“You still haven’t told me who you were on a date with when you were—”
“Because it’s unimportant,” she said, waving me off. “There won’t be another date.”
“It was that bad?” I grimaced, wondering what had her so snippy.
She gave a nonchalant shrug. “It was fine, just no future there. And remember, I would know.”
One of the perks of Precognition, I guess.
I followed her into the living room and sat on the floor with Aspen, propping him up in my lap while she continued talking. “Not that I’m looking for that with anyone. I’m perfectly happy playing the single-witch card for a while. Especially with all the festivities coming up.”
Aspen shot off like a dart, crawling toward the coffee table and staring at the mug situated atop it. I jolted after him, knowing he couldn’t pull himself up to stand yet but still wanting to make sure he didn’t hurt himself. I was finding new spots to babyproof each day and quickly understood why people hired companies to do it for them. There were so many things at his eye level that I’d never realized would be interesting to a tiny witchling.
When I collected him in my arms, he reached for my shirt, tugging right as my chest began to tingle. Feeding time.
Hazel leaned against the countertop, continuing to sip her water. “I’m just glad Ruby didn’t cancel everything.”
“Same, though the coven might have revolted if she had,” I agreed, getting Aspen situated and lifting up my shirt. I unclasped my bra and lowered the fabric. He eagerly maneuvered for my breast, clamping down. I hissed as his tooth jabbed into my nipple. The blunt shape was deceiving—more like a tiny fang missing its vampy mate.
Hazel chuckled. “You’re not wrong. And if I were here I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the neighborhood’s wrath.”
As quickly as they had all admired the Wellses, they just as swiftly didn’t come to their defense when they’d been accused of Acacia’s murder. “How do you think it’s going with Chrysanthemum and Atticus staying with Ruby?”
“I’m sure she’s keeping them in line.”
“It’s got to be so hard on them.” The two teens were in the middle of the school year at Nyx High School, where their mom had been heavily involved as head of the PTA. It was hard enough being a teenager without dealing with fellow teenage assholes. “I can’t imagine having both your parents in prison.”
“I still can’t believe they killed Acacia.” Hazel’s voice was low, nearly a whisper, like if she said it any louder someone would hear and that would make it true.
“No offense but I never really got warm fuzzies from Aurora, so I’m not too shocked.”
While I didn’t love that Atlas was moving into their old home, I didn’t miss her one bit.
“There’s nothing warm or fuzzy about her, but that doesn’t make someone a killer,” Hazel replied, almost defensively.
“Well, she confessed.” I unlatched Aspen, internally blessing my other boob before he latched and nipped that one too. Having your body used in place of a teether was no fun. “Now they just need to uncover a motive.”
“Yeah,” she said, back turned to me while she grabbed some food from the fridge and began heating a pan on the stove. “Any news on Hunter yet?”
“I don’t know. I doubt that’s something Lynx or Saros would text or discuss over the phone.”
“They will be back soon with some more answers.”
“Yeah, hopeful—" A melodic tune trilled from my phone. I groaned. “Ugh.”
“That time already?”
Aspen popped off my nipple to look at what was making the noise, and I arranged myself within my bra before clasping it shut. “Yep.”
She grinned at me as I finished burping Aspen. “Better get going. Wouldn’t want to show up late to your family date at the pumpkin patch.”
“It’s not a date.”
“Uh-huh,” Hazel halfheartedly agreed, a smirk playing on her mauve-painted lips.
“It’s not.” I didn’t want to get into this with her. “We are just taking our son to the pumpkin patch at a mutually agreed upon time.”
“Glad you clarified that for me.” Her tone was dripping in sarcasm and amusement. At least someone found this whole thing entertaining. “And you’re sure there’s nothing more there?”
