Page 39 of Hexed & Hazy

Rowan squints at me. “What are we doing here?”

“Um…” I rub the back of my neck and walk away, bringing out a big mason jar of water. “Look, I know you’ve been busy with me, so you probably didn’t realize it’s a full moon. I thought this would be a good way to make moon water without freezing. I don’t know. It’s stupid. Is it stupid?”

I know how Rowan gets. She’s always been the type to lock in on one thing—whether that’s work or her witchcraft—and right now, she’s forced to lock onto me. Now that she’s turning down a date with Dave, that only adds to my guilt.

Her eyes crinkle ever-so-slightly. “You think I forgot the moon phase?”

I laugh nervously. “Maybe that was stupid, too.”

“No.” She steps closer, and with each step, each inch she crosses, makes my heart race. “Not stupid. You’re right. I didn’t have time to prepare any of this… but what do you know about preparing moon water?”

There’s a small smile in her voice, a slight lilt, and I finally let myself peer at her. Her gray eyes sparkle in the moonlight, as if it had been created just to illuminate her.

“Um… I did some research.”

“Very impressive. Then you must have discovered that making moon water in the cold changes its properties. So, this is quite useful.”

“Yeah. Totally.”

Not. I had no clue. And, okay, maybe I didn’t do as much research as I should have, but at least I’m being useful. Her words, not mine.

“You did a great job. I knew we could make a researcher out of you yet.”

I hate that her praise makes me hot. Or maybe it’s just the greenhouse.

“It’s more than water.“ I shuffle away to pick up a tray. “Crystals. Herbs. Flowers. But the moon does most of the work, right?”

“Right. And none of these crystals are water-soluble. Very good.”

Rowan doesn’t dish out praise for free, but she is now. I can’t deny how hearing the words very good coming from her is enough to make me melt.

I clear my throat. “Thanks. Let’s set this up?”

It doesn’t take long to get ready. I’ve already prepared three jars of water, and Rowan chooses the crystals and herbs to add to each one. By the time we’re done, we’re standing close enough that our shoulders touch. When her cool fingers brush against mine, it feels all too natural to wrap my fingers around hers.

She gasps. But she doesn’t pull away.

“We can keep them here overnight,” I say. “I already got permission.”

She turns her head to look at me, and I couldn’t look away if I wanted to.

“You thought of everything, did you?” Her thumb brushes against the back of my hand.

My mouth is dry. Maybe I should be drinking the water instead of letting the moon have it—or whatever the point of moon water is. Even after researching, I’m not sure.

“I tried,” I croak.

“Why do you have the key to this place?”

“Uh… Donnie lets me hang out here sometimes. Help him out with the plants. Kind of like cat-sitting. But… not cats.”

“I didn’t know you were interested in plants. There are a few in your room, right?”

I nod. “I wasn’t until recently—and I mean, I’m still not… not the best. But I’m learning. It’s nice to have something to focus on. To grow something. Make something. Do you… want to see one?”

She hums under her breath. ”I’d like that.”

Rowan knows too much about me. She knows that I do everything for my mom. Alone. Take care of her. Drive her to the doctor’s appointments. Cook and clean. When my sisters visit from college—twins with almost as much energy as I used to have—it only gets more chaotic.