Coco
The chapel goes silent. Dead silent. Like if-a-fly-were-buzzing-it-would-be-as-loud-as-a-siren silent.
“What’s going on?” Pane demands again.
“Be right back,” Stone says nonchalantly, squeezing my hand tenderly while my stomach flattens into a pancake. He moves to greet his brother. “Great to see you!”
Pane gives Stone a stiff hug, the whole time staring at me with fire in his eyes. No doubt this wasn’t what he expected to return home to—his brother marrying, the resort materials changed.
“If you don’t mind,” Stone says, dropping his voice, “I’m a little busy right now. Can we talk after? Better yet, why don’t you stand beside me, be my best man? I’ve even got a ring for you to hold.”
A ring? My knees become Jell-O. It’s even worse than I thought. It’s not just a wedding—there’s another ring.
I bet it’s got diamonds.
Pane grabs his brother by the shoulders. “I’ve barely been gone a month, and Rhett calls to say the resort’s different and you’re getting married.”
Stone presses a hand to Pane’s shoulder. “Can we please talk about this later? And Coco and I have been engaged for a while. The weddingshouldn’t come as a surprise. I’m sorry, by the way, for not officially waiting for you to return before making it legal.”
Pane scowls. Behind him, Rowe tugs on his sleeve. “Maybe we should let them finish,” she murmurs.
“I can’t,” he grinds out, then turns to his brother. “What are you talking about? You weren’t engaged when I left. You weren’t even dating anyone.”
Stone shakes his head as if he’s thinking,My wacky brother, always getting it wrong.“Of course I was engaged. Tell him, Coco.”
It’s my worst nightmare, this happening in front of the entire town and my family. I think Brittany’s even recording. My gaze swivels toward her. Yep. She’s recording.
“Coco,” Stone nudges.
My ribs crack as I fix my gaze on him—on this beautiful man who’s put his faith and trust in me.
My words come out shaky. “It’s true.”
Pockets of gasps spread out over the crowd. A knot forms in my throat.
“What?” Stone says, taking a step forward. “What’s true?”
I close my eyes and exhale. “What your brother said. We’re not engaged.”
He chuckles. “Yes, we are. Tell them.”
For the first time since all this started, there’s uncertainty in his eyes. The man I’ve grown to love with all his confidence and quirkiness, is utterly, completely, totally confused.
I dread what comes next.
“What are you talking about?” he asks gently but firmly, and I know it’s all about to unravel, so I might as well get it over with.
“Maybe we can talk privately.” I reach for him. “To discuss this.”
He shakes his head, confusion scribbled over his features. “Whatever you have to say, say it here.”
Several thoughts hit me at once: Dot’s warning about being invisible, how the town’s magic disappeared, tales of what happens to witches.
There are so many reasons tonotdo the right thing, but it’s time for me to stand on my own two feet and stop hiding.
It’s the least I can do for Stone.
I lick my lips and steel myself. “Several weeks ago I came to the resort to do an inspection. It was supposed to be run-of-the-mill, but when I arrived, I realized the building was wrong. It was hurting the town’s land. When I told you, you wouldn’t listen. You called me a bureaucrat, a simpleton, someone wanting to be more important than I was.”
