Page 97 of Witch Please

“Nothing like that! I told you that your grandmother was…difficult about your father as well. I went through the same thing you did, meeting people she approved of. Struggling with my desire to please her weighed against my need to live my own life.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“That’s not the point of this story. Like you, I dated a pure witch asshole, but unlike you, I was fond of him. He…hurt me. Cheated over and over before I worked up the nerve to leave. After I made the break, Auntie Allegra took me out drinking. We talked some serious shit, and…” Her mom mumbled something.

“What? Itsoundedlike you said you two might’ve cast a drunken hex, but that can’t be right.”

Mom met her gaze squarely this time. “It’s true. We cast a forbiddance spell.Mydaughter would never know the pain of being cheated on. Her soul mate would literally be unable to…er, seal the deal. With anyone else.”

“Oh my God. Poor Titus. Do you thinkthat’swhy the spells I was trying to cast on him went wrong? Your magic was interfering with mine.”

Mom thought for a moment, finishing her cookie. “Yes, I suspect so. This is so funny!”

“It’s not! Poor Titus. You almost ruined his life.”

When Minerva stopped laughing, she said, “I’ll do something nice for him, now that he’s finally found you. Maybe cast a blessing for his business?”

What a fucking day.

“Do that. Should we make dinner for Dad?”

Her mother reached across the table to take her hand. “Definitely. He’ll be so happy you’re here. I am too.”

It was impossible for her to stay mad when her mom was smiling that way. “I’ll come home more often. And I’ll bring Titus next time.”

***

Shortly before Titus fell asleep, he got a call from Danica.

“Hey, you.” He settled against the headboard, absently scratching Doris between the ears. The dog rolled over and presented her belly, ever one to capitalize on a scritching opportunity. “Miss me already?”

“Yes, definitely. But…I have a weird question for you. Are you willing to answer?”

“No to latex, yes to a little light bondage, and I’m flexible about who gets tied up.”

She laughed softly. “Okay, noted. Yes or no, willing to answer?”

“Sure. I’m slightly concerned but curious enough to move forward.”

“Was it your first time when we did it in your office chair?”

Holy shit. How did she know?

Titus had thought he’d done a good job not showing just how inexperienced he was, but maybe he was clumsier than he’d imagined. Sighing, he admitted, “Yeah, it was. To be honest, my romantic history is a train wreck. I have the weirdest breakups on record, like seriously. I didn’t tell you that before because I thought you’d run. Nobody who knew theTitanicwould sink ahead of time would’ve boarded, right?”

“Titus, you’re not a behemoth boat destined to be scuttled in icy waters.”

“Until I met you, I was pretty sure I’d die alone,” he admitted quietly.

“That’s sweet and terrifying in equal measure. But can you back up and maybe tell me about a couple of those breakups?”

“Why?”

He didn’t really think she would hurt him with the information, but this whole call felt…strange. And he couldn’t take another round of push-pull with her.

“I might send thank-you notes to all your exes. Because they have terrible judgment and poor impulse control, I get to spend my life with you. I mean, if that’s something you’d want,” she added in a studiedly casual tone.

“Oh.” His heart melted. If she was just feeling grateful because he might’ve married someone else, then he didn’t mind sharing a few of the wilder stories.

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