Page 68 of Best Hex Ever
For a split second, Dina considered telling Scott the truth about the hex, about everything that had happened to the people she’d cared about romantically. But the happiness in Scott’s eyes stopped her. This was still new, their relationship blossoming but still in those fragile, early stages. She didn’t want to do anything to push him away, not now that she’d realized how much she cared for him. Was it a selfish decision? Undoubtedly. But she was determined that with enough protection charms, she could keep him safe.
“No reason. Just keep it on please, for me?”
Scott frowned, then nodded, patting the evil eye around his neck.
“It feels strange to ask this, but when can I see you again?” he said.
Dina agreed, it was odd. It felt like they’d gone from not knowing each other at all, to…well, to something that was feeling awfully like love. All Dina knew was that she felt at home around Scott, and that he made her giddily, incandescently happy.
“I’m going to be staying in Little Hathering until tomorrow.”
“So am I,” he grinned. “Is it totally weird if I introduce you to my parents? After all, I’ve already met yours. And they…” He paused.
Dina frowned. “They what?”
“Let’s just say they’ve given me their seal of approval.”
She groaned, rubbing her face. This was mortifying.
Scott kissed her until the embarrassment faded.
“I’d like to meet your parents,” she said. “I probably owe them for stealing you all weekend.”
—
It was bittersweet to leave the cottage. So much had happened since they’d arrived here only a few days before. Dina whispered a silent thanks to the woods around her as she walked back to the main house hand-in-hand with Scott.
The first thing she noticed in the breakfast room was her mother surreptitiously pouring an anti-hangover charm into the freshly squeezed orange juice. From one glance at the table where Immy, Eric, and Rosemary sat, she understood this to be a necessity.
“Why do you look so fresh?” Rosemary groaned, both hands wrapped around a giant mug of coffee. Her eyes flicked down to where Scott and Dina’s fingers were intertwined.
“Oh, I see,” she said, raising an eyebrow and smiling knowingly.
Immy and Eric must have caught on, because they both let out a whoop.
“Fucking finally, mate,” Eric said, clapping Scott on the back as they sat down.
Immy leaned across Rosemary, and whispered, “Was it as good as you imagined?”
“Even better,” Dina said smugly.
“You’re a couple then?” Rosemary asked.
Dina glanced over at Scott, who was doing a very good job of pretending he wasn’t waiting to hear her response.
“He’s my boyfriend,” she said, loud enough so that he could hear. “What about you guys? How was the rest of the night?”
“We were so tired I nearly fell asleep in my wedding dress,” Immy said. “Thankfully Eric made it up to me this morning.”
They both looked at Rosemary.
“Nothing to report here,” she said. “Although I did get an email from my agent telling me they’ve cast the role of Alfred in the movie they’re making from my book.”
“Who is it?”
Rosemary pulled out her phone.
“This guy.” She showed them a picture of an objectively stunning man. Black hair, piercing blue-gray eyes. He had a classic old Hollywood vibe that reminded Dina of Gregory Peck and Gene Kelly.
