“Because you’re my brother.” I can feel Ash cringe. “And I?—”
“If you say you love me, I swear I’m going to shove you out of the cart.”
Now they’re both laughing, and I’m dumbfounded. Though the conversation doesn’t sound very nice, there’s genuine affection in their voices, and I cannot help but think I’m experiencing a pivotal moment in their relationship.
Ash transfers the reins to one hand, scrubs his face with the other, and says wearily, “Why must you insist on repeatedly experimenting on yourself?”
“How else am I going to compete with a golden boy lawyer? I have to do something…”
“Impressive,” I say softly.
As if remembering I’m here, both men turn to me.
“Sorry,” I say quickly. “Ignore me.”
Ash pulls up to the cottage. We all sit for several silent seconds before anyone moves.
Rowan hops down first and comes around the side, offering his hand to me. Looking at Ash, he says, “Thank you for the ride.”
“You can stay the night in my guest room if you’d like,” Ash says stiffly. “So you don’t have toflyback.”
“I need the practice.” Rowan clears his throat. “But I appreciate the offer.”
Ash nods and coaxes the horse forward. “Goodnight, Kit.”
“Night, Ash.”
As the cart rolls down the dirt road toward Ash’s property, I turn to Rowan. “Are you okay?”
“Ash called me his brother,” he says, sounding a little weirded out. “He’s never done that before.”
“I mean, you basically are. You grew up in the same house. You even share the same last name.”
“I know, but our whole lives, he reminded me I was the outsider.”
“People grow up. Maybe it’s time you give each other a chance.”
He nods, thinking about it.
“I want to ask you something,” I say.
“Hmm?”
“Are you going back to college to become a sorcerer so you can prove you’re good enough to carry the Neilfellow name?”
Rowan’s thoughtful silence is the only answer I think I’m going to get, but then he admits, “I don’t know.”
“What do you intend to do with your degree?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know that either.”
“Well…what do you want to do with your life?”
He sighs, laughing a little, sounding lost. “What do I want?”
“Surely you’ve thought about that?”
“I mean, I have. But…”
