Page 116 of Bewitched & Bewildered
“Exactly.”
There’sa diner in Starbrook that I’ve always loved. It’s owned by a happy werewolf couple, meaning the portions are enormous. They’re perfect for me. Juniper also seems pleased, rubbing her hands together when the server sets a plate of pumpkin spice pancakes in front of her.
“You been here before?” I cut into my eggs—sunny side up.
“Of course.” She points her fork at me. “This place is an institution, and you know it.” She eats a bite of fluffy pancakes.
“Mhm. I think I remember seeing you here when we were young.”
“I’ve certainly seenyou. You were always surrounded by your jock friends.”
I wince. “Yeah. Them.”
I’m not in touch with most of my old friends. There are a rare few, like Antoni, who I’ve been happy to reconnect with. Some of them moved away. Others are still here, but they feel miles away.
“Don’t be weird,” she says. “If you think I’m still upset about some high school bullies…”
“I don’t think that.”
“Good. Because I’m not.” She lifts her tea and takes a sip of the hot liquid. “I never forgot how you stood up for me, though.”
“I should have done more.”
“It doesn’t matter. We were kids. I don’t even think I got the worst of the bullying in that school.”
Juniper was popular in her own way—but very different than me. She was bright and pretty but patronizing… and that last part made it too easy to push her buttons.
“So, that’s not why you hated me?” I lift a brow. “I thought you were holding a grudge.”
“I never hated you, but you always… I don’t know. You riled me up.”
I chuckle. “That’s easy to do. It always was.”
“Are you trying to get on my bad side again?”
“No. Not at all. The opposite, actually.”
“You’re already on my good side.”
“There’s always room for improvement,” I say. “I’d like to get on your better side.”
Her foot brushes against mine under the table. “I thought last night proved that you’re already on top.”
I chuckle nervously. “On top of what?”
“You’re number one on my list of favorite people,” she says matter-of-factly.
Right. She loves me. And I love her. I’ve known for a few weeks now. It was easy to say back, but it left me with doubts. Did she mean it?
Doesshe mean it?
“Really? I’m number one.”
“Actually…” She tilts her head to the side. “You might have to be number five. My sisters spent years securing their spots.”
“As long as I’m in the top ten, I’ll take it.”
She gives me a yearning look. “I meant what I said, Oz.”
