Page 67 of Bewitched & Bewildered
Juniper meets my gaze. I blink—still speechless—and she sidesteps back to her booth.
“Who is that?” Vanessa hisses.
“Uh… that’s Juniper. She’s an old…”What?I can’t call her a friend, can I? It’s one of the many things Vanessa won’t understand.
She lets out a bitter laugh. “Oh, I see. That’s why you came back.”
After everything, Vanessa is jealous. She still thinks she can be possessive of me, but she can’t. That’s not fair.
My expression goes flat. “I think we’re done here. Go back to Otis.”
Her face falls. “Ozzy…”
“Don’t call me that,” I say. “Just go.”
Chapter 16
Juniper
The lapis lazulihe gave me dangles around my neck, hidden under my dress, and I wonder if this is part of its intention. It is a stone of communication, after all. Blue crystals usually are.
But I doubt he meant for me to use it like this…
I tore down a stranger, and it may have been his ex-wife.
Arguing with Ozan is a pastime of mine, but what she said is over the top. Bringing her date is, too.
She’s gone now. Most people are. The town square has gone quiet, and only the vendors remain.
I should talk to Ozan. Even though I was standing up for him, I owe him an apology. I embarrassed him—not just in front of the other woman, but the entire festival.
It’s embarrassing for me, too. My sisters will never let this go.
I put off approaching him until the night is nearly over. My sisters are in the car, bringing the items back to the shop, and I’m about to call it a night… when Ozan draws near tomeinstead.
He looks sheepish when he does, standing with his hands in his pockets and a half-smile on his face.
“Need any help?” he asks.
“We already took care of everything.” I smirk. “You should have come sooner.”
This may be my first time requesting his presence. Things are changing, and I don’t know when it started or where it will end.
He lets out a short laugh. “You’re right. That wasn’t very chivalrous of me. I guess that’s becauseyou’rethe chivalrous one.”
I wince. “Listen. I’m sorry, that was embarrassing?—”
“No. It was sweet.”
“I’m never sweet.”
“It was sweet by my standards. If it weren’t for you, I would have had to brag about my business myself. That would be an ugly look, so… thank you.”
I press my lips together. “Was that your ex? Seriously?”
He shrugs. “I guess so.”
“Was she always a monster?”
