Page 59 of The Trouble With Spells
Meeting her eyes, I said, “No?”
Daphne was slowly waving her hands in the air above us, plucking an invisible thread this way and that. “Oh, he so was. I’d recognize one of his messes anywhere.”
“Can we talk about this later?” I mumbled, “Or, like, never?” Then at my sister, I mouthed,Tattletale.
Daphne smirked at me, then wiped her hands together. “All fixed, brother. Though you might want to test it outto make sure.” She batted her lashes, looking innocent, but I knew better.
“You’re not going to be here when we do,” I declared, pointing my finger at her and then to the open doorway. “You just want to see Michael naked.”
“Duh,” she shrugged, then followed Gran, and finally my mom, out the door. “I mean, he’s still hot.”
Michael covered his face with his hands, groaning and repeating, “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.”
Pulling at one of his hands, I peered down at him. “They’re gone. And, of course, they left the door wide open. Want me to test that the spell is broken? I can shut the door.”
“Ugh, I’m almost afraid to, but yeah,” he moaned. “I’d like to finish what we started but I don’t think I can, knowing your family is downstairs.” He shuddered, “Yeah, nope, not gonna happen. You’re way too loud and I’m already never going to be able to look any of them in the face.”
“Ok, here goes.” Tossing off the blankets, I hurried to the door with no mishaps and without Michael writhing across the bed screaming in agony.
Hex ran across the floor, jumping on the bed, and butting his head against Michael’s chin.
Shutting the door with a loud, purposeful bang that I hoped they all heard downstairs, I turned to see Michael watching me, a huge smile on his face.
“She did it.”
Climbing back into the bed, I tucked myself close to his side. “I never doubted that she wouldn’t be able to. She’s really amazing with spells, but you did not hear me say that.”
“Can we just hide out here for a while?” Michael whispered, his lips brushing over my hair. “After yesterday, I’m not sure I’m ready to be interrogated by your family.”
“We can hide up here for as long as we want,” I assured him, taking his hand and winding our fingers together.
“Forever?” he wondered, and I grinned against his chest.
“Forever sounds wonderful.”
Epilogue
Callum
One Year Later…
Derek grunted as he dropped the moving box at his feet. It landed with a loud thud, and I winced, hoping there wasn’t anything valuable or breakable in it.
“Michael,” Derek wiped his dusty palms on his denim covered thighs, “I know you’re a lawyer, but do you have to have all these law books? They’re heavy as fuck. Read a paperback like a normal person. Better yet, buy a Kindle. Fuck, I’ll buy you one for Christmas.” He straightened, then winced, his hand rubbing his lower back. “I’m too fucking old for this moving nonsense. Tell me again why you didn’t hire movers?”
Michael placed the box he’d been carrying down on the floor, but I didn’t miss the wince he tried to hide fromhis friend when he straightened his own back. “I did hire movers. You. I’m paying you with pizza and beer. And a guest room to sleep in so you don’t have to drive back to the city tonight. Ingrate.”
Grinning at them both, I slid a box over between my legs where I sat on the couch and began unpacking it. The room we were in was going to be Michael’s office, and I carefully sat the impressive looking hardback law books on the floor beside me.
So much had happened in the past year I still had to pinch myself some days, so I knew it was all real. My mind drifted over everything that had happened, while I continued to unpack the box.
Michael had been correct about the Marcone case. The Feds had swooped in and whisked Francesco away to await trial in a federal prison. The man had charges against him as long as my arm, but Michael figured they’d end up plea bargaining a ton of them down. Either way, I hoped we never had to see the man again.
Thankfully, his co-worker, Shelby, had been located in the same warehouse they had taken us to, and other than being roughed up a little, she was physically fine. It had shaken her up though and she had resigned shortly after, and frankly, no one blamed her.
Our kidnapping and near-death experience had also unnerved Michael. It had rattled both of us, but it had really caused Michael to rethink some things. Mainly hiscareer, where it was going, and what he wanted for his future.
Seems he wantedmefor his future.
