Page 130 of The Lone Wolf Café
“She did?”
“I did,” My mother chuckled as she walked up behind me. “I want both of my girls to be relaxed and worry-free on their trip.”
The phrase “both of my girls” made Rowena’s cheeks flush with happiness. Since Rowena’s mother had long since passed, my own mother made a strong effort to make Rowena feel included in our family. She practically treated my girlfriend as a surrogate daughter.
And I loved it. I loved how much she fit in with my family.
I loved her.
Wait.A warm chill ran down my body as we finally persuaded Rowena to head outside and lock up.
I love her.
I. Love. Rowena.
The realization had been swift and sudden, but I knew the undercurrent of my feelings had been pulling me along for weeks. I adored her. Cherished her. Wanted her to be my mate.
I never wanted us to be apart.
Isn’t that what love is?
I pondered the emotion further as our little group reached the village square. Mariah greeted us with a friendly wave and a setof keys, and we wandered around the back of the town hall to a small yet well-secured shed.
Maybe it’s too early.I fretted as my fingers fiddled with the keys.Is two months enough time for love? Would saying it now scare her off?
Gods, I wish there was a how-to guide for these things.
I finally heard the lock click and swung the heavy door open. A small faerie fire lantern flickered to life, revealing rows of meticulously stored and maintained broomsticks.
“You know,” I mentioned to Rowena as we fetched two of the spindly transportation devices and signed our names on the check-out sheet. “Back when I was on Hollenboro, I thought the whole ‘witches flying on broomsticks’ thing was a myth.”
Rowena scoffed. “You did?”
“Yeah. I figured it was one of those silly stereotypes humans made up about witches.”
“There are a lot of those,” Rowena replied with disgust in her tone. “But broomsticks aren’t one of them.”
We walked out to the former pumpkin patch, which during the non-Halloween season functioned as a flight field. The broom I carried looked completely ordinary, with its twiggy bristles and plain wooden handle, but I could feel and smell the magic emanating from it. It pulsed through my palm like a heartbeat, and the scent tickled my nose like black pepper, nearly making me sneeze.
Once we made it to the middle of the pumpkin patch, we braced ourselves and swung one leg over our broomsticks. As we did so, the suitcases we carried vanished. They would reappear once we landed in Boston.
Wisteria Grove was still without an enchanter witch, so the broomsticks were imported from Bangor. It made them incredibly valuable and difficult to replace, meaning they were only used for journeys that couldn’t be made on foot.
On the edge of the flight field, my mother, Mariah, and our three breakfast companions watched with eager eyes. I loved that we had a send-off party. I’d truly bonded with Mabel, Willow, and Nina over the past two months, and I couldn’t wait to strengthen our friendship even more once Rowena and I returned.
A slight breeze tickled my feet, and Aria poked her head out of my chest pocket.
I sighed. I was happy. Truly, wonderfully, blissfully happy.
I gripped my broomstick tighter as I began to levitate, my boots kicking off the ground as we gained altitude. Despite my nervousness when it came to heights, I still peered down and watched my family and friends get smaller and smaller.
I gazed over at Rowena, and she laughed.
“Still getting used to the witch mode of transportation, little wolf?” She teased.
I scowled. I’d been on a few short practice flights before the new year, but those paled in comparison to the four-hour journey we’d be making to Boston.
But I saw the warmth, the affection, thelovein those deep brown eyes, and I realized I had to tell her.
