And I mean something to her. I’m the one with her hand in mine when we come into town, the witch unapologetic about her claim on me.
And I’m the one with her savory taste on my tongue each night in the highest room of her enchanted library.
Today though, I’m alone on my coffee errand. And so is Georgiana when she turns away from the front counter and meets my eyes. Hers go wide with shock.
“B-Bo,” she stammers, her voice not matching her composed look in a pink sundress and heels.
For some reason, the color choice annoys me. She’s all summer a few weeks before Halloween. Doesn’t she know it’s time for burnt oranges and dark greens?
Rich, rusty reds, like the curls I want to tangle my fingers in.
“Hello, Georgiana.”
It’s easy not to use her nickname. She isn’t Georgie anymore. I’m not sure she ever was. That woman seems more like a mask she wore to fool a lonely boy into trusting her.
But I don’t resent her. As terrible as my captivity was, Mor made an astounding observation.
If I hadn’t been trapped, I likely would have left Folk Haven. Georgiana wouldn’t have gone with me, but at the time, that would have given me all the more reason to go. Discovering that the woman I cared for never felt the same.
And I would have stayed away.
And I never would have met my lusty witch, who thinks my glasses are hot and calls mebabywith affection and lets me care for her in the way I’ve wanted all my life.
I don’t know if I can say thank you to my never-true friend. But I also don’t hate her the way I did just a month ago, when I learned how she had given up on me without even trying.
I choose to nod and offer her a tight smile before stepping up to the counter.
Sonya, co-owner of Coffee & Claws, is working the register today, and she offers me a wide grin. “Ah! Here for Mor’s caffeine fix? Let’s see, what fun can we have today?”
“Something fall-flavored,” I tell her. “Pumpkin spice maybe. But with something extra.”
Sonya snaps her fingers. “Spicy pumpkin spice. I’ll add a dash of cayenne to it.”
Spicy pumpkin spice. I’ve never heard of a more perfect flavor.
“She’ll love that. With oat milk, please. And let’s go hot.”
The siren claps in delight and adds my dark roast coffee to the order without me having to ask. I also point to a couple of apple turnovers, knowing they’ll add a sweet, cinnamon punch to the coffee break I’m about to take with my delicious woman.
And I only realize I’ve completely forgotten about Georgiana when I’m walking out of Coffee & Claws and a demanding hand wraps around my forearm. The pink-dressed siren drags me intoa nearby alley, and I let her more from shock than because she’s strong enough to move me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, figuring some dangerous catastrophe must be about to befall us because that’s the only reason Georgiana Stormwind would willingly break the cold shoulder she’s been giving me.
“Bo, I …” She dithers, glancing behind my shoulder, then up into my face with a feverish gleam in her eyes.
“What—”
She cuts my question off by diving forward and plastering her mouth to mine.
And once again, I’m too shocked to come up with an immediate reaction. Also, my hands are full of coffee and pastries, so I don’t have any limbs free for pushing.
After a beat of befuddlement, I whip my head to the side and suck in a breath, trying to clear her artificial strawberry scent from my nose and my mouth.
How rude would it be for me to spit?
“What the hell?” I gasp instead.
“I’m sorry, Bo.” Georgiana licks her lips, and I think she’s apologizing for molesting me, until she continues, “I’ve missed you, and I needed to do that.”
