I sighed, weary with years of regret. I tipped my face toward the moon, blinking hard against the sting of tears.
“I sometimes wish…I didn’t have magic at all.”
He was quiet for a moment. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head, trying to make sense of my confession.
Then, carefully, “What do you mean?”
The words came tumbling out, a dam breaking, a flood I couldn’t stop.
“I have just enough to feel it. To know what’s out of my reach. To feel the pull of this place, even when I try to leave.” I swallowed hard, my throat tight and aching. “I’m a disappointment to my family, the strongest witches on the coast. Might as well be completely non-magical as far as they’re concerned. If I hadn’t been magical at all…maybe I wouldn’t have been compelled to stay.”
He moved closer. Not touching, but close enough that I could feel the heat of him, the hum of his energy. That stupid magic I hated called out to him, awakened by his nearness.
“I don’t know how anyone could see you as a disappointment.”
There was a fierceness in his voice that made my heart lurch. I laughed, and it tasted bitter on my tongue.
“Tell that to my mother.”
“I will. Gladly. But Selena…you’re so much more than your magic. I mean, sure, it was hot when you got so pissed off that you nearly swallowed poor Gary into the sand, but…” His grin softened. “That’s not the best part of you. The best part is how you keep fighting, whether it’s for those damn turtles or your tournament or this town. I saw that when you absolutely thrashed me at volleyball, because you were fucking magic.”
I shook my head.
“My magic…without you, it’s practically nothing. I know I’m just playing on borrowed time right now.” I tried to smile at him.
“No, I meant the volleyball. That’s the magic, Selena.”
He saw me.
He had looked up and seen me.
My heart was beating out of my chest as he gently ran a thumb over my cheek, brushing my windblown hair out of my face.
“You had scholarships, didn’t you? D1 probably. But you stayed, right?”
“How could you know that?”
“Because I know that world, Selena. And I meant it when I said you were incredible. It’s why I can’t ever get you out of my head.”
“But I didn’t take it.” Stupid tears, stupid heart, stupid magic that lit up everywhere his skin touched mine. “I stayed in this town, with my small life. I failed before I’d even started.”
A smile I had never seen before broke through, and it was so incredibly sad.
“Staying isn’t failing. Choosing a place, a people, your family…” He trailed off. “I know how complex families can be.”
I looked at him then. Really looked at him. Searched his face for the punchline, the smirk, the thing that would tell me he was just saying what I wanted to hear.
I didn’t find it.
All I found was sincerity, burning bright and true in his dark eyes.
“You have a big family too?” I asked, realizing I had no idea.
His mouth twitched.
“I have fifty-four siblings.”
I choked.
