Page 46 of Bewitched & Bewildered
Ozan. He probably isn’t aware of my presence. I’m too aware of his. He’s everywhere.
It would be easy to stay behind him, even if it becomes evident we’re heading in the same direction. He has long legs, doesn’t he? That means he should move faster. Hedoesn’t, though, and I’m caught up with him before I know what’s happening.
Ozan looks too pleased as I approach.
“Evening.” His dimples show under the scruff of his beard. He looks at me from the corner of his eye.
“Do you usually walk home?” I ask, skipping the pleasantries. “I never see you out here.”
“No.” He yawns. “I live above the shop. No walking necessary.”
“Must be nice.” I hesitate. “Where are you going?”
The last thing I want is to seem too interested in his whereabouts, but I am. There’s a chance he’s walking for his health, but at this time of night, I doubt it.
“My parent’s place,” he says.
That makes sense. They live just down the street from our family home. Sadly, that means I’ll have to spend the entire walk with him.
“I guess we can walk together…”
“You don’t sound enthused.” He snickers.
“I’m not, but…” I look up at the moon, shrugging. “It’s a full moon. That makes it a good night to stay in groups.”
Humans have a myth that the full moon brings chaos, but it’s more than a myth—it’s true. The energy of the full moon is bright and chaotic. Any witch can feel it.
Under the right circumstances, it can make for favorable ceremonies, but it can also reveal our world’s evil underbelly. I shouldn’t be walking alone.
“I’m glad you’re finally seeing sense,” he says.
I narrow my eyes. “What does that mean?”
“This is the first time you’re not running away from me.”
“You sound too pleased about it.”
“I am.”
His honesty catches me off guard. I look ahead. Heat rises to my cheeks, and—for some reason—I’m fighting off a smile.
“If you wanted my attention so badly, you should have said so,” I say. “I do charity work from time to time.”
“Wow.” he chuckles. “Didn’t know you were so generous.”
Having someone to walk with doesn’t fix any of my problems, but I feel better with Ozan under the full moon’s light.
I can’t put my finger on why.
“Where have you been, anyway?” I ask.
“What?” He lets out a puff of laughter. “Have you been waiting for me to visit?”
“No!” I glare at him. “Before coming back to Starbrook, I mean. I know you were in Boston, but…?”
“It sounds like you have the answer to your question. I was indeed in Boston.”
“You’re not mysterious, Ozan. Stop trying to be. You know what I’m asking. What were youdoingin Boston?”
