“Erm, let’s see. Rude people. There’s no need for it.”
“Oh, hard same. Biggest mistake you’ve ever made?” she asked.
“Agreeing to get married the first time,” Mason replied. A hint of red spread up his neck as he said the words, even though the kindness remained in his eyes.
“Okay, I know it’s not my business—well, maybe it is. But you gotta tell me what happened there.” Whatever it was had really hurt him.
“Tomorrow. You said we had tonight.”
“Yeah, right, I did. But tomorrow. I really want to know.”
“I’ll tell you everything. What’s your biggest mistake?”
“Trusting my family?” Xeni said with a mirthless laugh. Her heart thudded at the way he smiled in response. Obviously he wasn’t in the same bind, but it was kind of nice having him on the inside of all of this bullshit with her. As unexpected as it was, she felt like she could draw a little strength from the fact that he knew just how betrayed she was feeling. She cleared her throat and tried again to be more honest.
“I’m not sure what regrets I have. I’ve made some mistakes, but I tried to learn from them. When all of this is… I want to make sure things are good with my step-dad. I was kinda mean to him on the phone the other day, but I know he was just doing what my mom asked him to do. But still,” she said with a little shrug. “Okay, last thing. What’s one thing you absolutely want me to know before we do this? I want you to know that I’m actually kind of glad we’re doing this. You’re kinda sweet and a little funny. I’d be really pissed if my aunt picked out a total asshole for me.”
Mason’s smile reappeared, wider and brighter than before. “I’ll do my best to never be an asshole.”
“I’m stubborn too. Like, really stubborn, but I’m working on it. Sort of. Also, I’m a witch.” Xeni couldn’t remember the exact moment she’d embraced energy work and her relationship with the moon, but as she got older, both had grown stronger. She didn’t talk about it much, and definitely not with strangers, but her close friends and her mom knew. Aunt Sable had known too.
The letter her aunt had left her flashed through her mind.If you ever feel lost, trust the moon.
Xeni shook off those words and focused back on her groom-to-be as his eyebrows shot up. “A good witch, I hope. I’m trying to get myself out of trouble. I don’t need some stubborn woman cursing me because I was late with her supper.”
“Good, and don’t worry. You won’t have time to cook for me. I have to be out of here in, like, nine days. Sadly there probably won’t be time to put dinners with my husband on the schedule.”
“Well good. I’ve always said, ‘when you do get married, Mason, make sure you avoid your wife at all cost.’ You’re doing the lion’s share of the work for me and it’s greatly appreciated.”
Xeni snorted. “Tell me yourthing.”
Mason straightened his back a bit and Xeni braced herself for the worst.Whatever it is, let it be something punishable by a simple fine,she thought to herself.
“I’m bisexual,” Mason said. “In theory and in practice. I want to be more open with people about that so they know the real me. All of me.”
“Thank you for sharing that with me. And you should know that’s something we have in common.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Bisexual witch at your service.”
“It’s a shame you’re not sticking around. We could get a van and go on husband and wife supernatural adventures.”
“No, no. I don’t fuck with ghosts. You start talking to them and then they want to be friends or they want to use you as a vessel. No one needs that.”
“Is this a problem you’ve had before?”
“No, it’s just common knowledge. You don’t fuck with ghosts.”
“I can’t argue you that. I do have one question for you.”
“Yeah, of course. Shoot.”
“Are we kissing at the end of this? Am I laying one on your cheek? Perhaps a peck across the back of your hand.”
“Uh…” Xeni leaned back and considered Mason for a moment. He did have some nice full lips. They seemed moisturized enough. Like he wasn’t afraid of a plain stick of ChapStick lip balm. A little voice in her brain said it didn’t matter.
The kiss wasn’t necessary. All they had to do was agree to be husband and wife. A friendly handshake would probably be the best move. Too bad another louder, hornier-due-to-lack-of-physical-contact-with-a-man-for-almost-five-whole-years voice screamed KISS HIM! HELL, FUCK HIM! YOU LIKE HIS HANDS! Xeni swallowed as if that would stop her from blurting the words out.
