“That was a fun time.” Atlas chuckled. “Nothing like thirty-year-olds riding the rope swings into a foam pit with a bunch of kids gawking.”
We laughed at the memory as we came up to the wagon, parking the stroller off to the side. I stuck my cider into one of the cupholders and took Aspen out, watching his sleepy lids drift open. Facing him away from me, I savored his tiny chestnut eyes taking in everything around us. I loved this stage he was entering: less spit-up and more curiosity. Atlas helped me up the steps and onto the platform, climbing in after us. Sitting side by side, I situated Aspen in my lap, Atlas tickling under his chin until he giggled, showing off his single-toothed grin.
“How’s everything going with relaunching Full Moon Emporium?” he asked, the wagon jostling toward the mazes jutting up in the distance, large hand-painted signs hanging over them. “Hazel said you’ve been prepping the boudoir shoot for the Moonlit Masquerade display.”
Ugh. Of course she did.Just another reminder that the two of them stayed in touch, which I didn’t really love but also couldn’t hold against them. She’d been right, we were family, even if it wasn’t in the way Atlas desired. Even if it wasn’t in the way part of me did—a part I very much needed to ignore.
“Yeah.” I kept my gaze on our surroundings and Aspen, avoiding eye contact with Atlas. “There’s going to be a little kickoff a few days after the Moonlit Masquerade.”
“That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you, Oaks.” His hand came to my shoulder. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on.”
“Thanks.”
A few new designs were releasing, each in different colors to kick off, along with some old stock I was restructuring. Everything was nursing friendly, meant to help women feel sexy in every season of life. I got out my phone and quickly texted Hazel to remind her to pick up the masks, then sent off a note to the manufacturer about the samples I’d recently gotten in. “I’m excited for it.”
“Have you thought anymore about my offer with the Mystic Square space? It would be great for you not to have to work out of the garage, and I’m more than happy to do it,” Atlas asked, keeping his gaze trained forward.
He’d found a vacant storefront in Celestial Haven’s shopping center and contacted Hazel about the logistics of leasing it for Full Moon Emporium. Since he hadn’t brought it up himself, having her ask me on his behalf, I was hoping to avoid talking about it just yet. “I don’t know, Atlas. It’s a big thing to do, considering…”
“We aren’t together?” he finished. A dull ghost of pain streaked through his eyes.
If only he knew how much it took for me not to reach out and touch him. If only things could have been different for us.
Maybe in another life…
“I appreciate the offer, but I need to think about it.” Taking a deep breath, I ran my hands along Aspen’s chunky thighs. “Can we just focus on this little witchling? I’m excited for his first Hallowed season.”
I withheld the tears threatening to streak down my cheeks and forced a halfhearted smirk. It was the best I could do.
Why did this have to be so fucking hard?
“Oh yes, looking forward to some family time. I’m glad I’ll be in town for all the festivities,” Atlas said, smiling at his mini-me. Then his attention darted back to me, tone dropping to a more serious octave. “At least promise me you’ll do a walkthrough of the Mystic Square space before deciding?”
I nodded, glad he was willing to end the conversation there.
The wagon came to a halt, and all of us got off in a single-file line. Peeling away from the rest of the group heading for the large corn maze, we strolled toward the hay one that stood only a few feet high. Not that Aspen couldn’t go through the taller one, but the prospect of getting stuck in a maze with a crying witchling sounded like the furthest thing from fun.
I stepped into something squishy, my boot lodging in the mud with a wetsquelch. “Shit!”
“May I?” Atlas asked.
After I nodded, he knelt and gripped around my calf and ankle, sending electricity zinging through me. I held my breath and tried not to focus on my body and Desire’s response.
With a few quick jerks and a tug, my boot finally wiggled free, dark-brown muck flinging in all directions. I grimaced before hiding myself from view to wave my hands in front of my legs, casting a cleansing enchantment. My magic stretched its replenished wings and trickled through my palms, the spicy scent of it peppering the air.
I inhaled deeply, savoring its return.
When my gaze dropped to my body, the dirt merged together, slithering down my jeans like a tiny snake and slipping into the puddle it’d come from.
Goddess, it’s good to have my magic back.
By the time I made it over to Atlas, he’d already cleaned himself off. It was much easier for him to disguise his magic with Illusion, hiding it in plain sight. His brows lifted in surprise. “Someone was busy this last full moon, it seems.”
“I beg your pardon?” I asked defensively.
“You’ve got magic.”
Fuck.
