“That’s a strong stance to take,” Jesse said.
Eliana scoffed, annoyed by the distraction. “Sounds pretty reserved in my opinion,” she tossed over her shoulder.
Jesse sputtered. “She was yourfriend.”
“Was,” Eliana agreed. Then she straightened, meeting her husband’s eye as she asked, “Why are you taking the cheater’s side, Jesse?”
“I–” his mouth opened, then closed, much like a goldfish. “I’mnot,” he answered, then flinched as his volume attracted angry glares. “I was just surprised by how quickly you both . . . moved on.”
“The Bea I thought I knew didn’t exist,” Milo answered, his tone thoughtful. “The Bea that believed in loyalty and fidelity—she was just a figment of my imagination. The person Iwantedher to be.” He paused. “I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll be sure to learn everything there is to know about the next woman I marry. The good and the bad.”
“That’s sweet,” Eliana smiled, burying the twinge ofunease she felt at the thought of him meeting someone new. “She’s lucky—whoever she is.”
“No,” Milo answered, his voice resolute. “But I am.”
Eliana tore her eyes from the mats to meet Milo’s stare, striving to keep the shock from her tone when she asked, “You’ve already met someone?”
“Maybe.”
“You hadn’t said anything,” Eliana accused, her eyes narrowed in faux humor as she fought to quell the instinct to ask a thousand questions in an effort to soothe the sudden disquiet of her mind. Why was she bothered? This was fine. She was fine.
Milo’s answering smile was slow, and crooked. “I’m in no rush. I’ve got enough going on at the moment, and so does she.” He paused. “I’ll ask after the holidays.”
His words suddenly felt weighted, his stare meaningful, as he held her trapped once more in his steady gaze. The tension grew taut, just like that evening in the rage room. He couldn’t have meant . . . but the words were sopointed. So specific. Could it be that?—
“Why wait? No time like the present,” Jesse mumbled, interrupting the tense moment.
Eliana rolled her eyes, turning around to look at Jesse, whose gaze was settled on Zoey below—helping the instructors prepare the board-breaking stands. “Weren’t you just saying that he was moving on too fast?”
Jesse shrugged, keeping his eyes locked on the action below. He scratched idly at an elbow, drawing Eliana’s eyes.
Martha had said . . . butsurely not. Eliana turned her eyes back to the tournament, biting her lip as Martha’s voice floated through her mind with the same ethereal whisper and crazed cackle, as if they were still on the phone.
To him I bestow?—
A nail that shall grow.
And—
An itchy elbow.
This I have granted?—
A mind disenchanted.
These treats I have given?—
Until he’s forgiven.
It was so outlandish, so humorous, Eliana had never put any more stock in thehexthan the joy it gave her to chat with the eccentric woman. She’d never failed to put a smile on Eliana’s face, even in her darkest moments.
But now . . . surely it was just a random itch. Nothing more. Because a hex would be crazy.Right?
“Sounds like his mind’s made up,” Jesse answered, bringing Eliana’s mind back to the present matter.
“Carpe diem, huh?” Milo responded, a suspicious undercurrent in his tone. “You think that’s the way to approach it?”
Jesse cocked his head, picking up on the shift in the atmosphere. The challenge in Milo’s voice. “I’m just saying that sitting around talking about your feelings with my wife doesn’t really accomplish anything. Does it?”
