Page 56 of A Lullaby for Witches

“I’m surprised there aren’t more people out here,” she said. It seemed like the perfect place to come and watch the stars come out.

“This technically isn’t public land,” Leo told her. “See that house over there?” Augusta followed his finger to the faint outline of an imposing estate. “That’s Castle Carver. It’s a museum, kind of like Harlowe. I think you’d like it, actually.”

In the dark, she could just make out a set of large windows that overlooked the water, and a turret. From what she could see, it was unlike any other house she’d ever seen. “I’d love to see it in the daylight.”

“Maybe the next time you need some spiritual guidance from my mom I’ll take you back here and you can go on a tour.”

She couldn’t quite make out his face in the dark, but she could hear the smile in his words.

“Thank you again for bringing me here,” she said. “Not just for this view, but for meeting your mom. Talking with her really did help.”

“Of course.”

Biting her lip, she chanced a sidelong glance at him. The moon was casting him in tender shades of marble, a work of art that begged to be touched. If she was a little braver, she might have traced the line of his jaw, explored the contours of his face. But it wasn’t enough to be physically close to him; she needed to know everything that made him the man she was developing feelings for. “You’re really close with your family, aren’t you?”

If he heard any of the envy in her voice, he didn’t show it. “Yeah, it wasn’t always like that. My mom had breast cancer a few years ago, and her prognosis was pretty bleak. Luckily, she was able to beat it, but going through something like that really puts things into perspective fast. We’ve come a long way.” Pushing the thick layers of his hair back, he flashed her a little smile. “Anyway, I’m glad it was helpful. They’re good folks, even if things are still strained between us from time to time.”

She couldn’t help but ask. “Strained how?”

“They trip and smoke a lot of pot, especially my dad. Which is fine,” he hurried to add. “It’s nowhere to the level of what Rachel was into, but they know about her overdose, and sometimes it’s hard for me to be around them when they’re high. It puts me on edge, like something terrible could happen at any moment.”

Her heart broke all over again at the thought of what he’d gone through, the weight of the guilt that he carried on his shoulders.

“That must be tough. What was she like?”

Leo looked surprised. “Rachel? She was...” He broke off, as if searching for the right words. “She was like a firework—bright, loud, demanding attention. You couldn’t help but be in awe of her. Even though she was always slammed with work at her nonprofit, she still had time for everyone who came through her door. But she also had a dark side, and in the end, her demons won.”

Augusta bit her lip, not sure she wanted to know the answer to her next question. “Do you think about her a lot?”

“It’s hard not to. I think more about what could have gone differently. I try not to get caught up in a cycle of what-ifs, though. For a long time, it was all I did—what if I’d been with her when she OD’d? What if I had believed her when she said she was in a bad place instead of brushing it off as her trying to get my attention again? But what’s done is done and what-ifs won’t bring her back.”

They were silent as Rachel’s ghost drifted from the starry sky and settled between them.

“What about you?” he asked, turning toward her so the moonlight caught the vulnerable glint in his eye.

“I was never super close with my family, but I don’t have any siblings or cousins. I thought when my dad died that my mom and I would grow closer, but it was actually the opposite. We drifted further and further apart. It’s actually kind of bullshit,” she added, her own anger surprising her. “For some reason my mom seems determined to act like nothing happened. I don’t know if it’s because she and my dad were on the outs toward the end of his life because of the separation or what, but she acts like he never existed.”

Leo was quiet while she spoke, but she felt his hand find hers and squeeze. “I’m so sorry, Augusta.”

They sat like that, the cool breeze washing over them, the lap of the ocean in the distance. Having his fingers laced through hers felt like the most natural thing in the world, and another little piece of her slotted into place.

“Can I ask a question?” There was something in Leo’s tone that put her on guard, a promise that he wanted to go deeper. But he’d opened up to her, so she resolved to do the same for him.

She nodded her assent, steeling herself for whatever he was about to ask. But his question, when it finally came, surprised her. “Do you think you’re ready for a relationship so soon after everything that went down with your ex?”

“It’s funny,” she said, struggling to find the right words. “Those episodes...when I’m experiencing the world through Margaret’s eyes... I get this feeling in my chest, like this clarity about what really matters and how short and special life really is.” Her cheeks were burning and she could feel Leo’s gaze on her through the dark, but she continued. “I guess I had this picture in my head of how my life would go, and since I broke up with Chris, I’ve had to reimagine what that picture would look like. I wanted to be single and find myself and all that stuff. But what I’m beginning to realize is that I don’t need to find myself. I’ve been here all along.” She scratched her fingernail in the dirt, suddenly wondering where she was going with this. “I met you, and I—I like you a lot. I understand if you don’t feel the same way,” she hurried to assure him, “or if it’s too fast. I just wanted you to know that—”

But she didn’t have a chance to finish. Leo was gently turning her chin to him, leaning into her. Instinctively, she closed her eyes as his lips met hers. His breath was warm and tasted of vanilla and peppermint, the gentle touch of his fingers awakening every part of her body. The moment she had been dreaming of for weeks was happening, and it was everything she had imagined and more. The lean muscles of his arms tightened under her palms as she explored the glorious shape of him. His fingers found her hair and a tingle of pleasure ran through her. “Is this all right?” he murmured as he pulled her closer.

It was more than all right—it was heavenly, her whole body warm and liquid from his touch. But she just nodded, afraid that if she tried to speak, she might break the spell.

“Good,” he said, between light kisses on her throat, “because I’ve been dying to do this for weeks now.”

She faltered, surprised at his words; she hadn’t realized he’d been feeling this way for as long as she had. But she wasn’t about to question it. Leaning deeper into the kiss, she savored the warmth of his hands on her back and neck, feeling both completely safe and more alive than she could ever remember.

But even he couldn’t keep the ocean wind from picking up and winding around them, making her shiver. “You’re freezing,” he murmured, pulling away slightly.

“I’m fine,” she said through chattering teeth. She had finally found out what it would be like to kiss him, and now the changeable Maine weather was thwarting her. “You’re keeping me warm,” she added.

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