It’s dark on the back porch, and the sounds of crickets echo around us. “The more I hear about the Order, the more I don’t like them.”
“You and me both. But don’t worry about them. It is what it fucking is, and I’ve made the best of it.” He turns, going to bring his other hand to me and winces.
“Does it hurt?” I ask, brow furrowing because I know it has to hurt like fucking hell.
“I’m fine,” Ethan replies so smoothly I almost believe him.
“There was a spell,” I start, sucking in a breath and biting my bottom lip. “In the Book of Shadows. I just glanced over it, but basically, if I put a quartz crystal over the wound, I might be able to speed up the healing process.”
Conflicting emotions cross Ethan’s face for a brief moment. “It can’t hurt, right?”
“I mean, I don’t think so. I’ve never tried anything like it.”
“I’ll be your guinea pig.”
I purse my lips. “I’m a witch, not a mad scientist.”
“Is there a difference?” This time, his hand lands on my waist.
“Oh, yes. Do I need to put on a black dress and pointy hat to prove so?”
“Just put on the pointy hat.” I laugh and Ethan goes in for a kiss, taking my breath away all over again. “Let’s get going,” he says.
“Right,” I say, wanting nothing more than to be alone with him again so I can sink onto that big, beautiful dick. “We should, um, get a head start on our rest for the night.”
“Yes, how responsible of you. We should shower and go right to bed. Together.”
“It’s safer that way.” I nod, and Ethan kisses me. Right as I start to lose myself in him, a car door slams and loud music thumps from the neighbor’s house.
“They have no idea,” I whisper, lips brushing against Ethan’s as I talk. “They have no idea who you are, and you live right next door.”
“It’s weird, really,” he confesses. “So many people don’t know the truth about the world around them. Sometimes I feel privileged to know the things I do.”
“I can see that,” I say back. “Though at the same time, ignorance is bliss, right?”
“It is until it gets you killed.”
“I can’t argue against that.”
Ethan gets up, holding out a hand for me to take. I grab my plate on our way in, and use the bathroom while Ethan gathers overnight items, including both clothes for the morning and enough weapons to infiltrate Fort Knox. Since I drove to Ethan’s this afternoon, we take my car back. Julia made sure Ethan took one more antibiotic before we left and gave me a little pill bottle with his morning meds. The way she’s on top of things and totally unfazed by everything really drives in what Ethan tells me earlier: getting injured is part of the job.
I pull out of Ethan’s neighborhood when my phone rings. Mom’s name and number comes up on the screen, and Ethan looks at me.
“You should answer it,” he says, sensing my apprehension.
I hit the green button and slow at a stop sign. “Hello?”
“Oh, hey, honey! I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“It’s not even ten PM yet, so no. Is everything okay?” I rush out.
“It is,” Mom says quickly. “I’m just now leaving the hospital. Your dad has university friends over for poker night so I thought I’d see if you wanted to hang out, just us girls.”
I hesitate, flicking my eyes to Ethan. Normally, I’d jump all over this. If I wasn’t working and wasn’t with Laney, then I wouldn’t have plans. It’s been that way for years, and I know when Mom calls me like this, she’s trying.
Trying to get over the pain of the past. Trying to apologize without actually saying sorry.
“Or not,” Mom says quickly when I don’t respond, and it kills me a bit on the inside. “Not if you’re busy.”
“She knows about your aunt, right?” Ethan whispers, and I nod. “Invite her over.”
“I’m not busy,” I rush out. “I’m just on my way home.”
“From the barn? Isn’t it late to be there when coyotes have attacked nearby farms?”
My eyes widen. “How do you know about that?”
“It’s in the paper,” Mom tells me. “The Fish and Wildlife Service is looking into it now.”
I glance at Ethan, both of us knowing if anyone goes looking for the Pricolici, they’re not going to like what they find.
“I have a boyfriend,” I blurt. “And he’s coming over. Want to meet him?”
I can imagine Mom gaping. “Of course. Are you hungry? I can pick up take-away.”
“We just had pizza,” I tell her. “But if you happen to pass by a store and somehow end up buying a cheesecake, I wouldn’t object.”
“Is everything all right?” Mom asks.
“Fine, Mom. I’ll see you soon?”
“Yes, I’ll be over in half an hour. Love you.”