Page 29 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

KENNEDY

" W hy is Parker angry-baking again?" Lily asks as I step out of my room and she comes out of the bathroom. It's seven in the morning a week later and Parker is in the kitchen, banging some baking trays around. I'm not exactly sure what it is this time, but last time it had something to do with Bennett's best friend.

"Parker, honey," I say, coming into the kitchen slowly, "what is it?"

"I swear, if that boy-child comes around telling me that?—"

"Okay, put the tray down."

As she's ranting, she turns, the tray gripped tightly in her hand, like she's getting ready to swing. The chocolate chips and the dough she already rolled are floating behind her. There's some flour on her face and hands and she looks so ridiculous, I try but I fail to hold in a chuckle. Lily glances at me and then she's trying not to laugh and Parker stares at us as if we're the ones who have lost our minds.

"It's not funny!"

"I'm sure it's not." I try to keep the giggles under control, but she looks far from a menacing force right now.

"He told me that I'm foolish for believing in some tea leaves for my future when 'it's been scientifically proven that it's only our minds that create the pictures we see.'" Her voice has taken on an exaggerated British accent as she rolls her eyes and turns back to her cookies. She hasn't been super upfront with us about her dislike of that man, but there's definitely something there. Lily and I are patiently waiting until she trusts us. It's not that I want her to be this riled, but her baked goods are the best.

"Is this about Nicholas?" Lily asks gently and Parker growls very loudly.

"Do not say that name within these walls. This is our sacred place."

She continues to mold the cookies before adding the chocolate ships at the top."Where did you even see him?"

"I stopped at Waterstones yesterday to look at some art books and saw this book on tarot and tea leaf reading so I grabbed it and then got myself a cup of tea because it seemed very appropriate, and he showed up!"

When I got home last night, Parker was already in her room—I assumed sleeping, but apparently, she was planning her revenge.

"Are you going to murder him with the cookies?"

"Are you kidding me? He's in no way coming close to these. He doesn't deserve my cookies and I wouldn't waste time poisoning them. He'd enjoy that too much."

That doesn't make much sense, but I don't think I should point that out. She gets back to the baking, the ingredients finally settling on the counter in front of her as Lily and I take a few steps back.

"Parker, do you think—" Lily begins but Parker twirls on her immediately.

"Don't even go there. This…dude…seems to think magic is stupid and that in turn makes him the dumbest person alive."

Lily and I exchange a look, but we don't comment. Instead, we both sidestep her to pour a cup of coffee before we sneak the first batch of baked cookies off the cooling sheet.

"Hey!"

"These are so amazing," I say around a mouthful, backing toward my room.

"So amazing." Lily does the same, heading toward her room.

"You know the rule. No eating the baked goods until I'm sat?—"

"Satisfied they're good and done," Lily and I say in unison. We both shut our doors quickly as Parker shoots a bunch of flour our way. I nearly spill my coffee. She must be practicing her magic because she's getting very good at controlling it.

As I get dressed I mull over the fact that I should be practicing it just as much. If not more. Compared to the other girls, my magic is the youngest, simply because it's been the least used. I can definitely feel it growing and developing as the days go by, but I'm still so hesitant. I want to be brave. I want to let myself be more me than I ever have been before. The girls have definitely nurtured that in me, supporting me in a way I've never been supported before. Even the magical display I put on at the hill last week was new and different for me. I try not to blush just thinking about it.

My phone dings with a text and I grab it off the bed, my face blossoming into a grin. I'm sure I look ridiculous. Good thing no one can see me.

Good morning. Have a good meeting with your peers. I'll see you at the café at 3.

Bennett has been sending me good morning messages for a week straight now, ever since our little not-date that turned into a date on Calton Hill. He had to go to Glasgow at the beginning of the week, so we haven't had a chance to meet up, but we both seem to be renewed in our pursuit of information regarding the tattoo and the magic. I might also like the excuse to see him and I'm trying to reconcile myself to these new feelings.

Good morning to you. Have a good check-in with your professor. See you at 3!

I almost add a little heart before I catch myself. This is really no time to be losing my heart—I mean, my head. We're just getting to know each other.

I grab all my things and head toward The Meadows. I've been feeling a bit lightheaded these days, which is unusual for me, but I'm determined to stay on top of everything. Today we're meeting at Soderberg for our "you're not alone" get-together. It’s a bakery and a café, right on campus. The university has put these meetings together and they're nice. I don't mind them as much as I thought I would and since Bennett is busy anyway...

"Parker, please don't burn down the kitchen," I call as I hurry past her.

"I am a brilliant witch, Kennedy! That's insulting!" she shouts after me as Lily waves from her position on the couch, her laptop on her lap.

Shoes, coat, gloves, and I'm out the door, but the feeling of belonging stays with me as I race out into the cool Edinburgh morning.

BENNETT

I'm very distracted as I meet up with Professor Stewart and a few of his colleagues. Today's meeting is mostly me listening in on a discussion they've been having within the department. I'm supposed to go to a lecture next week regarding this as well, so this gives me a bit of a heads-up. Yet I can't seem to focus for longer than a few sentences before my mind wanders again.

Back to Kennedy. Always back to Kennedy.

"Bennett, when are you planning on taking a trip down to the village?" Professor Stewart breaks through my thoughts and thankfully I'm paying enough attention to reply.

"Possibly next week, after the lectures."

So far, Professor Stewart has approved my outline and the different relics I've been using to support my research. It's been very helpful to use the information I've gathered to share with Kennedy and the girls. They've spent some time visiting the different places around Edinburgh this past week to see if they can glean anything from the past. Nothing so far, but they do seem to be getting more comfortable with their magic. Especially Kennedy.

