I could see the fear in his eyes. “Vinnie, I need to know you’re okay with the life I can give you. I’m not Sebastian. I can’t offer you the luxury he could, and I’m not leaving Hallow’s End. This is my home. My family’s here, and I need to know that you’re here because you want this life, not just because you’re trying to get away from something else.”
His words hit me like a wave, the raw honesty of his fears breaking my heart all over again. I took a deep breath, wanting to find the right words to reassure him this time, to make him understand how much he meant to me.
“You’re everything to me, Ethan,” I whispered, my voice thick. “You make me feel alive, and like I can believe in love again. I don’t want the life Sebastian could have given me—I want the life we’re building. Together. I want this town, this home, and I wantyou. You are more than enough, Ethan. More than I could ever ask for. You’re the only one I want, and the only one I need.”
His gaze softened, the tension easing from his shoulders as my words sank in. “Are you sure, Vinnie?” he asked, his voice quieter now, almost afraid to believe it. “Are you sure this is the life you want? Here, with me?”
I nodded, my heart swelling with love for this man who had become the center of my world. “I’m sure, Ethan. I’m all in. This is where I want to be—with you, in Hallow’s End. I don’t need anything else. You are my home.”
Ethan’s eyes softened, searching mine as if trying to understand the depth of my words, and I could feel the weight of what I was about to say next, the words I’d been holding onto for so long, finally pushing to the surface.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “I wanted it to be perfect, to say it at the right moment, but the truth is, I should have said it at the gallery. It felt wrong then, but now . . . it feels like it can’t wait any longer.”
Ethan’s gaze never left mine, his eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of nervousness. “Vinnie, what are you trying to say?”
I took a deep breath, feeling my heart race as I prepared to let the words out. “I love you, Ethan. I love you. For the way you make me laugh. For the way you believe in my dreams. For the way you see me—reallysee me. You make me feel safe, and you make me feel like I’m enough, just as I am.”
His expression softened, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Do you really mean it?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, tears brimming in my eyes as I looked at him. “Yes, I mean it. I love you, Ethan. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
His hand came up to cup my face gently, his thumb brushing away the tears that had started to spill down my cheeks. “I love you too, Vinnie,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve wanted to say it since that dayat the lake, but I didn’t want to scare you away. I thought it might be too soon, that you weren’t ready, but I’ve loved you for a while now.”
A tear slipped down my cheek. A tear of happiness, and relief, and the overwhelming feeling of finally being on the same page. Ethan tilted his head, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch as his lips brushed against mine.
The kiss started out tender and gentle, a soft connection that conveyed everything we had just confessed. But as it deepened, it grew more urgent, more hungry. It was as if all the emotions we had been holding back were pouring out as Ethan’s hands slid into my hair, pulling me closer, while my arms wrapped around his neck, needing to be as close to him as possible.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathless, our foreheads resting together as we tried to steady ourselves. His hands cradled my face, his thumbs tracing my cheekbones as he gazed into my eyes with a look of pure adoration.
“We’re going to be okay,” he murmured, his voice carrying a quiet but unwavering determination. “I never want to lose you, Vinnie.”
I nodded, the weight of his words settling in my heart, anchoring me in this moment. “We’re going to be okay,” I echoed softly, the words a promise to him. To us. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter 30
THE CHILL IN THE LATE October air sent a shiver down my spine as I adjusted the wide-brimmed hat perched on my head and smoothed the front of my witch’s dress, which clung to my curves before flaring out to just above my knees. The fabric shimmered under the streetlights, with the slits on either side revealing glimpses of my thigh-high stockings as I moved, and my lace-up boots clicked against the cobblestones. The streets of Hallow’s End were alive with the vibrant energy of the Halloween festival—children darting between candy stands, couples in matching costumes, and groups of friends laughing as they meandered through the festivities.
The air was thick with the sweet scent of caramel apples and pumpkin spice, mingling with the sound of eerie music that played from hidden speakers, and every corner was decked out with cobwebs, jack-o’-lanterns, and flickering candles.
Beside me, Ivy and Amelia were adjusting their own costumes. Ivy’s dress was a deep, velvety purple, cinched tight at the waist with a corset that accentuated her figure. The hemline was asymmetrical, revealing long, fishnet-clad legs that ended in knee-high boots. Amelia’s outfit was a short black skirt paired with a lace-up bodice, her purple pixie cut adding a pop of color against the dark fabric.
We all had matching black cloaks that billowed dramatically as we walked, adding an extra layer of mystique to our witchy ensembles. The hoods were pulled up just enough to cast our faces in shadow, making us look like something out of an old storybook.
“We look like a twisted version of the Sanderson sisters,” Ivy joked, flipping the edge of her cloak with a flourish. “Only hotter.”
“So, we’re officially a coven now?” Ivy asked, her blue eyes glinting
“If we’re going to be witches, we might as well look the part,” Amelia said with a grin, twirling her broomstick like a baton. “Besides, how else will we strike fear into the hearts of mortals?”
I laughed, the infectious energy of the night seeping into my bones. “Ready to face the undead?” I asked, nodding toward the entrance of the haunted house looming before us. The building had been transformed into a decaying ruin, complete with shattered windows, creeping vines, and the unsettling sound of groaning zombies coming from within.
“I was born ready,” Amelia said, her voice full of bravado as she linked arms with Ivy and me. “But if I scream, just know it’s all part of the act.”
Ivy gave a mock-serious nod. “Of course, Amelia. We all know you never get scared.”
Stepping toward the entrance, the three of us exchanged grins. With our matching costumes and confident strides, we felt invincible as we entered the haunted house, which was themed around a zombie apocalypse and had drawn quite the crowd.
The three of us moved through the haunted house in a chaotic mix of laughter and screams, dodging zombies and jumping at every eerie sound. Each room felt darker and more twisted than the last, but the thrill of being scared out of our minds only made us cling to each other more. Ivy shrieked every few minutes, Amelia’s bravery wavered with every new surprise, and my heart pounded as adrenaline surged through us all. By the time we stumbled out of the final room, gasping for air and laughing uncontrollably, we felt both exhausted and exhilarated.
