Page 94 of Witch Please

“Anything I can do?”

“Just take me home. I’m gonna brood, Batman-style. It’s not usually my go-to move, but it feels right for the occasion.”

“To pull that off, you need a rooftop, not a basement.”

Trevor laughed. “With the greatest respect, fuck you, my guy.”

Titus wished he knew what more to do, but he did as requested and ran Trev home. His friend was quiet most of the way, staring out into the darkness in a way that made Titus think he was seeing mainly his own reflection. And maybe not liking much of what he saw.

It’s not too late,he wanted to say.

But he was the last person who ought to be giving advice; he really had no clue why he and Danica were back together. He just wasn’t looking a gift horse in the mouth.

“Thanks a bunch,” he finally said as he parked the car.

“No prob. Things better for you, at least? Maya told me you got back together with Danica. She flew to Arizona for you, man. That’s wild.”

“I know.”

“No obstacles left, only true love?”

“Her cousin doesn’t like me. I’m planning to woo her with baked goods.”

Trevor forced a smile as he got out. “Good luck storming the castle.”

Chapter 28

Danica expected to find Clem waiting like an angry parent, but the house was empty, even though the car they shared was parked in the drive.

Trying not to worry, she dropped a message in the coven group chat.Anyone seen Clem recently? On a scale of 1 to 10, how mad is she?

At first nobody answered. Then Kerry finally sent,Pretty pissed, but it’s your life. She was talking about broken promises, so I think you owe her an apology.

It will be okay if you mean it,Priya added.

Soon, Leanne chimed in.Forget family drama. Did you get the D?

Smirking, Danica sent an eggplant emoji.

They were right about the apology, but she wouldn’t do it over text. Some things went better face-to-face. It was impossible not to wonder if Clem was okay, if she’d gotten in too deep with the witch hunter, but all Danica could do was be here for her when the time came. She wouldn’t even give Clem a hard time.

With a soft sigh, she wished she’d asked more about her mom’s early relationship with her dad. Or hell, it would be nice to know how long it would take for her to lose her power. Minerva Waterhouse was a soft soul, tender as a spring blossom; that was how Gram talked about her anyway, usually not in such flattering terms. The old witch made comments about how Minerva was all sentiment and sensitivity, so Danica never asked her mom difficult or awkward questions.

But…there’s always more than one side to a story.

The back of her head tickled, making her wonder why she’d never questioned this before. Honestly, it felt like a veil lifting, the mere possibility that her grandmother might not be right about absolutely everything. Danica frowned, rubbing the side of her head.Gram wouldn’t have…done something to us, right? For our own good.

She got a message from Clem.Don’t worry about work tomorrow. You must be exhausted from the sudden trip. I’ll cover the shop.

She didn’t feel great about it, but her cousin didn’t reply to any of her texts, and she didn’t answer when Danica called either. Vaguely upset by this radio silence, she went to bed feeling out of sorts, like her family was falling apart. If Clem came home, she was gone again by the time Danica got up.

Suddenly, Danica wanted to see her mom more than anything. Since she left home, she hadn’t spent that much time with Mom, and usually Gram was there too, and it was always awkward. She sent Mom a text:

Are you busy? I’d like to stop by later.

Never too busy for you,came the immediate reply.Looking forward to it.

She threw a few things in a backpack and grabbed the car keys. Clem must be furious, so she’d grovel when she got back and work nonstop while Titus was busy with his stepsister. Before she set out, she sent a message telling him that she’d be at her mom and dad’s tonight. Then she copied the text to Clem as well.

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