“The equinox?” he repeated, finishing his question.
I sighed. “I mean, no. Yes.”
“Oh.”
“No, it’s not that.” Then again, it also was. Though Ryan was nice enough, it wasn’t as if I had been hanging around with him a lot. Just a lot recently. It had taken me months before I considered letting Vadika meet the coven, let alone join us on a holiday. “You just need to understand what you are getting into. They are going to pick and poke at you like you’re some strange insect.”
Or worse, a guy I’d been seen spending the night with in the library after having all of them insisting I needed to liven up my life more.
It sounded like a travesty of a night waiting to happen, the indication swirling in my stomach.
“I know you are suddenly open to whatever this is.” I pointed between us. “Talking and getting to know me and sitting in other people’s library spots. But you coming to a coven meeting—my coven’s equinox celebration—it’s sort of a big deal.”
At least, it was to me.
“You shouldn’t come just because you feel like you should,” I said.
“Lu, take a deep breath.”
I stared at him.
He mimed taking a deep breath in and out.
I took a deep breath in and out. It helped.
I sort of wished it hadn’t as I listened to him.
“I know it’s a big deal,” said Ryan. “I also know that I have been a royal ass in the past. I can’t change that. But I think you’re cool. I’ve always thought you were cool, Luella Pierce. So, if you let me and only if you want me there, I totally want to go to a witch coven meeting or celebration. I will arrive with the utmost respect and understanding that walking in there with you means I might be up for some sort of sacrificial purpose.”
I shook my head at him.
“I want to experience nature turning into fall.” He nodded once, decision made.
“Fine. Okay then,” I said slowly. I wasn’t going to be able to talk him out of it then. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“Looking forward to it, Luella.”
“Please behave.”
“It makes me smile that you have to say that to me.”
It made me feel like I’d made a very bad decision.
Turning around, I didn’t make it another step before Ryan called back after me, “Hey, Lu.”
I turned back to face him.
“Why do you always smell like spring flowers and lemon? You said they had meaning, right?”
I inhaled, taking a step back to return to the library. He remembered what Faith had said to him about my tinctures. Had he just noticed?
“Self-love.”
Seeming to consider this, Ryan dipped his head once.
“I might still be your villain, Lu. But I’m also hoping to be your friend.”
9
