Page 57 of Extra Witchy

Muttering a curse, she finally bounded out of the car and stormed toward the condo. She felt like throwing a fit, but she was too old to shout and throw things. Leanne took the elevator up, and when the doors swished open, she smelled the warm, comforting scent of dinner cooking. Something meaty, maybe with root vegetables. The fact that Trev was home, waiting for her, sliced the edge off her agitation.

She keyed the pin to the front door and stepped in to find him right there. He hugged her without saying a word, letting her choose what to say and how much. Exhaling slowly, she wrapped her arms around his waist and closed her eyes. Funny, her condo had never felt as much like home as it did since Trev moved in.

“Do you feel like talking, or would you rather eat?” he asked.

“I’ll change, then we’ll catch up.” She was still trying to decide how to feel.

He gave her space while she put on a pair of sweats and a cozy old sweater. The weather wasn’t chilly enough to turn on the heat, but she needed fuzzy socks and some snuggly clothes to feel comfortable after dark. Trev was plating pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions when she got back.

“Here you go.”

Briefly, she ate a few bites before addressing the elephant in the room. “So you met with Junie to find out what she wanted to tell me. Without talking to me about it. Which means you either answered my phone or deleted a message. I don’t particularly enjoy either option.”

He flattened his palms on the counter, head lowered. “I wasn’t sure it was the right move. But letting her careen toward you while you’re running for city council didn’t seem like the best idea either. I’m sorry for deleting the text and meeting her without informing you.”

Leanne sighed. “I didn’t need to know all the details, but you should’ve told me about the text. And you should’ve looped me in about your lunch plans.” She laid down her fork and stared at him, where he stood like a penitent across the kitchen island. “Trev.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not mad. And I appreciate that you were trying to run interference. If you’d given me a heads-up, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, because frankly, I’ve wished someone would save me from my mom more than once in my life.”

Finally, he lifted his face and made eye contact. Wow, she’d seldom seen anyone so miserable about a minor misstep. Leanne reached for his hand, and Trev hesitated before taking it. He scanned her face, seeming to search for…what? Maybe confirmation that she truly wasn’t pissed? Then he appeared to conclude things were fine and wrapped his fingers around hers.

“Why don’t we eat? Then I’ll rub your feet while we talk everything through.”

Her fake smile edged a little closer to being real, and some of the tightness left her chest. “Are you trying to earn points?”

“Maybe,” he mumbled.

“It’s not necessary, but I’m not silly enough to turn down a foot rub.”

“I don’t know how you walk around in those heels all day. I’m awed by your skills,” Trev said, clearing away the dinner dishes.

She couldn’t exactly admit that her shoes were enchanted to prevent pain and posture problems. Probably, she should offer to help with the cleaning, but the day had been exhausting, so she settled on the couch and let the news really sink in.I have a dad. He’s dying, and he wants to meet me. I have brothers and a sister.It was all hard to digest, but especially that part. She’d made peace with the idea that she was alone in the world, apart from the coven and occasionally Junie, when she was feeling maternal. Now she had Trev too.

Well, sort of.

Suddenly, Leanne realized she hadn’t texted the coven group chat at all today. Actually, it had been more than one day. Messages from the other witches had been pinging, but not only had she not read them, she hadn’t shared her news either.I refuse to drift away just because I’ve got a lot going on. I’ll talk to everyone later.

A few minutes later, Trev joined her on the sofa and pulled her feet into his lap, delivering on his promise. “More pressure or less?”

“A little more. That’s perfect.” She sighed as he dug into her arches.

“So what’s your first reaction?”

“Honestly? To hell with all of them. When I was a kid, I wanted a normal family, but I grew out of it.” She smiled slightly, tipping her head back as a wave of pleasure washed over her. “Not that anything about this mess qualifies as normal.”

“Sounds like you don’t plan on meeting your dad,” Trev said.

“You think that’s a mistake?”

He shook his head. “It’s totally up to you. Hell, sometimes I wish I’d never met mine.”

She laughed softly, as she was meant to, but she could tell talking about his father hurt Trev. “Part of me wishes I wasn’t so obstinate because if I went, put up with some bullshit, and pretended to be moved by this nonsense, I might get something out of it. I can’t muster any motivation, though. Even if he’s an asshole, it’s immoral to run a game on a dying man.”

“Words to live by,” Trev said with a mock-somber air.

Before bed, Leanne caught up on everyone’s news and made a mental note to check on Vanessa, who was quieter than usual. She responded to everyone then apologized:Sorry I’ve been unavailable, I’ll do better.

---