He hadn’t sent any messages, but I knew it was from him. It had to be him. Theon was relentless. He was trying, in his own twisted way, to stay away, but this—still reaching out one way or another as if wanting me to be filled with thoughts of him as his was filled with me.
My steps slowed as I reached theWitch’s Brew Café, the sight in front of me making me frown. There were new pumpkins lining the entrance. But they weren’t like the usual Halloween pumpkins with sharp, evil grins. These had...a downturn smile? Almost like they were sad. Still creepy, sure, but more like...sad clowns trying to apologise.
Confused, I stopped, a short laugh escaping before I could hold it back. What the hell was this? Had Ma’am Jeena decided to go soft with the decorations suddenly? As I reached for the door, it swung open, and Ma’am Jeena stepped out, looking stressed.
“I got roped in,” she groaned, glaring at the pumpkins like they’d personally offended her.
I raised a brow, trying not to laugh again. “What? You didn’t do this?” I gestured to the sad, droopy pumpkins. They were starting to look kind of cute.
She rolled her eyes. “Does that look Halloweeny to you? Of course not. I found them here this morning.” She fished a folded paper out of her apron pocket and waved it at me. “And this. Why are you two fighting, huh? He’s messing with my shop. Tell him if he pulls this stunt again, I’ll whoop his ass.”
Before I could respond, she bent down and adjusted one of the pumpkins, patting its head like a pet. “Though, I’ll admit, he’s thoughtful. I’m keeping these because they look different from everyone else’s.”
Slightly confused, I looked down at the letter in her hand. My chest tightened as she handed it to me, the handwriting making my heart slam against my ribs. That same neat scrawl I knew all too well.
I unfolded the letter, heat crawling up my neck as I read the words:
Pretend it’s not from me. But that expression seems to match mine well.
Then at the tip of the sheet, in a very tiny handwriting was,My bed misses you.
The breath left my lungs, my gaze flicking back to the sad pumpkins. A small laugh bubbled up, but it got stuck halfway, my emotions tangling in my chest. Damn him. How did he manage to make me feel so...everything all at once?
Even through his pathetic attempt at an apology.
“No crying today. Ugh, just shut the fuck up.” I blinked up at the sky, muttering to my head. Why did I keep crying? Was it because I was still hurt I went through shit and faced the worst of luck thanks to him, or because I was sad that he misunderstood my intention that night and survived a fall that left a scar in his heart? A fall that could have killed him, thanks to me?
Thinking about it, if he hadn’t found me that night, I wouldn’t even be alive and be mad about jobs that he ruined for me. But again, I almost committed suicide several times because of those jobs that he sabotaged.
“Are you coming in, or do you need an emotional moment?” Ma’am Jeena popped out her head to say, immediately retreating without an answer.
Further emotional moments and thoughts, and my legs would be racing to his place.
I glanced around, a little part of me hoping he was lurking around and watching like the creep he was. It was unfair how hecould see me and I couldn’t. But then again, who told him she didn’t want to see him again.
Right. Me.
“You cannot be serious. Oh my gosh, Katy, that’s so beautiful!” I squealed, eyes glued to the sparkling ring on her finger. Her boyfriend—now fiancé—had proposed, and I was practically bouncing in the middle of the street, trying not to jump like a kid.
Katy giggled, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ear. “You know I told you I saw this coming. But even then, it was still a freaking surprise. I didn’t expect it today. Baby girl, if I’d known—”
We both burst out laughing, her joy radiating through the video call. She looked radiant, glowing with happiness. I hadn’t even met her fiancé yet, but the fact that she was on cloud nine told me enough.
“Have you told the other girls?” I asked, still grinning like an idiot.
“Yeah, I told Laura, but Jade’s phone keeps going to voicemail. She’s probably busy.”
I nodded, my smile wide. As we chatted, I made my way through the brightly lit neighbourhood. The sun was dipping low in the sky, casting everything in a warm orange hue, while stars began to flicker in the darkening sky.
“South Highland is always gorgeous during festive seasons,” Katy commented as she finished telling me the story of her proposal, her eyes wandering to the decorations behind me.
I held the phone higher, giving her a full view of the spooky front yards lining the street. “Tell me about it. People go all outfor Halloween. I can’t even imagine what Christmas is going to look like.”
“Right,” she sighed, and we both fell quiet for a moment. I could tell she wanted to say something. Something that made her look at me with worry. Katy had always been the kindest of us, always considerate of other people’s feelings. It made sense that she’d be the first to get engaged.
“Speak. I can hear your mind from here,” I teased.
She exhaled slowly, hesitating for a moment. “The man said you can’t be accepted because you’ve been rejected once by the company, and the spot’s already filled.”
