Page 26 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Twenty-Six

KENNEDY

I have no idea why I agreed so readily, except that I couldn't say no. I've forgiven him before I realized I have. There's absolutely nothing in me that could've kept me from going to dinner with Bennett. After the early morning near-kiss in the café—that is what was going to happen, right? I'm not making it up, am I?—I've been walking in a daze.

"Are you going to remember to breathe?" Parker asks from behind me and I turn to find her and Lily watching me from the living room. "And maybe actually drink that water you've been holding for the last five minutes?"

I glance down at the glass in my hands and realize I have been holding it without taking a sip. I down the water and then rinse the cup and walk over to the girls.

"I'm breathing," I say and Lily chuckles.

"Barely. Do you want to talk about it?"

I haven't mentioned the café...event to them—because, well, actually I'm not sure why. Maybe because I constantly feel like I'm losing my mind when it comes to my life and I'm used to holding it all in because there's never been anyone to talk things through? Wow, that was a loaded emotional realization and I take a few deep breaths, turning to the girls. It feels like I should talk to them. Bennett will be here soon and I need to know how I'm supposed to be feeling about the whole thing.

"Okay, so something happened?—"

Lily squeals, clapping her hands together, shocking me.

"I knew it," Parker says, pointing at Lily and I shake my head at the two of them.

"Maybe let me finish."

"Why? You're going to tell us that Bennett and you have been sneaking off to the darkest close off the Royal Mile for all the kissing, no?"

My face definitely flames red because the girls sit up immediately, leaning toward me.

"Seriously?"

"No!" I exclaim, waving my hands in front of me. "But something might've happened that's similar? We didn't kiss, but maybe we were going to?"

The girls exchange a look and then Parker motions for me to come take a seat. "Start at the beginning"

I rehash the situation, their grins growing broader by the minute.

"I stand by my earlier statement; I knew it," Parker says when I'm done, leaning back with a satisfied smirk.

I have no idea what to make of that. "Knew what? Can you explain it to me , because I know nothing." I slump back in my seat, arms crossed.

"You've never had a boyfriend before?" Lily asks gently and I glance at her, shaking my head a little.

"Emotional attachments were strictly prohibited," I say, the sadness a little easier to handle today. It almost seems like the more I learn about myself and the closer I get to the girls, the pain of my childhood becomes less pronounced somehow. I haven't shared much with them, but they need to know. It's suddenly important to me that they understand.

"My aunt—she was very particular with who and how I could spend my time. When she was my age—" I haven't shared this with anyone, ever, but these girls have quickly become closer than family, and I want to tell them. "When she was my age she had this boyfriend, Jeremy. He didn't know about magic, but he told her he loved her and she trusted him enough to tell him about her powers. It didn't go well."

I take a deep breath because this story is the thing that shaped my whole childhood, it shaped who my aunt became. The girls don't speak, waiting for me to find the words.

"He was shocked, of course, but he said he accepted her for who she was and then he started using her. Making her do magic for him, manipulating her, and saying that if she truly loved him, she would do these things for him."

Lily gasps and she and Parker move to the couch on each side of me. Lily places her chin on my shoulder as Parker takes my hand and my heart settles, feeling safe enough to keep going.

"It was emotional abuse, plain and simple. He never raised his hand to her, but he didn't have to. He broke her and when she finally found enough strength to break up with him, she did the one thing we're not supposed to do. She used magic on him. A potion to make him forget because she knew it was the only way she could escape."

I stop talking, the horror of it washing over me again, as if for the first time. I was thirteen when my aunt told me this story, the first time I came to her because I liked a boy. She forbade me to pursue my feelings and wrote out a whole new list of things I wasn't allowed to do when it came to my magic.

"That's so tough," Lily says, wrapping her arms around me for a hug. Parker does the same, the two girls squeezing me between them and I feel the tension leave me, as if they're taking it all away—but I'm not done yet, they have to know the rest.

"When I left, my aunt said to never come back. She said I broke her trust, that I didn't choose her and her way of life. But I couldn't. I couldn't spend my whole life afraid of who I am, keeping everyone at arm's length. She couldn't handle it and I couldn't stay. So, all of this, it's new to me."

Even our friendship. I don't say that, but they understand it anyway.

"I'm glad you're here," Parker says, giving me another tight squeeze. "I'm glad you were brave enough to decide for yourself and that you came here and that you're part of this witchy sisterhood of ours."

"I agree," Lily adds.

