Page 45 of Boss Witch

Chapter 14

Since the spirit consultation with Ethel, Clem slept with Gavin four more times.

I can’t stay away.

She crept into the house in case her cousin was finally back from her extended vacation with Titus “the Rebound” Winnaker, and when she reached the stairs, Danica called, “Busted!”

Clem jumped. She was edgy as hell these days, but she was in no mood to be teased, considering how much slack she’d taken up for her cousin.

Folding her arms, she tilted her head, trying not to act defensive. “Okay, let’s go. You’re innoposition to comment on anything I do. You fuckingleft the statewithout talking to me about it. You disregarded our promise like it was nothing and didn’t even have the courtesy to text me. And you left me minding the shop forhowlong? Cousins who are like sisters, my ass.”

Danica didn’t even try to mount a defense. “You’re absolutely right. I’m pleading temporary insanity. And scientifically speaking, falling in love creates a similar—­”

“Oh no, you don’t,” Clem cut in. “If you make me laugh, I have to forgive you, and I’m not ready to do that yet.”

“I’m so sorry. The way I handled everything was shit. In hindsight, I’d have done so many things differently. But I have something important to tell you, and I think it might affect your commitment to the single life when you hear it.”

Exhaustion swept over her as she sank into an armchair with a sigh. “Start talking.”

“I visited my mom yesterday, and I happened to see one of her old journals. Apparently, there’s no Waterhouse curse. We don’t have to keep our witch lines pure, and I’m not losing my magic. Gram made the whole thing up. My mom is so mad, she said she’d ‘deal’ with Gram.”

“Holy fucking shit,” Clem breathed.

“My thoughts exactly. It was a way to control us, to keep us fearful and from going against her wishes.”

Clem snarled another curse as the implications sank in. Oh, she’d known Gram could be manipulative and prone to passive-­aggressive behavior, but she’d put up with it because she never doubted the old witch loved her family. Even so, she’d never imagined this depth and breadth of duplicity.

“Aunt Min really said she’d take Gram on?” she finally asked.

“Shit’s about to get heated.” Danica made a ridiculous face.

A chuckle escaped her. “I mean…it’s summer, so it’s already—­oh crap. I laughed.”

“Yes! Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“You’re cooking in my place for two weeks, but yeah. There’s no reason for us to worry about taking sides anymore. She’s still our grandmother, but she’s—­”

“A hateful, manipulative old witch?”

Clem closed her eyes. “Yeah. It’s so hard to reconcile with how awesome she was when we were kids. Guess we have to remember that just because she was nice to us, it doesn’t mean she didn’t hurt other people.”

Danica nodded, pulling the blanket up around her shoulders. “Agreed. I haven’t decided if I’m cutting her off entirely yet. I probably need to talk to Mom more. That’s where the problem started. Gram raised us believing that our mothers were weak—­that they didn’t have anything of value to teach us. Maybe she didn’t say it outright, but…”

“It was insidious, this slow and careful indoctrination. Fuck!” Fists clenched, Clem leapt to her feet. “I need a shower.”

Danica opened her arms. “Hug it out? We’ll always be best friends, even after we mate for life.”

“Ugh, fine.”

“Something you want to tell me, Clementine Odette?” Her cousin seemed to be looking at the side of Clem’s neck.

Irritation practically overwhelmed her. “If youeverdrop my middle name again, I won’t be responsible for the consequences.”

Danica shook her head. “You didn’t answer the question.”

With a groan, Clem buried her face in her hands. “I’m in so much trouble.”

“What’s wrong?” her cousin asked.

---