Page 45 of Bewitchingly Hers
Barrett
Hope everyone’s doing well back home. Miss you.
Freya
Miss you too, B. How’s the road treating you?
It’s good. Currently staying in a small town that reminds me a lot of home. Makes me miss everyone back in Walnut Ridge.
Come home soon. We’d all love to see you.
I will, I promise.
I’m holding you to that.
Good. Love you, sis.
Love you too.
With that weight off my chest, I dialed another number. To no one’s surprise, Ezra answered his phone on the first ring.
“It’s me,” I announced—my usual greeting.
My eyes were still glued to the diner as I settled onto a bench across the street, at Eryne, sitting at a booth by the window. In perfect sight of me, like she knew I’d be keeping an eye on her.That’s my girl.Her two friends came in a moment later, squishing in across from my mate.
“Glad you’re still alive,” he said, monotone.
“You too, asshole,” I laughed. “It’s only been two days.”
“I’m assuming if you’re calling me, that you found out something more?”
Rubbing my fingers over my jaw, I watched as Eryne slid over the newspaper article to her friends. “Yeah. It’s not much, but… It’s a start.” I quickly summarized what we’d learned so far—and what I suspected. My visit to the library, everything I’d learned from Willow and Damien, plus our trip to the tribune this afternoon.
“They’ve been closed off from the rest of the world all this time. Sure, some of them went away to college, but… They had no clue we evenexisted, Ezra. None.”
“And have you told her yet?”
I looked down at my hands. “No.”
He clicked his tongue. “Why not?”
“It’s too soon. She’s not ready.”
“Barrett…” Ezra warned. “You know what will happen if you don’t complete the bond.”
I groaned. “Don’t remind me. Last night…”
He paused. “What happened last night?”
“Never mind.” I cleared my throat. I didn’t want to talk about it with him. The overwhelming need, the way my body had burned as I held myself back.
I didn’t want to explain how right it had felt being with her. How enthusiastic she’d been about being withme.If I’d have expected her to be scared or apprehensive, I’d been dead wrong. I adjusted myself in my jeans, trying to change my line of thoughts so I didn’t react in public. But fuck, it was hard, thinking about the way she’d moaned under my touch.
“Barrett,” Ezra warned. “You’re playing with fire. Be careful.”
I knew I was. “It’s going to be fine,” I promised, though it felt more hollow than the same promise I’d made Eryne.
“I’ll be there in a few days,” he said. “I’m just finishing up a job, and then I’ll help you sniff out whatever this is.” He paused. “Notliterally, though. Your nose is better than mine.”
