Page 102 of Witch Please

I wonder if she was skittish about bringing her dates home because I’ve been professionally single for so long. Or because she felt guilty about Ashley…?Maya hadn’t set out to seduce his girlfriend; that was just… Well, it didn’t matter anymore. Those days were done, thank God.

He swung by Trev’s house, and his friend was already waiting outside, dressed in clean pants and a decent Henley. Since he’d half expected cargo shorts and a cannabis shirt, the reality was a pleasant surprise. Trev opened the car door, smelling like Dial and deodorant, another interesting shift.

“Don’t step on the cupcakes,” Titus said. “I need those to bribe Danica’s cousin.”

“She still doesn’t like you? Damn, what did you do to that woman?”

He shrugged as Trev picked up the box and carefully settled it on his lap. His friend belted in, and then they drove the seven minutes onward to Danica’s place. From the cars lined up, they weren’t the first to arrive. Music thrummed through the open windows, something mellow and danceable.

Danica’s entire squad was already assembled. He recalled their names and matched them to the faces as he greeted everyone and introduced Trevor around. The redhead locked onto Trevor right away and maneuvered through the front room to get to him. Then she slid Trev a smile and put a hand on his forearm.

“I’m Leanne. Want to be my third husband?”

Trev blinked. “I mean…maybe? Because I could get on board if you’re looking for a low-key, no-ambition type to look after the house. I cook and clean, do most general maintenance as well. Ask Titus, I’ve got references.”

“As a handyman, not my third husband,” Titus clarified.

Danica slipped up beside him, kissing his check. “Are we letting this happen?” she whispered. “Leanne may destroy him.”

“Live and let live. He looks…intrigued, which is higher energy than I’ve seen from Trev in a while.” Checking around, he found her cousin chatting up the wild-looking guy who’d wrecked his register. He recalled seeing them at the bar together.Huh. So that’s still happening.“Just let me deliver these.” He circulated until he could put the box in Clem’s hands. “Here, red velvet cupcakes. Hope you like them.”

According to Danica, they’re your fave.

Clem clutched the bakery box like he’d given her diamonds. “Okay, you win. You’ve earned my seal of approval. Love my cousin and make her happy, but stop stuffing me with treats. They’re going straight to my ass.”

“Thanks for that,” the big dude said. “I’m rather a fan.”

“Of my baking or Clem’s ass?” Probably Titus shouldn’t have asked.

“Both.” He leaned in for a kiss, one steamy enough that Titus looked away.

Damn. No accounting for taste.Clem seemed quite careful and methodical, so he’d never have matched her with an impulsive, hot-tempered biker.

The party seemed to be going well though. As Danica had predicted, Leanne was getting handsy with Trev already. A knock at the door heralded the arrival of the rest of Titus’s poker buddies: Dante, Miguel, and Calvin. He waved them in and shepherded them around, making intros until the groups started to mingle on their own. Vanessa seemed to be getting along with Cal while Dante conferred with Margie about being a single parent. Miguel swapped recipes with Ethel, and everybody was drinking. Priya and Kerry were a couple, and he wondered if he should introduce Maya and Keshondra. That might be weird? Like he was trying to set up double dates or something.

Danica settled against his side, prompting him to wrap an arm around her shoulder. “This is nice. I love everything about it.”

“Two worlds enter, one world leaves?”

“I love that you compared our party to Thunderdome. My money’s on Leanne.” With a thoughtful air, she added, “How do you even know that quote?”

“Watching old eighties movies with my mom. We marathoned stuff she loved because she was afraid of running out of time to share it with me.”

“And she loved Mad Max?”

“Among other things. She passed just afterFury Roadcame out.”

There were no words that helped, even after all this time, and somehow Danica knew that. She hugged him and let him bury his face in her hair. He would never get tired of her scent. Maybe one day he’d ask why she always smelled like lemon cream.

“I love your friends,” she said as he pulled back.

“Sorry, but I don’t think I can talk them into including you in the poker game.”

“That’s cool. There will be book club events you’re not invited to.”

Titus smiled. “I’m good with that. I want to be part of your life one hundred percent, but I’m not interested in taking it over.”

“Even if we get married? You’d still be okay with us having those nights?”

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