It feels like I’ve been punched, slapped and kicked in the balls all at once. Kids, do not try this at home.
I don’t know which hurts more—the fact that she’s right, or the fact that she said it.
But she is correct, and I’m not fit to be with anyone. I’m not. Never have been. Never will be. I’ll die a sad, lonely man. I accepted that a long time ago.
“You’re right,” I murmur. “I’m not who you need.”
She blinks. “You agree?”
“Why not? If we were meant to be together, we would be.”
Her expression falls and she quickly turns her face away. “Exactly.”
“Right.”
“And now you have what you needed me for—the vision. So you can make your invention and move on with your life.”
This conversation just went from bad to worse. I’d forgotten about that. But she’s not wrong. I now have what I originally asked for, so there’s nothing keeping us together.
“You’re not worried that I’m going to attempt to impregnate half of Castleview so that I can spread my seed throughout the land?”
She snorts with laughter. Oh wow. I’d forgotten about the snorting. Just adorable. My heart tightens like someone’s thrust their hand through my chest and is squeezing it dry.
“No, I’m not worried about that.”
“Why the change of heart?”
She shrugs. “Don’t know. I just don’t think you’re going to do it. But you do still have my power.”
“I do.”
“What does that mean?”
“Ask your nana. She’s the one in charge of this, whether it’s intentional or not. Now, I’m not saying that she used magic on us. But I’m not saying that she didn’t.”
Blair sighs and drops her arm on the top of the convertible’s door. She lowers her head and rests it in her hand. “Nana will disavow any responsibility. She’ll say that she doesn’t know how to break this.” She sits up quickly, an idea floating about in that brilliant brain of hers. “Maybe you have to influence someone, and then this curse’ll be over.”
“I’ve already influenced someone.”
“Oh, right.”
“What if it was something that would benefit humanity? Like maybe influencing the president to get rid of income tax?”
I tip my head back and laugh. “That sounds like more power than I’ve got.”
She frowns. “You’re probably right.”
An uncomfortable silence falls inside the cabin.What do you do now, Devlin?
You let her go, is what.
This beauty.I can tell myself all day long and say that I don’t have feelings for her, but it would be a lie. I should cut her off. Right here. Right now. Let the power fizzle out of me naturally.
But I don’t want to. I want her near me day in and day out. I want to hear her snorting all the time. Her snorting is my favorite.
And I want her to help me build this invention that she’s been instrumental in.
But is that whatshewants? Pretty sure when she said that I’m not right for her, she meant it.
