Page 97 of Hexed & Hazy

“We’re great,” Rowan says, perkier than before.

Fake. My beautiful girlfriend is many things, but perky isn’t one of them. She stifles a smile, bringing a forkful of food to her mouth.

I nod enthusiastically. “Great! It’s still new, but…”

“You’ve known each other for years, haven’t you?” Nerissa lifts a glass to her mouth. “Surely you should know if you want to be serious by now.”

Nerissa and I didn’t get off on the best foot—I was always a little wary of her until the end. We’re friends now, but I can’t help but think this line of questioning is her way of getting back at me. It would be funny if she were doing it to anyone else.

I glare at her playfully.

Mom is watching me now, too, and her words echo in my mind.

I’m not good enough for Rowan. Not even good enough to figure out how to break this hex, which is supposed to be temporary but has now been tormenting us for months. I want to be serious with her, but could she really want that with me?

I push the thoughts away. “We are serious, but it’s still new.”

Rowan nods subtly. Even if everyone else is applying pressure, she isn’t. We’re on the same page. The rest doesn’t matter.

“It’s good to take things slow,” Laurel says cautiously. “But they are… surprisingly good together.”

Laurel had seemed supportive of our relationship at the start, but ever since the flower incident, she’s been a problem. She gets in the way whenever we’re almost kissing, keeps me too busy with our morning and evening runs, and I don’t miss her judgmental looks.

I guess I understand it. She wants to protect her sister from my hex. I do, too.

Rowan narrows her eyes. “Surprisingly?”

Laurel shrugs. “I never thought Seth would settle down. That’s all.”

I groan.

“It’s good.” Mom gives me an approving nod and soft smile. She’s the only person at the table who doesn’t know about my hex. “They’re perfect together. I always thought so.”

I snort. “You did not.”

“I did, I just didn’t want to say anything.”

“And you were right,” Laurel says, as if she’s trying to make amends for her previous words. “It’s a good surprise.”

Though Laurel seems worried about Rowan these days, and Rowan will barely be in the same room as me… for a second, I let myself feel happy. Rowan loves me. And I think once the hex is gone, I’ll be able to say it back.

I don’t need any of them to be happy, to approve of our love, but for a night… it feels good that they do. That they may think I’m good enough, even if I’m not so sure. Rowan slides a hand over my knee and squeezes, and I melt.

But the hex still floats over my head. Taunting.

And I have to get rid of it alone.

Chapter 32

Rowan

Laurel and Nerissa leave before we do, stating that they only have a few hours before Nerissa has to depart for the Underworld. That leaves Seth and me cleaning up the kitchen long after his mother has gone to bed, and the world goes still.

These peaceful moments between us are becoming my favorite. He’s washing the dishes, and I clear off the table before I stand behind him, my hands around his waist.

“Mm… this was a good night,” I whisper.

Moments like this are dangerous right now, yet I crave them more than ever. And for the first time in days, Laurel isn’t around to get in the way.