Page 10 of The White Enchantress

“Josh, nothing could ever ruin our friendship. I love you. I honestly don’t know how I would have managed my new life in England without you. For a while, you were the only good thing about my life. I love you because you are a true and loyal friend, someone I can count on and bitch to and will always be there. And I’m obviously attracted to you. Something I wasn’t aware of until recently. But I don’t know if I want more than friendship with you, at least not right now. I’m still figuring my life out. Whatever this is between us, I like it…quite a lot.”

“I understand. I don’t know what I expected when I kissed you and then fucked you. All I know is that I love you.” His furrowed brow relaxes. “What does this make us now? Friends who love each other and shagged one night?”

“Why does anything have to change? Do you really think this affects our friendship?”

“I dunno, Guin, all the stories I hear about friends with benefits end terribly. The idea of us not being friends anymore because of this…I don’t even want to think of it.”

“If we just go on as normal, I’m not saying ignore what happened tonight but just stay the same best friends we were an hourago, it will be all right. I promise. There is nothing in this world that will ever tear our friendship apart. Death, mountains, fate.”

“Well, in that case,” Josh rolls over to me on the bed. “You wanna do it again?”

“Yes,” I reply, jumping on top of him.

Chapter 4

On our way home,Josh and I sit close to each other, hands clasped together. Our short week in New York City turned into a bit of a romantic getaway. We didn’t label whatever was going on between us. Maybe it’s just that we both really needed a good fuck. Maybe we are confusing the love we feel for each other for an uncontrollable attraction. I’m still not sure, but I don’t question it, and neither does Josh. If we want to kiss each other, we kiss. If we want to fuck, we fuck. Besides that and the extra snuggles, our relationship remains the same as it was before this trip.

It doesn’t feel awkward to see Josh naked, to be naked with him. I don’t overthink how I should act around him after the first night we slept together. We are still Guin and Josh, the very best of friends. My love for Josh hasn’t diminished, but I’m unsure if it has grown. I am just happy to be with him.

Josh falls asleep as soon as the train leaves Penn Station; we barely slept the night before. I am exhausted myself but can’t fall asleep. With nothing else to do, I try my father again. We have been playingphone tag all week and I desperately want to finally tell him about Wesley and give him an update about what is happening inside my mind. With my unoccupied hand, I reach into my purse for my phone.

Ed answers almost immediately. “Hello, my dear Guinevere. I am so very sorry I have not answered your calls. I have been extraordinarily busy lately. Though, I should have attempted to call you more frequently as I have some bad news.”

“What bad news?”

“It’s Uncle Aldon. He is not doing well.”

“What do you mean?” Hearing my distress, Josh wakes up, his hand still cradling mine. He gives me a little squeeze telling me he is there.

“He had a heart attack last week and is still in hospital.”

“Is that normal to be admitted to the hospital for that long after a heart attack?”

“Aldon needed emergency surgery. He is recovering quickly but needs to be monitored closely. At his age, he could turn for the worse at the snap of a finger.”

“Then make sure no one snaps a finger!” I yell.

Uncle Aldon had been the only family from the Musgraves who had a consistent role in my life. He helped my mother set up her life in America, buy the house we lived in and even loaned my mom the money to restore our home.

I have so many memories of him coming to visit, spending Christmas with us and celebrating my birthday every year. Hedoesn’t have any children of his own, so he spoiled me rotten. I was the daughter he never had. Ed didn’t start visiting until after I was five years old, though I can’t blame him for not coming sooner as he hadn’t known I existed.

Uncle Aldon was my first ally at Eden Manor. The only one to speak up when Charlotte or Cecily stepped out of line when my father wasn’t around. He wasn’t afraid to call them out for their vile behavior. When Ed had to go away on business trips, Uncle Aldon would stay at Eden Manor to keep me company and ensure the bullying didn’t get out of hand. I no longer need his protection, but I love my Uncle Aldon and am going crazy with worry. I have to go back to England.Heneedsmenow.

“I’m coming back home. It might take me a couple of days though. Please tell Uncle Al that I’m on my way.”

“He will be delighted to hear that you are coming back home, Guinevere. I will let you know of any developments as best I can. The Malfroy’s also require a good amount of my attention for the wedding plans. I want to make sure everything is perfect for you and Wesley.”

“Wait, say what now? Perfect for Wesley and me? Wedding? What wedding?” Josh’s eyes widen, his brows forming rigid slants. He mouthes, “What the fuck is going on?”

“Now, Guinevere, is this your sarcasm I can never understand?” Ed sounds completely sincere. He isn’t joking.

“No, dad, this is my seething anger, confused at everything you just said. I broke up with Wesley over a month ago. He’s the reason why I needed to leave England.”

“If you broke up with Wesley, why did you not tell me this?”

“I did! I wrote you a letter.”

“Oh, the letter. Yes, I was thankful to at least have received that letter. However, Guinevere, I did not read anything about a breakup. You said you needed space which I have given to you. And during this time, your fiancé has been worried sick about you. Worried that you were having cold feet and wouldn’t be home in time for the ceremony.”

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