The sun shines brightly, and late spring flowers bloom bright pink and red petals.
But I miss the darkness of the Nightmare District, the mist that clings to your skin. The globes of swirling purple power.
I miss Nancy's grumbling. Darla's kindness. Stave's quiet loyalty.
I miss training with Eryx. The way our magic used to dance together.
I miss him.
In the distance I see the barrier, and it makes my stomach drop.
Don’t look at it, Chelsea. Don’t bother. It won’t bring you happiness. There is no happiness left.
It takes all of five minutes to reach Ovie’s house. I ring the bell and she answers.
She pulls me into a hug that smells of cloves and honey. “Look at you, Chelsea. Your mama said you were back. Come inside. Have some blueberry bread with me.”
Before I can protest, she drags me into the house. The whole place smells like cloves and honey.
Ovie tells me to sit at the kitchen counter as she unwraps the bread and starts to cut it. The last time I was in this house, Charlie was leaving and Ovie was canceling my ball.
I rub my forehead as Ovie chats. “You look good. A little thin, but good. Don’t worry, I’ll heat this up with butter and you can have some.”
Why bother explaining I’m not hungry? She won’t listen anyway.
After she heats the bread and gently pushes a plate in front of me, she pours each of us a cup of coffee and sits.
Ovie sighs. “Your mama told me a little about what happened. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Chelsea. I know what it is to be married to someone and things don’t work out.”
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I stare at my aunt and blink. Words flood my chest, and before I can stop myself, I say, “Eryx didn’t cheat on me. He would never have done that. He isn’t Charlie.”
As soon as they’re out of my mouth, I gasp. Oh God. I have truly stopped giving a single fuck.
A month ago I never would’ve said this to my aunt, and I watch in horror as her entire face crumples. She lets that happen for a beat, and then my aunt lifts her shoulders and her chin.
“Ovie, I’m so?—”
Sorry, I was going to say, but my aunt cuts me off. “No, I deserve that. Charlie deserves that because it’s the truth.”
“I saw him,” I mumble. “In the Nightmare District with a woman.”
She stiffens and then takes a small bite of bread. “It’s delicious. You might want to try it.”
I shake my head.
“You know what’s funny?”
I lift my eyebrows like,What?
“You never wanted the balls. Addison didn’t either, but I understand why she didn’t. She’d just been dumped by her boyfriend. But you never really had a boyfriend—you dated, but not anyone for very long, which is funny because you’re maybe the most beautiful of all you girls.
“Not that beauty has anything to do with it, of course,” she adds quickly. My aunt takes another bite of bread and moans. “Mm. You should really try some. But anyway, what’s funny is that guys asked you out—great guys. Funny, charming, good people. You might go out a few times, but you’d never stay long. Right?”
I shrug. “I guess not.”
“And for a long time I wondered why. But I think you just told me, didn’t you? It was because of me. Your parents’ relationship? Pretty amazing. But mine? Terrible. Pitiful. The worst ever. Am I right?”
Does she really want me to answer that?