They've changed my life already in the short time that we've known each other. I guess it really is true, that sometimes, it's not about the length of time you know someone, it is about how deeply. The most important of friendships can form in a few hours spent together.

"Thank you for sharing this with us," Lily says, leaning back. "And while I don't have much experience when it comes to relationships either, I will say, that Bennett doesn't strike me as someone who would do that. He has accepted you—he accepted us—because I believe he has a good and open heart. Also, he definitely wanted to kiss you because that boy is slightly unhinged when it comes to you."

Parker laughs, standing up. "That's the best way to put it, Lily girl." She reaches down and pulls me to my feet. "Now, let's get you something more fun to wear on this date that's not a date yet."

She doesn't even wait for a reply, but drags me to her room, with Lily close behind.

BENNETT

I'm nervous. To the point where I have to keep tugging on my scarf and coat, as I sit fully dressed on my sofa, just so I don't keep running my hands through my hair. Technically, I know this isn't a date. I didn't officially ask her and she didn't officially accept. Yes, I asked her to dinner, but it doesn't really count when she might be thinking it's for research. Or me trying to make up for my mistake? My head is a very complicated space right now.

While it might not be a date, it still feels like so much more. Since the café yesterday morning, I've spent the majority of my time thinking of how that could've played out differently. Then again, that's nothing new when it comes to Kennedy. I've been overthinking every interaction I have with her since the moment we met. I don't want to be that person, but I am being that person. She's quickly becoming a very important part of my life. I want to make sure I treat her right. Which is probably why I feel like I'm losing my mind as I wait to go downstairs and meet her.

Even though it's not an official date, it feels like it. I put some thought into my outfit. A white button-up, with a dark blue crewneck over it and dark blue jeans. I'm wearing my long black coat, with a green and blue tartan scarf. My hair is artistically arranged in disarray because anything else is a bit pointless in this wind.

The reminder on my phone goes off and I jump to my feet, heading for the door. I take the stairs much too quickly and have to pause in front of her door before I knock. Acting like a complete lunatic won't win me any points, so I try for a more sophisticated approach. If I'm lucky, I might actually pull it off. Then the door opens and Kennedy is there and everything I could've said or done completely flies out the window as I take her in.

She's wearing one of her cozy oversized jumpers, the deep Burgundy the color of leaves in autumn. Instead of jeans or one of her layered skirts, she's wearing a short black one that flairs out around her thighs and tall black boots over dark tights. Her hair is more curled than I've ever seen it, falling around her shoulders in a very enticing way. She's done something to her eyes because they seem bigger and brighter somehow. My eyes snag on her lips, shiny and pink and I fight the urge to simply take her into my arms and finish what was interrupted yesterday.

"Are you going to greet each other or just stand there drooling?" Parker's voice breaks through my thoughts and both Kennedy and I turn to look at her and Lily standing to the right of the door. They look so amused I fear I maybe did start drooling and I quickly wipe at my face. That earns me a smile from Kennedy and I grin.

"Hello," I say and she nods.

"Hi."

"Riveting," Parker comments, before shoving a jacket into my hands. "Help her put it on."

I open up the coat immediately, presenting it to Kennedy and she steps into it quickly. I give my hands only three seconds to linger over her shoulders before I step back.

"Thank you," Kennedy says, pulling her hair out of the way and buttoning the coat.

"Alright, have her home at a reasonable time. Don't?—"

Lily slaps a hand over Parker's mouth and then tugs her away. "Have fun!"

Kennedy grabs her bag and steps out of the flat, shutting the door behind her.

"I will ask you to excuse them for their behavior. We should probably get a television or something."

I chuckle and shake my head. "They're great. I'm glad you have them as friends."

"Hold onto that feeling," Kennedy says, and I nod seriously, before motioning her to go down the stairs first. Though the staircases in these tenement buildings aren't really built for convenience, we reach the bottom quickly, and I push the door open ahead of me for Kennedy to go out.

The weather has been slightly warmer than usual for winter in Edinburgh, but tonight I can feel a chill in the air. I pull my coat closed and check over Kennedy, to make sure she's also all good. My hand itches, reaching for her before I can stop myself, but I drop it before Kennedy sees me. I'm not sure where we stand and I don't want to ruin anything before it gets started, so I need to calm myself and put some distance between us.

I turn toward the Royal Mile, motioning for Kennedy to follow. "Would you like to walk or take the bus?" I ask.

She cocks her head to the side as if confused by my question. Or maybe she's seeing something else, and I try not to fidget in place.

"Let's walk," she finally says and I turn immediately. I can't mess this up. I simply can't.