Page 28 of Starlight Witch

“I know, I know. But I’ve had one hell of a day and all I want is cheap junk for dinner.”

“Well, that you have. So pick what you want. I’ll get myself a frozen dinner and we’ll call it good.” She had been extra considerate since I told her what had happened with Bran, Kyle, and Faron. “Do you want dessert?”

I shook my head. “Chips are good. Cheese puffs, the crunchy kind. I want salt.” I looked over the frozen pizzas and finally settled on a large meat-eater’s special. Pepperoni, sausage, ham, extra cheese, tomato sauce. I added a small can of pineapple chunks to add to it, and then picked out some Fritos, Cheetos, and a bag of ridged potato chips.

After we got home, we sorted out the remaining ingredients for what we had left to make, but my thoughts were awhirl. I slipped Grams’s dinner—some sort of chicken parmesan—and my pizza into a heated oven, then sat at the table, snapping the green beans.

I set up my tablet and we watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Little Women while we ate, and then Dead Poets Society while we made the cranberry sauce, a green bean casserole with mushrooms, and the stuffing. We barely said two words during the evening, but it was a comfortable silence. After we finished and were waiting for the casserole to cook, Fancypants was curled up asleep with Gem and Silver, and I kept glancing at my phone, waiting for Kyle to text, but by ten p.m., he hadn’t said a peep.

I hugged Grams, finally, yawning. “I’m exhausted. I think I’ll turn in early.”

“You do that—sleep is healing. Go to bed, my dear, and may you have sweet dreams.”

“I doubt I can manage that, but I’ll try.” I kissed her on the forehead and then, followed by Gem and Silver, headed into my bedroom. I showered, then finally sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone. I knew I shouldn’t text Kyle, but finally, I gave in.

whatever you think, i did not send bran over. i can’t believe you’re blaming me—or him—for this. if you hadn’t started shouting, faron would be all right. but whatever…i won’t come around, but please, let me know he’s okay. that’s the only thing i ask.

Then, I turned off my phone so it wouldn’t disturb my sleep and crawled under the covers. Surprisingly, I fell asleep in minutes, and didn’t wake up until morning.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Wednesday morning arrived with a steady downpour. I yawned, glancing at my clock. I’d slept in till eight-thirty. The fact that Grams had let me sleep told me that she understood how tired I was. Then I remembered that I had texted Kyle before I went to bed. I nervously unlocked my phone and glanced at my messages. He hadn’t answered, but I saw that he had read my note.

“Well, that’s all I can do,” I said, tossing my phone on my bed.

We were driving up to Port Townsend at around three. Bree was coming with us. She had found a pet sitter for Atlas and Oscar—it was just better to avoid my mother having a meltdown over dogs—and she would be over in a couple of hours. I decided to pack.

I tried on several outfits, deciding that for today, I’d wear a short black skirt, a vibrant green V-neck sweater, and my leather jacket. I chose a pair of Doc Martens boots, wanting comfort. I picked a comfy, pretty, cold-shoulder olive green jersey dress for Thanksgiving, then packed a pair of black jeans, a couple tanks, and underwear. That way, if we decided to stay for a day or so afterward, I’d have something to wear.

The humidity had infused my hair with even more curls and waves, and after brushing it three times, I accepted that I was going to have a coppery halo around my head for the time being. I braided it back, touched up my makeup, and headed into the kitchen, where breakfast was on the table. Grams was double checking the turkey to make sure it was thawed out.

“Everything looks ready to go,” she said, glancing over at me. “Are you all right? You have a strange look on your face.”

“I texted Kyle and confronted him last night. He hasn’t answered back—” I was just sitting down to my plate when my phone dinged. I pulled out and the lock screen showed that Kyle had texted me. “Oh boy, well…he’s answering now.”

Grams came over, peering over my shoulder. “You might as well look. Waiting will just make the anxiety worse.”

I unlocked my phone and opened my texts. Taking a deep breath, I opened his message.

if you come around, i will call the police and charge you with trespass. as to faron, he’s none of your concern any longer. after this text, i’m blocking you and i won’t be talking to you again. i accept that you didn’t send bran over, but the elders have spoken and i have to obey. i’m loyal to the pack.

“I guess…that’s that,” I said. Part of me felt numb, while the other part wanted to break down and cry.

Grams rested a hand on my shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do for now. Try to focus on the holiday. When we return, maybe there’s something you can do.”

I didn’t say a word. I couldn’t. I felt like all the fight had drained out of me. I’d spent months worrying over Faron and waiting for him to remember. This had all started in August and now it was November, and I was farther away from him than ever. Not only that, but I’d been there for Kyle, trying to emotionally shore him up, and this was the way he repaid me. I shook my head, the frustration turning into resignation.

“I’m not even going to hope. I’m just going to set it aside. Even if Faron remembers, Kyle made it clear that the elders won’t let him remain King if he and I get back together. I don’t have the energy to continue to push, Grams. Bran’s here for me. Bran loves me, and it’s easy with him. I don’t have to worry about anybody interfering. He wants me to be happy, and you know what? I want that for him, too. I’ll talk to him this weekend about setting a date. And we’ll look for my father’s letter, though I’ve kind of lost hope about that, too. Why can’t I just have an easy path, Grams? Why does everything seem so hard?” I rested my elbows on the table, staring bleakly at the wall.

“You’re feeling sorry for yourself. That’s allowed, of course, but you have this weekend to mope—and after that, you pick up the pieces and move on. Whatever happens, happens. We can celebrate your engagement while we’re up there, if you’d like?”

I shook my head. “I’d rather wait till we get back. I have so much baggage with Port Townsend that I don’t want that energy seeping into Bran’s and my engagement.” Sighing, I stood up and shook my head. “Okay, enough whining for now. Though I reserve the right to have a good cry later, when the numbness wears off.”

“Are you really that devastated over Faron, my dear?” Grams asked.

I turned to face her. “I don’t know, to be honest. At this point, I’m mostly just frustrated with all the crap that’s happened over the past few months. When we come back, can we cast a clearing spell, to chase out the goblins, so to speak?”

“That we can, my dear. That we can.”

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