Page 38 of Spellbound & Speechless
Somehow, he is far more frustrating than any werewolf I’ve known.
“Then it’s working.” Rowan smiles to herself. “Not every potion is supposed to smell good, but this one is.”
“What is it?” He leans in the doorway—something I would usually find attractive, but I don’t allow myself to linger on the thought.
“Self-love potion,” I mumble. “It does… whatever you think it does, I guess. It’s sort of in the name.”
“Huh.” He squints. “That’s not for you, is it?”
Rowan snorts.
I finally look at him. “Would that be a problem, Mackenzie?”
“Mackenzie…” Rowan snickers.
Mac shifts his weight from one foot to another. “Of course not.”
“Good. Then leave us alone. I’m working.”
For once, he does as I ask, ambling into the other room.
Juniper’s sharpened gaze is on me.
“You two don’t get along?” she asks after a few moments of silence.
“Oh, we get along fine.”
“Then what wasthat?” Rowan lifts a brow.
I let go of the spoon and flick a finger, making it stir itself.
“I don’t know!” I lift my hands in surrender. “Don’t ask me a single question. I have no clue what is going on with that man.”
Juniper chuckles. “All right. Simmer down. We don’t want to put that energy into the potion.”
“You’re right. You’re right.” I inhale deeply. “He just… frustrates me.”
“I get it. Some people clash.”
There’s no other way to explain it. I’ve been frustrated before, of course. As much as my sisters may joke, I don’t get along witheveryone—or even most people. Everyone has flaws. My frustrations with Mac are different. And, fine, I know why. It’s the sort of frustration that comes from an unreciprocated crush.
Why doesn’t he want me? Pathetic.
“Good,” I say. “Then we can stop talking about him.”
To my great relief, we do. It doesn’t matter. There’s no avoiding Mac when he’s positioned himself as the family bodyguard. Sharing a bedroom doesn’t help, either.
“Do you want to stay in my room?” Rowan asks. “I hate the thought of you feeling trapped with him.”
“No, no… that would mean he wins—and he willnotwin. Not my room, and not anything else.”
Juniper chuckles under her breath. “All right. I see where this is going.”
I glare. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Juniper holds her hands up and backs out of the room. “Let me know when the potion is done. I’ll leave you with your thoughts.”
Oh, I wish she wouldn’t. My thoughts keep leading me back to that frustrating man!
