Page 70 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
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The next morning,Violet stretched her body and breathed in deep as she twisted against the couch. A rich smell floated in the air, and she felt warm and rested. She opened her eyes at the sensation of her face being held within someone’s palms. When her gaze adjusted to the shadowed silhouette hovering over her, she grinned. “Oh, hi. He’s human again.” She closed her eyes. “Sorry I didn’t feed you.”
Now, something came to rest in the middle of her forehead. Frowning, she opened her eyes to see Jasper’s finger there, poking her, his face unamused.
“First of all, you’re hungover. It’s already eleven o’clock. Second, I wouldneverpoop on your couch.”
Violet burst into a fit of laughter, the unexpected kind that grips a person in totality. She spoke through her delight. “You remembered that?”
“I remember everything perfectly clear—I don’t need a litter box. I’m not a cat.”
His pride made Violet laugh harder. She reached up and removed his hand from her forehead. Clasping it within hers, she rested their hands against her upper chest, still grinning. “Sorry, sorry. Did you sleep at all?”
“Yes, I did,” he said, his expression softening as he watched her.
“Well, that’s good, right?” She brought his hand up, nuzzling her face against his palm. “At least I’m not a completely terrible hostess? Even though I drank a big glass of wine, passed out on the couch and didn’t offer you any food.” She breathed in. His hand was warm and surprisingly smelled like basil and rosemary. And butter?
“Have you been cooking? Why does your hand smell like something I want to eat?” He slipped his hand from within hers, still staring at her and looking displeased about something. “Is everything alright?” she asked.
He slid off the couch to sit on the floor beneath her, his back pressed against the edge of the cushions. “Yes, I baked a frittata. It should be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“You can cook?”
“A few things. I used to cook for Dad when he came to visit me. He worked so hard and drove a long way to check on me. Learning to cook a few nice meals was the least I could do, even if I don’t eat those things myself.”
“That’s really thoughtful of you. You were a good son.”
“I don’t think I was. But he was stuck with me, wasn’t he? Violet, why aren’t you more freaked out about this?”
“About… your curse?”
“Yes,” he said, turning his head and looking into her eyes. “I’m cursed and I shapeshift and you act like it’s not a big deal, when none of this is normal. And even last night… I don’t understand why you’re so nonchalant about me. I—I’m a freak and it’s disgusting and scary. I can’t understand your thinking.”
“Okay, alright.” Violet pushed herself upright to sit straighter. She folded her legs underneath the thick quilt that had somehow materialized over her body. When she was settled, she took a deep breath. “You use that word a lot to describe yourself, Jasper. ‘Disgusting.’”
“Because that’s what I am.”
Violet paused, pursing her lips. “Can we talk about your mother?” She watched as he sat unmoving and with his gaze fixed forward.
“I don’t blame my mother,” he said. “I don’t think she’s a bad person.”
“Do you think she treated you well?”
“No… I know she didn’t. But I believe her reaction to me was valid. Can you imagine?” he asked, turning to look up at her again. “Her only child starts having strange symptoms that no doctor can explain. She’s worried and scared—hoping things get better. Then out of nowhere he mutates and breaks down into an animal. Wouldn’t that be like the bottom dropping out? The absolute worst result—realizing thisthingis what she gave birth to… Who wouldn’treact poorly to that? It’s terrifying and unimaginable.”
“But your dad didn’t react that way,” Violet reasoned. “So why do you adopt and repeat your mother’s rhetoric, but not your father’s?”
“Dad took care of me because he had to—and because he felt bad.”
“He loved you,” Violet added.
“I know that,” Jasper said. “But he was stuck with me. And there was no one else. They couldn’t just let me die. Someonehadto take care of me.”
Violet folded her arms and sighed, her heart heavy in her chest. “I don’t know, Jasper. I think you’re focusing on the wrong thing.”
“But you don’t have to do this,” he said. “You don’t have to be around me and see this. You could be doing anything, Violet. I don’t understandwhy.”
“Yes, you do. I already told you why. But you get all frazzled and upset when I say it.” She raised one eyebrow, waiting for his response.
