Page 63 of Hexed, Vexed, & Undersexed

"I'll get started whipping up food," Preston states, seemingly having forgotten about the previous 'interrogate Nora' train of conversation.

"Yum," I murmur, sliding up next to him to see what he was making.

"Don't think this conversation is over though, Nora, but since Bellamy seems to be as tied to this whole situation as the rest of us, I'm not going to fight you on any of it."

Almost forgetting about interrogating me.

"I certainly will," Kai mutters under his breath. "I want to keep her all to myself, but I… suppose… I'll share."

"Oh my goddess, there's no sharing with Bellamy!" I exclaim.

But based on their skeptical gazes, I know they don't believe me.

There is only one thing I feel for Bellamy.

Colder than a witch’s tit hatred...

Mixed with a little bit of horniness.

You didn't expect anything else, though, I'm sure.

"Can we just focus on something else, like the trial or trying to get this hex broken so my family is no longer cursed?"

"Sure, but I'm not positive there's much else we can do here at the house for information." Kai's reminder makes me frown, so I try to wrack my brain for other ideas.

"What about the third trial? Do you have any idea what the twists are going to be tomorrow?"

"No, unfortunately."

Preston flashes me an apologetic smile before continuing to scour the cabinets for food.

"Well, I guess then it's go in and hope to hell I can win." I sigh, flopping dejectedly into the rickety kitchen chair. "Can we just focus on food?" I pout, not wanting to be reminded that everything is riding on me winning.

At least for the rest of our lunch break.

After that we can go visit the library to do more research.

"What are we having anyway?"

"Soup," Preston answers, pouring out a can into a pot.

"I thought you said you were cooking?" Kai's brow raises, eyeing Preston as he empties a few more cans into the dish.

"I am, by heating up pre-prepared food. Totally counts."

"Does not."

"Does too. Besides, she doesn't keep me around just for my ability to do household tasks, do you, Nora?" The heat in Preston’s tone isn't lost on me, and being in the kitchen between the two of them, I know one thing for certain.

I am so going to have a hell of a time after this show is finished filming and I can enjoy both of them as much as I want.

And by then, Bellamy Putnam will be a long forgotten memory.

* * *

The next morning, the sun's barely peeking out over the horizon when I pull into the network's parking lot.

Why they feel the need to film the third trial at the asscrack of dawn is beyond me, but here I am.