Page 85 of Witch Please

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Titus was acting a lot calmer than he felt.

This was rom-com-quality big-gesture territory. Part of him couldn’t believe Danica had freaked out so much over the idea of him leaving town for good. God bless Mrs. Carminian and her bad assumptions. Between the meddlesome old lady and his neighbor Mr. Stevewell, they seemed to have fanned Danica’s nerves into a full freak-out.

She’s really here.

He squeezed her hand just to be sure, and she returned the pressure. As they approached the front door, it swung open, revealing Lucy, who glanced between their linked fingers with poorly concealed curiosity. “Friend of yours?”

“My girlfriend decided to surprise me,” he said.

It was the simplest explanation, but his stepsister didn’t look like she bought it entirely. “That’s…cool. I guess.”

Danica seemed to read hesitance from Lucy as well. “The truth is we had a fight before he left. Titus didn’t answer when I called and texted—”

“I was on a plane,” he cut in. “Forgot to switch airplane mode off when we landed.”

“Anyway, I decided to apologize in person. It was my fault, and I wanted to meet his family anyway. I’m sorry for intruding.” She extended her free hand. “You must be his stepsister. I’m Danica Waterhouse.”

Lucy seemed to like the adult introduction. She shook hands, then said, “I’m Lucy Pike. For now. They’re talking about changing that.”

“You don’t sound enthused,” Danica noted.

“I’ve been Lucy Pike my whole life. Lucy Winnaker sounds like someone else.”

Titus had mentioned that Lucy was moving to St. Claire, and he hoped Danica wouldn’t be mad that he hadn’t talked it over with her first. If she was, it was her own fault, frankly, but from her warm expression, it seemed like she genuinely cared about what Lucy was saying. That wasn’t the expression of someone who would come across pissy later.

“Hopefully they won’t push it,” she said with what seemed like real sympathy.

Dealing with her cantankerous grandmother had likely taught her a lot about friction within families, so she probably did empathize with Lucy. Smiling, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, moving past Lucy into the house. It seemed like everyone was done in the kitchen because Susan, Dad, and Maya all stepped into sight as soon as they did. Fucking open floor plan.

“Surprise,” he said with what had to be a goofy grin. “My girlfriend’s here. Dad, Susan, this is Danica.”

Polite greetings followed, though he could tell that Dad and Susan were shocked that Danica was here so late without even a heads-up. Nothing he could do about that, so he glossed over it and emphasized how happy he was that she could meet them and that she’d wanted to help Lucy get settled so the girl would feel more at home after the move.

Susan softened immediately. “That’s so sweet. I’ve been worried about sending her so far away. I’m glad to know she’ll have lots of adults she can rely on.”

Lucy collapsed on the couch and buried her face in a pillow. “Oh my God, Mom.”

“It’s our pleasure,” Danica said smoothly. “I’ve lived in St. Claire for years, and before that, I came every summer to stay with my grandmother. It’s a really great town.”

“That’s true,” Dad said, almost against his will. His tone was quiet and sad, as if he was letting himself remember the old days.

“And I’m so sorry I showed up out of the blue. I was raised better than this. If it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable, I can get a hotel room.” Danica glanced earnestly between Dad and Susan, and it amused him to see how fast the old man melted.

“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Dad said.

“She can bunk with Titus,” Susan put in. “We’re not old-fashioned.”

From the old man’s look, he might’ve protested, had Susan not spoken up. He hated thinking about the age gap between them, and if he objected, it made him look uptight, something he avoided like the plague around his younger wife. Titus tried not to reveal how funny he thought it all was as the family said good night and gave hugs.

Maya lingered long enough to whisper, “Thought you broke up?”

“Just a speed bump.”

“I like this one, bro. She’s not afraid to go big.”

Danica must have overheard that because she laughed. “Go big or go home, right?”

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