I flinched. I had said those words—though not all of them—a long time ago when I was angry with Hollie for winning something we had both gone out for.
A low growl of anger came from the back of my throat. “It’s time for you to leave, Wendy.”
“It’s fine, I’ll go.”
At Hollie’s words, I turned around to look at her. “What?”
She forced a smile, but I could see the hurt in her eyes. “I’ll leave. Just remember not to blow out the candle until it burns out.”
“No, Hollie, wait.”
With the pain in my side, I wasn’t able to keep up with how fast she moved past me. She grabbed her purse, the basket, and her coat.
“Hollie, will you just wait a second! Stop, goddamn it!” I shouted as she opened the front door. Ignoring me, she rushed out and slammed the door behind her.
“Fuck!” I said as I scrubbed my hand down my face, flinching again at the pain under my eye and on my side.
“Good riddance. She’s an awful person.”
Anger filled my body with such force, I wanted to punch something. “Get out, Wendy.”
“I’m sorry?” she asked as she walked up and put her hand on my arm. “Lucas, you don’t… You don’t like her, do you?”
I stepped away and faced her. “Get out of my house now, Wendy. And don’t ever walk in like you have a right to. If I don’t answer the door, that means I don’t want to see you.”
Her eyes went wide while her mouth dropped open.
When she didn’t move, I walked to the door, opened it, and motioned for her to leave.
“You’re going to regret this, Lucas.”
“Somehow, I seriously doubt that.”
Wendy huffed and marched out the front door. This time, it was me who slammed it shut.
I walked straight to my phone and opened my text messages. I found Kristin in my contacts.
Me: Hey, it’s Lucas. I was wondering if we might be able to meet for breakfast tomorrow. There’s something I need to talk to you about.
Kristin: Something or someone?
Christ, were they all witches?
Me: Hollie.
Again, I watched the little bubbles move across my screen.
Kristin: Meet you at Ugly Mug Diner, 8:30 sharp.
Me: See you then.
My body suddenly ached from head to toe. I walked into the dining room, grabbed the soap Hollie had left behind, and headed to my bathroom. A hot bath would do wonders for me.
Lucas
I saw Kristin the moment I stepped into the Ugly Mug Diner. Her dark-blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her face was planted in a book as she twirled a spoon in her coffee.
“Thanks for meeting me,” I said as I slid into the chair across from her, ignoring the pain.