Page 110 of The Witch They Fear

"Last night."

I look at the ceiling and try to stay calm, but even my magic knows where this is going and does a little flare behind my sternum.

"You wandered off into the trees with that vamp like you were sleepwalking, Cal. And you came back wiping your face."

"I wasn't sleepwalking."

Nell shoots me a murderous look. "I'm drawing on every reserve of patience my mother gave me right now."

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. I know I’m being an asshole but I really can’t help it. I don’t know how much I’m ready to share about Kage.

I try anyway. "I went to talk to him."

"Mm-hm…” drags it out like she wants me to continue.

I take a long sip of cider and set the glass down on the nightstand.

I look at the ceiling for what feels like a long time. She’s not going to let me wiggle my way out of this conversation.

"Ok," I say, finally. Like I’ve given up the battle.

"Ok?"

"Yeah alright. You win. There are—" I swallow. The words won't come the way I want them to. "There's, ah. There's a—it's possible. That I am, currently. Experiencing. Some…"

"Some?"

"Some. Feelings. Things. I don’t know, feelings inside my—" I gesture vaguely at my own chest with my left hand. "This general area."

Her eyes go wide but she doesn’t laugh. She inclines toward me just slightly like she’s talking to a wounded animal she doesn’t want to spook.

"Ok…" she says. "We can work with that."

"Having a love life is not something I’ve dealt with before, Nell. I'm rusty."

"Take your time."

"Well, actually, there’s three," I say, wincing.

I swear I see Margo and Shandy both stop reading for a second before going back to their respective books–pretending like they aren’t listening.

Nellie’s brows raise and she stills. "…three?"

"I'm not making you say anything. I'm just—" she sits up a little straighter, eyes bright "—processing. Walk me through it. Who are the lucky guys?"

I cover my face with my left hand. My ears are hot.

"Aamon."

The name comes out strange. Like it's not a word I'm allowed to say in the abstract—only as a title with Professor in front of it.

"Mm-hm." Nellie's voice has gone careful. She's keeping her face very neutral.

My left hand is sweaty against my face. I make my mouth say the second one.

"Kage. The… one from last night."

"Mm-hm."