Page 19 of Bewitched & Bewildered (Witches of Starbrook #1)

Chapter 19

Ozan

Vanessa shouldn’t be in my shop, and she definitely shouldn’t be here alone.

I’m still processing my night with Juniper. That’s what I want to focus on.

It was my first time with someone else, and it was perfect… until I woke up alone. I haven’t had the heart to confront her about it.

It was different when Juniper was the one pursuing me and claiming she hated me. It’s only been a day, but I can’t fight the feeling that she wants nothing to do with me. She doesn’t come to the shop, she doesn’t text, she doesn’t give me anything.

If Juniper wants to be left alone, I can do that. It’s easier.

Vanessa’s reappearance reminds me why I don’t want to open up to love again.

“Why are you still here?” I ask.

“What? Maine is commonly known as vacationland. Am I not allowed to take a vacation? ”

I would rather her not vacation in my home state, but what can I do about it?

“No one calls it that.” I grunt and move back behind the counter. “Where’s Otis?”

“He’s not here,” she says.

“Then why are you?”

Her expression softens. “I want to talk to you. I didn’t realize that wasn’t allowed.”

“Go ahead. Talk.”

I have nothing to say to her. Vanessa should already have closure around our relationship. She was the one who left me .

“I’ve been thinking about you.” The words come out so soft I almost don’t hear them.

I wish I didn’t have to. Some people may hope for their ex to return and confess their love, but I’m not one of them. I’m not even the type to get pleasure from rubbing it in her face or rejecting her.

This is just uncomfortable.

My eyes narrow. “What did you say?” I hope I’m hearing her wrong.

“I said I’ve been thinking about us.”

“ What about us?”

She takes a step closer. “Where did we go wrong?”

I’ve been waiting for Vanessa’s apology for a year. It never comes, and I don’t expect this to be any different.

“You’re joking.” I cross my arms.

Maybe she expects me to say something more, but I don’t. I let the awkward silence permeate the tiny space and pray someone comes to interrupt. I would rather mope about Juniper leaving than stay in this room with Vanessa for another second .

“I should have given us another chance,” she says. “I can’t believe I gave up on you so easily.”

I blink. “What?”

“I found Otis because you were always working—but I can tell you’re different now.”

“I’m not.” I inhale through my teeth. “I’m still working a lot. Too bad.”

“This is different. You’re doing something you care about. Before, you were working for a company you didn’t even support. You were in a dreadful mood every time we were together. Now…”

I shake my head. I cannot believe she’s trying to blame me for our failed marriage. “Now, I’m in an even worse mood when we’re together.”

“No. You’ve changed.” She scowls. “I’ve changed. We can make it work this time.”

I look up at the ceiling. Which deity is testing me?

“What about Otis?” I ask.

“I never cared about Otis. He was a fun distraction, but you…you’re my husband.”

“I’m not. Not anymore.”

It’s too late. If there was a chance of us repairing our relationship, it’s long gone. It goes further than cheating. Vanessa never wanted to try to work through our problems. She didn’t say any of this until we signed the divorce papers; now it’s too late.

There’s another reason she’s here. Juniper comes to mind, and I know this is jealousy or possessiveness. I don’t want Vanessa to feel those things for me. Not anymore.

Juniper is also why I can’t fathom listening to Vanessa. Going back to my ex may not hurt her, but I won’t risk doing anything that may.

“Give me another chance,” she says. “Please? ”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

She winces. “You don’t love me anymore?”

I swallow thickly. “No. I don’t. I’m sorry.”

“You’re hurt, but we can talk it through?—”

“I can’t forgive you. I already moved on, and you moved on. It’s over. I live in a completely different state now.”

“You can open a new shop in Boston.”

“Don’t you see?” I finally let out the sigh I’ve been holding back. “I came this far to get away from you .”

She flinches.

“I don’t want to go back to Boston, and I don’t want to open a new shop. I’m not happy here because I’ve changed like you keep saying. Believe it or not, I’m still the same person. I’m happy here because I’m happy —or trying to be.”

“Why couldn’t you try to be happy with me?”

“I don’t know.” I lift my shoulders. “I would apologize, but you cheated on me with my best friend. I don’t think we can compare our mistakes.”

Her lips twist, and she looks away. “Then there’s no chance for us?”

“No.” I pause. “It’s too late. My heart belongs to someone else.”

“I knew it.”

“And I knew you were watching.”

“How long have you two been a thing?” Her attention is back on me, as sharp as a knife. “It seems like you have history.”

“It’s nothing. She doesn’t feel the same way.”

“You’re giving me up for someone who doesn’t want you?”

