Page 27 of Bewitched & Bewildered (Witches of Starbrook #1)
Chapter 27
Ozan
It’s a shock to wake up and find Juniper still in my bed. We’ve shared countless nights, and she’s always gone in the morning. Even when we’re at her house, she creeps downstairs before sunrise. I usually find her making breakfast by the time I rouse.
I don’t need to reach out to know she’s there. Her ample body presses against mine, and she wiggles closer to me. I put my arm around her, pushing my hand into her soft belly.
Of course, Juniper is already awake. That makes me feel even better about her presence. It’s not that she accidentally slept in. It’s that she wants to be here. The screen is dim, but she’s definitely swiping on her phone.
“Good morning, beautiful.” I press a kiss on her shoulder.
She’s wearing one of my shirts. It’s the sexiest thing I can think of, but I try not to get too excited.
“Morning.” She turns her head to look at me, and a smile dances on her lips. “Breakfast? ”
“Those might be the best words I’ve heard all day.”
“You just woke up.”
“Exactly.”
There’s a diner in Starbrook that I’ve always loved. It’s owned by a happy werewolf couple, meaning the portions are enormous. They’re perfect for me. Juniper also seems pleased, rubbing her hands together when the server sets a plate of pumpkin spice pancakes in front of her.
“You been here before?” I cut into my eggs—sunny side up.
“Of course.” She points her fork at me. “This place is an institution, and you know it.” She eats a bite of fluffy pancakes.
“Mhm. I think I remember seeing you here when we were young.”
“I’ve certainly seen you . You were always surrounded by your jock friends.”
I wince. “Yeah. Them.”
I’m not in touch with most of my old friends. There are a rare few, like Antoni, who I’ve been happy to reconnect with. Some of them moved away. Others are still here, but they feel miles away.
“Don’t be weird,” she says. “If you think I’m still upset about some high school bullies…”
“I don’t think that.”
“Good. Because I’m not.” She lifts her tea and takes a sip of the hot liquid. “I never forgot how you stood up for me, though. ”
“I should have done more.”
“It doesn’t matter. We were kids. I don’t even think I got the worst of the bullying in that school.”
Juniper was popular in her own way—but very different than me. She was bright and pretty but patronizing… and that last part made it too easy to push her buttons.
“So, that’s not why you hated me?” I lift a brow. “I thought you were holding a grudge.”
“I never hated you, but you always… I don’t know. You riled me up.”
I chuckle. “That’s easy to do. It always was.”
“Are you trying to get on my bad side again?”
“No. Not at all. The opposite, actually.”
“You’re already on my good side.”
“There’s always room for improvement,” I say. “I’d like to get on your better side.”
Her foot brushes against mine under the table. “I thought last night proved that you’re already on top.”
I chuckle nervously. “On top of what?”
“You’re number one on my list of favorite people,” she says matter-of-factly.
Right. She loves me. And I love her. I’ve known for a few weeks now. It was easy to say back, but it left me with doubts. Did she mean it?
Does she mean it?
“Really? I’m number one.”
“Actually…” She tilts her head to the side. “You might have to be number five. My sisters spent years securing their spots.”
“As long as I’m in the top ten, I’ll take it.”
She gives me a yearning look. “I meant what I said, Oz.”
“What did you say?” I fight a smile .
She glares. How does she still look entirely in love with me when she’s glaring like that?
“Don’t make me say it again.”
“Say what again?”
“I love you!” Her voice raises.
The server glances at us, and her brows lift in shock. She darts away.
I let out a loud burst of laughter.
“Don’t laugh at me!” Juniper exclaims.
“I’m not!”
I take her hand and weave our fingers together. “You’re cute. That’s all.”
“And…? You’re going to force it out of me, but you won’t?—”
“I love you too,” I say, cutting her off. “I loved you first.”
“It’s not a competition!”
“Since when? It’s always been a competition with us.”
She shakes her head, and a smile breaks out on her face. It’s big and silly, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. “You’re an idiot.”
“You can insult me all you want. I still love you.”
“I know. You can stop saying it now.”
“No. I don’t think I will.”
She inhales slowly and fights to temper her smile. “The bar is the most important thing to me right now. I don’t want any distractions.”
“I know.”
“I need to focus on that.”
“You know I support you. I have my business to focus on, too.”
“What I’m trying to say is… you can’t be my only priority right now. But I’ll still make time for you and… for us.” She pauses. “If you want to be together. ”
“I do.” I squeeze her hand and stare into her eyes. “I admire you for putting your career first. I’m going to make that a priority, too. You have me now. We’re a team.”
Her smile returns. “I like the sound of that.”
“Mm… you know what? I do, too.”