“That’s horrifying.”
“I know.”
“Does she see you as a bad boy? Or a phase?”
“I hope not.” The seven-day thing had him spooked. What if after seven days the connection failed? He liked Karey. He could see having a life with her, even this fast. “Thanks for the info.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt. I know how Christine screwed you over.”
“It was my fault for thinking we could work.”
“You loved her.”
“And you loved Moira,” Jimmy said, referencing Kurt’s ex. “See where it gets us?”
“True.”
“I need to go.”
“Sure. See you Tuesday?” Kurt asked.
“Two in the afternoon.”
“Cool. Later.” He hung up, then scrubbed his face with both hands. Seven days. The spell might have been crafted to last for seven days, but the world was supposed to have been created in six days. True love could happen that fast, too.
It was possible.
“Hi.” Karey stood in the doorway in one of his shirts and barefoot. “Nice chat?”
“With Kurt.” He placed his phone on the counter.
She nodded. Her breasts strained against the fabric.
“Not going to ask me what we talked about?”
“Not my business.” She tensed. “Do you need to meet up with him?”
“No.” He rounded the bar and sat on the couch. “Come here. I think we need to do some cards-on-the-table chatting.”
“Put it all out there?”
“Yes.” He patted his thighs. “I want to hold you.”
She hesitated, then joined him on the sofa. “What do you want to know?”
“Why did you tense so much? Is it me?” he asked. “Do I scare you?”
“No.” She picked at the strings on his sleep pants. “You’re not scary.”
“Will you tell me why you tense?” He needed to know.
She sighed. “I’m scared, but not of you. Of separation. My parents split when I was little. I don’t know what happened to my dad, but my mom was an addict and forced me to raise myself. It sucked, but I did it. I’m ashamed that I can’t seem to get out of that rut of being less than important. I never have any money, but I don’t spend it. I have no extra education outside of the two years, and it’s not enough to get a decent job. I dated a piece-of-shit guy who wrecked my car and credit rating, and I don’t feel worthy of you.” She shivered. “That’s the thing. Everyone else left me, and I’m afraid you’ll decide to dump me after you’ve dumped on me, too.”
“And the spell?” Christ, this poor girl had been through a lot.
“What about it? I picked you because I’m drawn to you. You and your art fascinate me,” she said. “I’m shy, and I don’t think you’d want to be with me if there wasn’t a spell involved because I’m not like you.”
“Because you’re bad?” He didn’t agree.