Page 24 of Curses and Cauldrons

A skeptical sound fills the car. “I’ll share what I know when you share what happened.”

“Asshole,” I grumble. We’re no longer behind the parade, but we’re about to run into the route it will take. People are lined up on the street, bundled up as they wait for the procession to reach them. Vendors are selling glow sticks, hot chocolate, and roasted chestnuts. The distant rumble of a marching band filters into the car.

My eyes are drawn to three people standing back from the crush of the crowd. Before I second guess myself, I pull the car over into a conveniently open parking spot.

“What are you doing? You want to go to the parade?” Ambrose quirks a brow.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” I don’t wait for an answer. Unsurprisingly, Ambrose doesn’t listen. He’s out of the car and jogging to catch up with me as I beeline for the isolated group.

“Who are you chasing down…” Laugher cuts through the noise of the oncoming parade when Ambrose spots my destination. “Never mind. What were you saying about last weekend?”

“Shut up,” I grumble, not realizing how close we are to Josephine Delvaux. Her head snaps up and her lips part in surprise. She’s bundled up in a thick wool coat and beanie pulled down low on her forehead. Large, knitted mittens are wrapped around a cup of hot chocolate. I’m not even sure how I knew it was her.

Her friend Piper and a much younger girl are standing around her, although there’s a good two feet of distance between them all.

“We meet again.” Ambrose sidles up to Piper, who blinks at him with wide eyes.

Josephine is staring up at me, but neither of us have said anything yet. She looks tired again. Her skin too pale and her eyes rimmed with fatigue. Is she sick?

The young girl steps in front of Josephine and smirks up at me. “Are you lost?”

She’s wearing a hat with cat ears and holding her own hot chocolate. Her dark hair and green eyes are familiar. This must be Josephine’s youngest sister.

“I’m here for the parade. Obviously.” I dip my head.

The girl lifts one eyebrow, inspecting my face before she turns her critical stare on Ambrose. “You’re handsome, but he’s hotter.” She points at my smug friend.

“Pen.”

“Penelope.”

Both Josephine and Piper scold the girl who just shrugs and turns to watch the oncoming train of decorated floats. Josephine presses her gloved hand to her cheek that has turned a bright shade of red.

“She’s not wrong.” Ambrose grins, and Penelope shrugs but doesn’t bother looking back at him.

I step closer to Josephine, and she shuffles back, farther from the crowd until her body is pressed up against the brick siding of an antique shop. Once again, I’m caging her in. I’m beginning to think she likes being trapped in small spaces by me.

Her breath catches when I dip my head, wanting only her to hear my words.

“You didn’t message me.”

“What are you doing on this side of the river?” she asks instead of answering.

I lift my hand and stroke a finger down her cheek. She’s freezing. Her head turns into my touch and my breath hitches. We’re tucked in the shadows of the building, but there are people everywhere.

“Hey. Personal bubble,” Josephine’s little sister shouts, and I take a surprised step back. The rest of the world had all but disappeared. I look over my shoulder and find Penelope glaring at me.

“It’s fine, Pen.” Josephine and her sister stare each other down, having a conversation with just their eyes. That kid can’t be more than eleven or twelve, but she’s a little scary.

Josephine lifts one brow and Penelope goes back to watching the parade. Ambrose is waving to people as they float by, and Piper is watching the whole thing with wide eyes.

“You should get out of here before someone from the coven sees you.”

“Aren’t you someone from the coven?” I dip my head close to her ear so I don’t have to shout. Her cheek brushes against mine, and I squeeze my fingers into a fist so I don’t do something barbaric like throw her over my shoulder and kidnap her back to my place.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a nobody.”

I pull back to look at her, but she doesn’t meet my gaze. “I doubt that very much.” I stroke her cheek once more with my thumb before gathering the strength to push away from her. “I’ll be waiting, Josephine.”

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