Page 38 of Witch Please

“Putting off your problems won’t solve them,” Clem muttered.

True, but neither will obsessing.

And Danica didn’t want to become someone who had no dimensions outside her romantic struggles. She wanted a rich, full life with multiple connections, and if she stopped hanging out with her coven sisters over this, she might as well marry Titus and become a mundane. Then she could do…whatever magic-less women did for fun.

They all snuggled in and watched a few episodes, and afterward, she fixed Kerry’s phone to prove that she had enough control to return to work tomorrow afternoon. Before she left, Priya tended to their languishing houseplants. Before, they were withered and wan; after, they shot up lush and green, changing the energy of the space entirely.

“You know, you can do this without magic,” Kerry pointed out. “Millions of mundanes raise houseplants with no help at all.”

Danica swapped a look with her cousin and grinned. “We’ve heard those rumors but remain unconvinced. They must have a little vivimancy in their blood.”

When Priya hugged her, she whispered, “Message me if this gets to be too much. Clem can be a bit…intense about your family stuff, so if you need to chill, just let us know. The door’s always open at our place.”

“Coming, love?” Kerry was already waiting by the front door, twirling the key fob on her index finger.

“On my way!” Priya offered a final pat and hurried to join Kerry, where they said farewell to Clem and headed out together, fingers softly interlocked like it pained them to be apart even to walk to the car.

“What was that all about?” Clem asked. “Are you plotting with Priya?”

She shook her head. Goddess, nothing escaped her cousin’s hawkish eyes. “She was just offering support, that’s all.”

And an escape hatch.But she’d never say that in front of Clem. It would hurt her feelings to hear that she came off as over-the-top. Danica understood why. Just sometimes, it was a lot, balancing her promise to Clem against her grandmother’s wishes and then, of course, her mother’s quiet disappointment that she wasn’t forging her own path.Who would’ve thought a free spirit could be so let down because I care what other people think?

It also didn’t escape her that she was trying to cut ties with one person who didn’t expect anything from her to please those who did.

Clem smiled, thankfully seeming not to notice the undertones. “Priya’s such a sweetheart. Kerry is so lucky.”

“I’m aware,” she said softly.

Danica was the only one who knew that Clem had had her eye on Priya first, but she hadn’t been sure if it was a good idea to date within the coven. While she’d pondered, Kerry had swept into town, joined as a full member after having chatted with everyone online for a while, and fell for Priya like a ton of bricks. Kerry had no doubts, no hesitation whatsoever, and within a month, they were an item.

Clem wasn’t generally an impulsive person; she analyzed the angles before making a move. While that was great for the business, Danica had never known Clem to give her heart without weighing all the pros and cons thoroughly. Consequently, she couldn’t say her cousin hadeverbeen completely, messily in love. Just…occasionally attracted, which made it much easier for her to keep their pact. That was also why it meant more that Clem had dumped Spencer like a package of bad cheese, choosing to support Danica without a flicker of hesitation.

“Hey,” Clem said. “Don’t look so sad. I’m happy for them, seriously. It’s not like I was completely gone for her or anything. I was just…weighing my options.”

Like you always do,Danica almost said.

But that observation would start a fight, and when she and Clem went at it, it was wicked and vicious, just like real sisters.I don’t have the energy, and I don’t want to argue with her.She didn’t want to open the door to hearing about her own faults either.

“Understood.”

With a sigh, she powered on her phone at long last. Ten texts from Gram awaited along with five voicemails. She had told her grandmother repeatedly that she didn’t listen to them, but that didn’t stop Gram from leaving them. And she acted like the beep was a pause button and would just pick up where she left off when she ran out of time. Consequently, the voice messages always sounded like an interrupted monologue. If Danica didn’t answer soon, she’d find Gram on the porch again. Shewantedto spend time with Gram while she was in St. Claire. She just didn’t want to talk about this.

“What did she send you?”

“Profiles, of course. Oh hell.” Danica stared for a full minute, and then dissolved into giggles at the posed photo of a “sex wizard” sporting a black goatee and matching cape. Clem crowded close to see. “Do you suppose Ivar Magicstaff is his legal name?”

***

“Everything okay?” Maya called as Titus came in.

He’d stowed his gear bag in the trunk, ready for the next call. Which hopefully wouldn’t be today. Ducking out once on family time wouldn’t piss his sister off, but if it happened again, he’d hear about it. Particularly about his habit of overcommitting. He wanted to give back to the community, but Maya thought he did it to the exclusion of having his own life.

And maybe that was alittletrue.

“Just a minor kitchen fire. I’ll do the paperwork later. Where are we on meal prep?”

“I just put the roast in the oven.” She put her hands on her hips. “It’s like you plan these ‘emergencies’ to get me to make food.”

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