“I’m bewitched by you, Luella Pierce,” he said, still catching his breath as he ran a finger from the top of my forehead to down my nose. “You’ve bewitched me, body and soul.”
It took only a second for me to succumb to laughter. “You really likePride and Prejudicetoo much.”
“We really need to watch the movie.”
“We can if you want.”
“Not now.” Ryan grinned with his eyes closed, pulling me back into his chest and holding me there. “Right now, this. This is right where I want you.”
A good thing, I thought as I let myself relax into his hold,because there is no other place I’d rather be.
28
Iknew where to step so that my feet didn’t creak on the stairs as I made my way down. Conversation drifted along the hallway, and I couldn’t help myself but listen as I turned the corner.
“Slow craft was always the one thing Luella struggled with at first,” Gertie said softly to Ryan. “It was all or nothing. She’d get so frustrated while creating magic before she realized that some things took more time than others to sort and evolve into what they were meant to be. She still forgets at times when the walls are crashing around her. But she doesn’t give up.”
Ryan nodded. “She certainly doesn’t.”
“You’re welcome here always; I hope you know that as well.”
“That’s good.” Ryan chuckled. “I think I’m going to be here a lot more now.”
Rolling my eyes, as if Gertie couldn’t guess what Ryan was insinuating, I hopped down the final few stairs and made my way to the doorway of the kitchen. Gertie filled up her watering can under the sink faucet to take it out back to the garden.
Ryan smiled wide when he saw me. He wore clothing he’d left here from the last time he’d spent the night. This morning, his eyes were bright, and his face was full of a healthy flush.
I shook my head, trying not to laugh at everything going on here. “Morning.”
“Good morning, Lu,” said Gertie. “Sleep well?”
Glancing at Ryan and back to her, I held my smile. “Exceptionally.”
“I’m glad.”
“You ready?” Ryan asked after a minute, walking over to meet me with his car keys in hand.
As ready as I was going to be. “See you in a bit, Gertie.”
“Good luck.”
“See?” I shot a pointed look up at Ryan. “Even she knows I’m going to need it.”
“You’re going to be fine.”
“Soyousay. Haven’t you learned that when a witch is saying good luck, you should really look into why?”
“You’re going to be fine,” he repeated.
Once we made it outside, he held open the car door for me and nearly pushed me inside, like I was on my way to jail. This didn’t feel much different. I was pretty sure anyway.
“It’s not like she is going to yell at you and throw you out.”
Now, that I wasn’t so sure of. I was about eighty percent sure that was exactly how visiting Celeste was going to go. I knew that I had to be the one to confront her and smooth whatever it was between us over, but I also really didn’t want to.
Her home wasn’t far down the road, and we stopped in front of the brick house on the corner. I’d really thought I had more time to prepare.
“Go on.” Ryan nudged me until I opened the car door.
