Page 45 of Brews and Banishments
She gazed up at him. “Tomorrow?”
“There’s a showing ofCasablancaat the drive-in theater,” he explained with a shrug. “I used to force my kids to watch it when they wanted nothing to do with black and white movies. I figured you’d like to see it,” Ethan paused, pulling himself away as he gulped loudly, “with me. On a date. Another date, if you wanted.”
Daisy held back her laugh. His sheepishness was perhaps the most charming thing about him. It was as if he didn’t realize what sort of hold it had over her, how drawn to him she already was. When he grew nervous and anxious over asking her out a second time, Daisy was already knee deep, saying yes before he had a chance to truly ask.
“Well, I -” Daisy stopped herself halfway.
Despite leaving her for an hour or two, the burden of the potion came back to her, comfortably resting itself against her shoulders. Perhaps Ethan had nothing to do with the spell. Maybe his interest was as true as she yearned for it to be. All of it, however, still hung in the air. How could she continuously go forward with him, if it soon became realized that his feelings weren’t real at all? Any mistake that could’ve come from the potion, like Old Lady Witherford’s fall off the ladder, would be hardly a blight when compared to forcing another to fall in love with someone.
It felt far too cruel. Someone like Ethan, who’d already had to deal with his ex-wife cheating on him and deserting the children, deserved something true and real, with the person he truly wanted. Daisy watched his face, the hope and expectation lingering in his eyes still. She breathed deeply, ignoring the pain that began to burrow within her chest.
“Ethan,” Daisy began, her voice smaller than she expected it to be, “I wouldloveto go on another date with you.”
He breathed out as if he had been holding his breath. “Well, that’s a relief,” he said with a loud laugh. “How about we -”
“But,” she interjected, her heart shattering the moment she did, “I don’t think we can schedule anything just yet.”
Ethan tilted his head, pulling back from the counter ever so slightly. “Oh,” he said. “I-I hope you don’t feel like I was forcing it down your throat all of a sudden. The drive-in will always be there, and -”
“No, no,” she murmured, reaching to grab a hold of his hand. Instantly, she was shocked by his warmth, even though the air conditioner hummed loudly overhead. Daisy ran her thumb over his knuckles, feeling the grooves and calluses along his palm. Beneath her touch, Ethan grew incredibly still, his fingers twitching as though he held himself back from holding her hand.
“If I asked you to wait,” Daisy whispered, “would you?”
Ethan’s face softened. Though the disappointment did not dare to leave his gaze, a sweet smile tugged at his lips. “Daisy,” he said gently, “If you and I are moving faster than you are ready for -” He stopped himself, looking away as he gathered his thoughts. “I know people say that time heals all wounds, but I’ve found that not all the time in the world can erase the deepest of scars. If…if you aren’t ready to date after losing Gary, then Ineedyou to know how fine that is.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he tightened his fingers around her hand.
“And for the record,” Ethan continued, a teasing smirk appearing on his face, “I’d wait as long as you’d ask.” He lifted his shoulders. “It’s as simple as that for me.”
Daisy’s heart softened more than she ever thought capable. “I don’t want you to think I’m not ready,” she finally said. “I know what I want, Ethan.”
His face flushed.
“But there’s something that I need to do first. Something that requires my full attention, and when you and I go on that second date,” Daisy paused, unable to meet his gaze as her smile grew, “I don’t plan on having my attention pulled anywhere other than towardsyou.”
Ethan grinned. Pulling his hand away, he glanced down at his watch before tilting his head. “I’ve gotta get back to the office,” he murmured. When he looked back at her, the smile couldn’t leave his face. “So I’ll see you soon, won’t I?”
“You will,” Daisy whispered.
As Ethan began to leave the shop, he took one more look over his shoulder at her, his gaze holding onto her figure a moment longer than she expected, before he slipped out and disappeared down the street. Daisy sighed, her heart struggling to return to its normal pattern.
“He brought youdaisies,” Tessa exclaimed the moment the door stopped swinging, stepping out into the storefront, “And invites you to the mostadorably clichedate at the drive-in, and you sayno?” She shook her head as she placed the tray of vials on the counter. “Have I taught you nothing?”
“Look,” Daisy started, “I can’t be sure what Ethan feels. Till then -”
“Well, it’s obvious to everyone in this town besides you, Daisy.”
Daisy’s brow shot up. “I’m just trying to cover my bases.”
Tessa shook her head, though she didn’t continue to argue. “All I’m saying,” she blurted, raising her hands defensively, “is that you’re on the brink of ruining it before it has the chance to begin. That’s all.”
Daisy sighed as she leaned over the counter, running her hands all along the tops of the vials and listening to them clatter against each other. The last thing she wanted was to ruin whatshe already had, but once they were rid of the spell, and the feelings Ethan had were whisked away, wouldn’t she suffer less heartache with the distance? Daisy shook her head at her own thoughts.
Ring! Ring!
The bell above the front door clapped a few times as Susy entered Fields’ Herbals.Dressed in a denim overall dress with a bright yellow tee underneath, Susy skipped into the store with her backpack dragging against the floor. Instead of her classic pigtails, Susy wore a pair of french braids.
“Ready for an afternoon off?” Susy asked in a sing-songy voice as she steered herself around the counter.
