Page 78 of Extra Witchy

“Sure. Am I awful for not being devastated? For not really wanting to see any of them again? My main impulse is avoidance. I know Brian was trying to make me feel welcome, but I really just feel…pressed. I was minding my business, living my life, and—”

“No. You’re not awful.” He could only tell the truth. “Meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I won five hundred bucks on a scratch-off lotto ticket in college.”

She pretended to rock sideways in shock as he started the car. “Five hundred dollars?I’mbetter than winning the lottery? Seriously?”

Yeah, she was joking, but he wasn’t. “Seriously. You saved my life. I doubt I would’ve been able to climb out of the hole I was in if you hadn’t reached for my hand first.”

Leanne bit her lip and shifted in her seat, glancing away with what Trev thought looked like a guilty expression. “I wasn’t trying to do that. I just wanted to bang you.”

“That’s where it started,” he said as he put the car in gear. “But would you agree it’s not where we are now?”

He held his breath, waiting for her response.We’re more than roommates who have sex, right? We’re building a life together.

She changed the subject instead of addressing his words. “Don’t get serious on me, hon. I’ve had enough of that today.”

The pain startled him, blazing in the center of his chest so fiercely that he rubbed it back and forth, trying to soothe it away. Trev swallowed hard. “Right. Sorry. Find us a restaurant on the way home. Whatever you feel like eating will be fine.”

What was I thinking? She’s never said she has feelings for me. I’m…convenient. I tick all the boxes, right? I just need to keep quiet and play the part.His wife had all kinds of secrets, and it looked like she had no intention of ever letting him in. After talking to Dante, he’d been trying not to be curious, not to wonder, or cross the line, but he was damn sick and tired of feeling precarious, like one wrong move and she’d be out the door.

Unfortunately, he’d caught feelings, and he ached so bad because he wanted more; he wanted…everything.

Chapter 25

For the past month, things had been different.

Leanne couldn’t put her finger on it, but…something was up with Trev. Sure, he did the same work in terms of household chores, but he was more…remote, responding politely but not warmly. And he didn’t come to bed when she did. He spent more time in the guest room gaming if he wasn’t working online, then he’d sometimes crash on that bed.

When she’d asked about it, he’d said, “I don’t want to bother you.”

She’d started to say that him coming to bed could never be a bother, but then it had occurred to her that he mightpreferthat distance. It wasn’t like they had a regular marriage, and she couldn’t demand cuddles as part of the agreement. So she kept her mouth shut and tried to pretend it didn’t upset her. Her relationships always had an expiration date, and this one had lasted longer than most. It wasn’t like she’d thought she could keep him around forever.

Maybe it’s time to let him go?

By now, he was likely earning enough to get his own place; he was doing simple websites in addition to his social media stuff, but dear gods, it hurt to think of him packing his stuff. The condo would be so empty without him, and—

I will miss him so much.

Just the mere prospect of him leaving swept her at the knees, and she crawled into the closet to hide because she couldn’t stop these tears. The last time she’d wept like this had been at the coven meeting—when she’d been so scared the council might take Trev.

She hadn’t reacted this way even after watching her father die. Instead, she’d thrown herself into writing proposals in preparation for assuming her seat on the city council and built up some business for her freelance PR and marketing work. As she sobbed silently into a pile of clean laundry she hadn’t gotten around to putting away, she could no longer deny how much she’d invested in this relationship without even realizing it.

She didn’t even know if it wassafefor him to leave. The council had been observing Trev for the past few months, but if he knew anything, he wasn’t letting on. It was almost Christmas, and they’d even decorated a tree together, a small one she’d bought on impulse that had to be assembled from the box. It had lights on it, and she’d gone shopping at the holiday bazaar for ornaments, hardly aware that she’d begun to believe they’d need these things for next year and maybe the year after as well.

But…he’s already checking out.

Witches didn’t share the religious celebration, and they honored another holiday calendar altogether, but Leanne secretly enjoyed the lights and food and decorations for this time of year. So many things could be improved by adding peppermint. She tried to stop the tears by thinking of other things, but they just kept falling, fat and hot and heartbroken.

Finally, the question surfaced, the one she always tried to bury like a body in the back of her mind.Why am I not enough? Not for Junie. Not for Garrett. Or Malcolm.Or anyone she’d dated in between. There had never been anyone who lasted, who fought her self-imposed isolation and held on with both hands, who made her believe she was worth keeping.

In time, she cried herself out and silently blessed the glamour spell that would hide these ravages. Leanne put the laundry away, apart from the T-shirt she’d been crying into. And only then did she notice it was the one Trev had worn the night he showed up to her first speech. Shivering, she hugged it to her chest, feeling ridiculous and juvenile. If she was as brave as she pretended she was, she’d just fuckingaskhim what was wrong.

But his answer might scar her for life.

With determination, she tucked the tearstained shirt in the hamper and opened the closet door. Thankfully, Trev wasn’t home. He was riding his bike, something he did a lot lately.

When Vanessa texted, she seized on it like a lifeline.Not busy, what’s up?

Don’t forget the winter solstice festival. Can you get away?

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