Bram closes the door and leans his back against it.

“Yeah. He’s…” I struggle to find the right word to encapsulate everything that is my father, but fail. “Yeah.”

Bram looks good tonight. He’s wearing a suit without a tie. It’s formal, but still casual. Next to him I look like a turd. I’ve never felt so seen and yet so ugly at the same time as I do when I’m with Bram.

Feeling unattractive is my own fault. Well, maybe not entirely. Bram’s beautiful face and chiseled features don’t help.

“Your stepmom seems like a real piece of work,” I offer up, like we’re competing in the shitty parent Olympics. Except that’s a terrible competition, and we’re both basically losers in this game.

“She’s awful.” Bram steps away from the door, slowly stalking toward me. His eyes drop down to my chest, whereI belatedly realize I’ve undone enough buttons to display an ample amount of cleavage.

“What are you doing in here, by the way?” I sound far too breathless for someone standing still.

Bram holds up his hand, showing me his phone. “I had a call.”

“Oh. Right. Busy guy.”

He’s still moving toward me, his eyes roaming my body. “You’re dressed like a homeless librarian again.”

I snap my mouth shut. I don’t even know when it dropped open. “Please, stop. I can’t handle the compliments.”

A crooked grin sneaks up one side of Bram’s face. “I didn’t say I don’t like it.” He makes a pained expression. “I think I like it a little too much.”

I’m always two seconds away from being turned on around Bram, but his words set off an inferno low in my belly. No one, and I mean no one, likes my ugly outfits. But Bram kissed me last weekend. What is this draw between us? Does he feel it too, or is it all in my imagination?

Bram stops directly in front of me, leaning down until his hands rest on the edge of the pool table. His face is mere inches away and his nose grazes the tip of mine.

“What is it about you?” he whispers.

“Me?” I give a tiny shake of my head. “What about me?”

Bram’s aura is a deep red. The shadows that normally swirl around him are all but gone. A pulse of lust thrums through me when Bram’s thumb brushes over my pinkie. It stabs straight through my heart. I can’t tell if it’s coming from me or if I just felt Bram’s emotions. My hands are splayed on the table, propping up my weight, but that one little touch turns my bones to jelly.

Bram’s eyes dip to my mouth. My pulse is thrumming in my chest. Is he going to kiss me again? I lift my chin and ourlips brush. Bram sucks in a breath, and we freeze, just barely touching.

The door bounces open. I jolt in surprise, and Bram jumps away from me like a startled rabbit.

“Hey, guys. Did the party move?” My brother grins as he saunters into the room. “Ava, you all good? Did that chowder mess with your guts?” He swirls his finger in a circle over his stomach. “Did you get the poops, like that one time?”

“Crone’s saggy tits.” I slap a hand over my face. I hop off the pool table and shove past Bram. “No. My guts are just fine.”

Stellan snickers. Bram eyes him like my brother’s a bomb about to explode. His gaze darts to me for a fraction of a second.

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