“What else did they teach you?” I couldn’t help but be curious about this boy whose upbringing had differed greatly from mine.
“Healing. That’s my favorite branch of magic. A little about conjuring, although not too much.” Alex smirked. “I guess they thought no child should be able to conjure whatever they wanted. Definitely not a teenage boy.” He chuckled and gave me a sheepish look that sent shivers up my spine. “Healing, Battle Magic, and Magical History were our main subjects.”
“So healing is your favorite magical art to study?” I leaned forward, interested by his unexpected answer. “What do you like best about it?”
To my surprise, he leaned forward too, and placed his hands inches from mine.
We both seemed to notice their proximity at the same time, and stared down at them, our conversation stagnating. I gulped as the scent of his cologne washed over me, and Alex squirmed in his chair. The air between us began to sizzle, and despite my assurances to Eva that Alex and I were just friends, the whole thing feltverymuch like a date.
“Healing is a puzzle,” Alex said finally, his voice raspy. “I find that the most gratifying things in life are often puzzles.” He licked his lips, and his brilliant blue eyes strayed to my mouth.
Oh my God what is happening? Are we flirting? Oh crap, play it cool, Odie.
Blood thrummed in my veins, and I floundered for something to say to elongate this magical moment.
“Oh?” I choked out. “Like what else?”
Alex arched an eyebrow. “Well, to be honest, like y—”
“Thank you.” A very familiar voice cut through me, and I let out a quiet groan as Alex jerked back and the hot tension between us shattered.
Why in the hell had I invited Hunter? He’d screwed up a moment that I’d been dreaming about for months!
“Hey, partner, hey, Cuz, what’s happening?” Without waiting for an invitation, Hunter pulled out a chair and sat down next to Alex, who tensed.
My emotions swerved from aroused to nervous in the space of a heartbeat. While it hadn’t been easy getting Hunter to agree that the cousins needed intervention, I’d managed to convince him. Mostly by using my trump card.
Eva.
I’d sworn to Hunter that if he didn’t meet up with Alex and do his best to make amends, I’d monopolize as much of her time as possible.
But I held no such power over Alex. Hell, he’d gone months hating me. What would stop him from walking out right now?
After a full minute, which felt like a year, Alex inhaled sharply. “Hello, Cousin. Fancy seeing you here.” He turned to me and arched an eyebrow. “I imagined this moment arriving on my terms, but clearly, by courting you, I must get used to working outside my comfort zone.”
Hunter clapped his hands. “Ha! You and me both. Eva isn’t a play-by-the-rules kinda person, either. Then again,” he smirked, “neither am I. Not on the level of your side of the family, anyway.”
“Oh? Is that so? And what do you know about my side of the family?” Alex turned his full attention to Hunter, and the pair began to banter.
I barely heard them.
Courting me?Had Alex insinuated that we were dating—or almost dating?
A smile spread across my face.
Apparently, I’m dating Alex Wardwell. Oh hell yes!
I beamed and then, realizing that I’d left two feuding cousins to their own devices, snapped back to attention.
“And at that concert! Cuz, you were all strait-laced, standing in line and scowling at me while I rode the mosh pit.” Hunter burst out laughing at the memory, and Alex’s lips flattened.
Shitballs, time for a redirect.
“Alex?” My voice cracked a little. “We have to deal with the issues between you two if we all want to be friends.” My eyes darted back and forth between him and Hunter, and I inhaled a long, calming breath before laying it out on the table. “I guess what I’m saying is that you two better make up tonight, because with Eva and me, it’s sisters before misters.”
The right corner of Alex’s lips twitched in amusement. “Obviously. And yes, I’m okay with this. A little warning would have been nice . . . but I understand why you sprang it on me. However,” he locked eyes with Hunter, “let’s do this right. We’re here. We need to confront each other’s issues and hurts. We talk it out like adults, no hiding from the past. No joking around and pretending everything is fine. I want arealdiscussion.”
The jovial smile disappeared from Hunter’s face, and for a second, he looked like he might refuse. Then he nodded. “All right. I’m in. We’ll do it your way, Cuz.”
