Page 63 of Boss Witch

Until last night I had no clue.

Then she firmed her chin and raised her face with renewed boldness. “This is the end for us, then. It was stressful, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy some of the adrenaline.”

Is that all I am to you?

Gavin couldn’t voice the question, nor should he. The last time he’d felt this sad was when his grandfather vanished. He swallowed hard, wishing the words didn’t echo in his head.

This is the end for us, then.

The end. For us.

“Stay away from now on,” Clem warned, taking a step back. “And please leave. Please. If you’re not a monster—­and Ihopeyou’re not considering what’s passed between us—­you’ll take this as a personal growth lesson and walk away. You might also reconsider your life path, but that’s between you and your conscience.” She backed toward the house, still facing him. “Don’t make me fight you, English. I have people to protect in this town, and I won’t let you do anything to them.” Then she spun and sprinted toward the cottage like he posed a threat.

In her eyes, I do.

Most people never came to the realization that they were the villain of the story; they never saw that they were causing others pain.But my existence is terrifying to all those witches I sensed that night.Sick to his stomach, he held still until Clem darted into the house. Only then did he start his bike, his heart heavy. After pulling his helmet on, he rode back to his place, his head an absolute wreck.

What am I supposed to do?

The rented flat smelled dead and empty when he keyed open the door. All the good feelings that made the place feel like home had evaporated, and he stood, shoulders slumped, breathing in the stale air.

I haven’t had a home in twenty years.

He sank down heavily and might have tumbled headlong into despair, if not for the mouse running merrily on his wheel. When Gavin crouched before the cage, Benson scampered over and pressed his tiny paws to the bars, as if he sensed his human needed comfort. As soon as Gavin opened the door, Benson dashed across his hand and up his arm, nestling into the crook between his neck and shoulder, his whiskers tickling Gavin’s skin.

“She gave you to me,” he whispered. “Even knowing who and what I am, she didn’t want me to feel lonely.”

Such kindness offered to an enemy spoke volumes about those the order persecuted without a second thought. Gavin took comfort from the little white mouse, and then the little fellow ran down his shoulder to settle in his shirt pocket. He’d taken to storing a few sunflower seeds in it, as Benson enjoyed nesting there. The contact cleared his head enough for Gavin to remember to check the netbook. And at long last, he had a message from his grandfather.

Too late to solve the problem, but maybe Grandad had some useful advice.

Chapter 20

Allegra grabbed Clem in a bear hug as soon as she stepped inside.

She couldn’t remember ever seeing her mother this scared, and Clem rubbed Mom’s back gently. Belying her bravado, Clem was still shaking in the aftermath of the confrontation. Overall, she thought she’d done a good job of covering up how sad and freaked she was.

Ethel sighed somewhere deeper in the bungalow. “I agree, Percy. They act like my house is a Motel 6.”

Clem guided Allegra past the foyer, keeping an arm around Mom’s shoulders. “We’ll be out of your way soon,” she promised.

With a shrug, Ethel said, “You know I don’t mind. Should I get cookies or…?”

“No,” Allegra said at the same time that Clem said, “Why not?”

“Well, I want Nutter Butters. You can abstain, Allie.” In a swish of chiffon, Ethel ambled into the kitchen to get the cookies, and she came back with the whole package, not even bothering with plates.

Yeah, it’s been that kind of night.

Mom flung herself on the couch, tossing her head back with a groan. “This is why I left. Too much drama!”

Clem swapped a look with Ethel, who noted, “You left the Midwest for Florida…because of drama?”

She stifled a snort. Her mom only nodded vehemently, still doing her breathing exercises. The irony went right over her head. Hell, she probably didn’t even know about all the Florida memes. Sometimes Clem input “Florida Man” and her birthday, just to see what the latest chuckle would be.

“She means family drama,” Clem said, eating a Nutter Butter.

“Understood.”

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