Page 121 of Bewitch

“Because she and my stepdad were going away on vacation. Normally, they would just let me stay at home by myself, but since they were going out of the country that time—”

“They didn’t bring you long?”

“Never. Not even when they would go to the beach. I was always left behind. Not that I wanted to go to the beach back then. No way was I going to take off my shirt, but… My mom and I got into a screaming match because I refused to see my dad. She shoved me, and my arms flailed, and I swear I didn’t mean to, but I brushed my hand against her, and my stepdad tried to separate us, and he punched me in the face. I left. Doug—my stepdad—wanted my to apologize, but I said she should first, and he said that if I walked out, not to return home, not to expect a single cent from them, and I told them to keep their goddamn money.”

“Holy shit, Lucas.”

“My mom only called me once, to tell me that my dad had terminal cancer. His lungs. He had to be put on life support, and I went so that he could have the plug pulled. I was the only one who could do it. I eased him, released him from his suffering when all he had done was cause me pain, but that’s that.”

“And you’ve never called your mom?”

“No. Not once.”

“She didn’t show up for you at the hospital?”

“No. Why would she? She hated him because he verbally abused her too.”

“God, Lucas.”

“It’s makes what I said to you so much worse,” he continues, shaking his head. “You had every right to have me, to want to stick it to me in any way you could.”

“I knew what I wanted,” I whisper, “who I wanted. I wanted to teach you a lesson you would never forget and make you regret everything you said to me. And then I wanted to break your heart.”

“Again, you mean.”

“I had no idea that you loved me back in that closet, and no, that wasn’t love. That was lust.”

“A little overweight or not, I do lust for you,” he murmurs.

“Yeah, well, I became too bewitched and ended up breaking my heart, too, so there’s your payback.”

He chuckles and goes to kiss me, but I jump up.

“If we don’t started on those protein balls, we’ll never make enough to last the week.”

“You want to bake protein balls? Now?” he whines.

“Yes. Why wouldn’t I? That’s why I came over.”

“I see. You’re using me for my stove.”

“Your oven and yes,” I tease.

“Wow. I love you too.”

I wink at him and start toward the kitchen when he wraps his arms around me in close for a hug. He kisses the side of my neck, and I turn around in his arms to kiss him thoroughly on the lips.

“I do love you,” I whisper.

“I know.”

I swat him. “You—”

“I already said I love you too, but fine. I love you too.”

This next kiss leaves me panting. This man knows how to drive me wild, all right.

“Are you sure you want to make protein balls now, or can they wait?”

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