I bark out a laugh. “Shit. I guess I am. ”

“I don’t understand it, but… I guess I don’t have to.” She lifts her shoulders. “This is goodbye—for real this time.”

“It is,” I say. “Get back to Boston safely—and clear things up with Otis, would you?”

My old friend hurt me more than Vanessa, but that doesn’t mean I want him being strung around by her.

She shakes her head and turns away from me. “You’re something else.”

“Thank you.”

Vanessa leaves, and my heart finally settles. She passes a customer on the way out. While I should probably have a moment alone, I welcome the distraction… until I realize who it is.

JUNIPER

I was worried about being a rebound, but I wasn’t even considering this . Vanessa passes me on the way out. I expect her to do something—glare, give me a dirty look, anything. She doesn’t even glance at me as she scurries from the shop.

It’s too late to turn around. I’m standing at the entrance to his shop, and he’s looking right at me. My hands hang limply by my sides.

Gods, am I making a mistake?

The talk with my sisters didn’t go badly, but it didn’t go well. I am more lost than before, and feeling lost leads me here. I need another taste of him. I was so sure about it, but seeing Vanessa…

Maybe he doesn’t want to see me again.

Ozan doesn’t even smile. He looks at me with wide eyes. It’s as if I’m the last person he expects to see. Maybe I’ve been reading him wrong. Perhaps our night together wasn’t good for him .

“Hey!” He approaches with tentative steps.

I press my lips together for a moment, but it does nothing to keep me from making a fool of myself. “What was she doing here?”

“Nothing.” His brows furrow. “We were just talking.”

“Really?”

Finally, he smiles a crooked smile. His grin twists my stomach into knots and makes my chest flutter.

“Yeah, really.” He takes another step closer. “Are you jealous, Juni?”

“No!” I lift my chin stubbornly.

“Oh, I think you are.”

“I’m most certainly not.” I narrow my eyes. “Do I have a reason to be?”

Of course, I don’t. I don’t even have a right to be. I was the one who left in the morning. Ozan and I are nothing… and I have little more to offer. There’s too much on my plate. I have sisters to care for, a shop to run, and…

“No,” he says. “I was saying goodbye to her. For good.”

“Well…good. That’s good for you—for both of you. That level of attachment is unhealthy.”

“You’re cute when you’re jealous.” The world seems to go in slow motion as his hand moves closer. His rough fingers brush against my warm cheek.

I swallow nervously. “I’m not jealous.”

“What are you?”

“Relieved.” Even that feels dangerous to say.

But it’s true. My stomach finally settles, and when I exhale, I release tension from my body. He could be lying, but for some reason, I believe him. I never trust anyone, especially not men. They think with their dick, and I have no patience for that.

I’m more patient with Ozan now. I never like the feeling of someone’s dirty hands on my face, but he’s the exception to that as well.

He cradles the side of my face, and I feel like I’m home after a long day. I’m warm, and…

I shake the feeling off.

“Why are you relieved?” he murmurs.

“I don’t—I don’t know.”

But I do . He doesn’t want to be with me—he can’t after all he’s been through—but I’m not ready to let go of him yet. We can have one more night together… and another after that. That’s not possible if he and Vanessa reunite.

His gaze is usually so soft, but it hardens. “You know. Tell me.”

Talking wasn’t my intention when I came over. It was a longing to feel his lips on mine and to get on my knees for him…

I suppose I should answer his question instead.

“She was bad for you,” I say, “and I don’t like how she talked about you—and about Starbrook.”

“Ah.” His hand drops, and he steps away. “It sounds like you care about me.”

My face boils. “What? No!”

“Then why do you care if she’s bad for me? Hm?”

“Because I’m a decent person!”

“You are…” He nods as if he’s thinking over my claims. “Makes sense. Are you sure there’s nothing else?”

I glare. “Oh, I’m positive.”

I’m especially sure now that he’s returned to his old ways. Ozan is tormenting me again, and it’s different this time. Instead of frustrating me, he’s flustering me.

“Then why are you here?” He lifts a brow.

That’s not what he should ask. He’s supposed to ask why I left in the morning. There’s no cruelty behind his words, but they catch me off guard.

Does he want me to be here? I’m starting to think he doesn’t. Talking to an ex would put anyone in a sour mood. He doesn’t want me. Not right now. Maybe he never will again.

Oh, why do I care?

“You’re right.” I let out a nervous laugh and turn around. “This was a mistake.”

“Juni!”

I don’t stay to find out why he’s calling after me. He’s right to ask. Why am I here?

And why is my heart still pounding long after I leave?