I suppress a groan just as Professor Mund launches into another discussion on environmental impact regarding historical factors. I try to stay focused, but he's been making the exact same argument any time these professors meet and I think they also would like him to do more research before he does one of his tirades.

"Bennett, a minute?" Professor Stewart calls once the meeting is over.

I'm antsy to leave, but I can't ignore him. I pack up my laptop and notebook before coming over to where he's standing near the windows.

"Did you get the email I sent?"

"Yes. I'm planning on doing a walk through Mary King's Close as well."

"Make sure you do not miss out on these opportunities. Nothing can be more important than this right now. It is your future."

He's clearly noticed my mind wandering. I nod, and then I'm dismissed. It's not that I'm not grateful to have Professor Stewart as an advisor, but in the last few weeks, it has felt like I'm doing research for him specifically. The email he sent was regarding various structures of the closes during the witch trials era and Mary King's Close was mentioned enough that it feels like I need to head down there. The city runs tours of the close, specifically concentrating on the living conditions in the city during those times, but Professor Stewart believes there might be something concerning the witch trials. Many of the buildings in the city carry information written right on them and often these notes are discovered in random rooms that I would need to go and check myself. It doesn't hurt to head down there, I suppose.

However, the moment I leave the university behind all of my attention is on Kennedy. The anticipation continues to rise as I head to the Black Cat. It's been a few days since I've been there, but the moment I step in, I feel the same kind of comfort I feel anytime I'm there.

"Good afternoon, Bennett," Olivia greets me from behind the counter. I offer her a greeting, but my eyes are already scanning the room for Kennedy.

"She'll be right out," Olivia says with a knowing look, nodding toward the kitchen. A table opens up near the window—the same table we always seem to sit at—and I leave my bag and coat there before turning to the counter.

"A latte?" Olivia asks over her shoulder, already expertly preparing the drink. I chuckle, because of course she knows exactly what I like by now. I've been here enough times. Pet has walked over the counter to sit in my line of sight and I oblige by walking over to give her scratches. She doesn't seem satisfied with mere pets, however, because she launches herself into my arms. I catch her easily and she settles against my chest with a purr.

"You're spoiling her," Olivia comments and I look down at the cat before I answer.

"I think it's the other way around."

"You've never had a cat?" Olivia asks.

"No. Growing up, my grandma wasn't a big fan of animals in the house and since I became a student, I haven't had a lot of opportunities."

"I think you will have to get used to animals being part of your life. Maybe you should get one?"

Before I can comment on that cryptic statement, Kennedy comes out of the kitchen. Immediately my whole attention is on her. She's wearing one of her oversized knit jumpers, this one a deep green, and a black skirt. Her hair is as wild as usual, the amethyst necklace she's always wearing catching the light and blinding me for a moment. There's a glow about her, the same one I've been seeing since the moment we met, but it seems brighter now. I wonder if anyone else can see it.

A tiny bite on my hand jerks my attention to the cat in my arms. Pet's mouth is around my finger, where I stopped petting her when Kennedy came out. The cat gives me an annoyed look and I oblige with more scratches. She settles back in and I look up to find Kennedy silently chuckling.

"I think we've been replaced," Kennedy says, turning to Olivia, just as the older woman places my coffee on the counter.

"I believe so."

I glance between the two and then down at the cat and it seems like they're all in on some inside joke I'm not privy to—but I don't even mind.

Kennedy picks up my coffee cup and leads me to the table. I take a seat opposite her, Pet still in my arms, but the moment I'm seated, the cat flips over, settling on my lap instead.

"She really does like you a lot," Kennedy comments, and I look up to find her watching me with a soft look in her eyes. She hasn't quite looked at me like that before and it makes me feel lightheaded. "How was your meeting?" she asks as I try to get my brain to restart.

I reach over and take a sip of my coffee before I reply.

"It was good. Professor Stewart wants me to visit Mary King's Close and head over to Forres to visit the Witches Stone. He's having me focus on some specific relics of the past, which I think would be helpful to you."

"But you're annoyed."

"How can you tell?" I'm surprised because I didn't think it was that obvious.

"I can just tell." She smiles and my heart does that super loud pounding thing as if to remind me I need oxygen to survive. I exhale and take another sip of my latte.

A plate is slid in front of me before I can say anything and I glance up at Olivia in surprise.

"You look like you could use a bit of sugar," she says, nodding down at the plate. I glance down to find a scone with clotted cream and jam. "You're not skipping meals, are you?"

"Maybe sometimes. Professor Stewart has been extremely demanding lately."

Olivia does an uncharacteristic for her puff, rolling her eyes. Kennedy and I stare at her in surprise.

"Olivia, is there something we need to know?" Kennedy asks.

"Only that professor of yours is a meddler. He's been at the university for years and his research has been less than orthodox at times. He also walks around with a stick up his arse, excuse the language."

"What?" I'm completely flabbergasted. "You know Professor Stewart?"

"Oh, love, I know most of the lecturers at the university, specifically within the history department. I used to teach there."

"You did?" Kennedy asks.

"Aye, until I decided I wanted a change of pace, and here I am." With that, she turns back to the customers that just walked in, and I glance at Kennedy. She looks completely shocked, so I guess it wasn't just me who didn't know this information.

"She taught at the university," Kennedy says as if she needs to utter the words to make sense of them.

"She's not wrong about the professor though, he has been…difficult."

Kennedy doesn't seem to be listening to what I'm saying. She's watching Olivia with a new kind of look—I can't quite place it. It might be hope, but that doesn't make sense, does it?

I reach across the table and touch my fingertips to hers. She jerks her gaze back to mine and then moves her fingers just a fraction closer, leaving them leaning against my hand. I soak in the small contact like a desert soaks up the first drop of rain and don't dare move.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I don't know…I guess, it's just amazing to me that she was a professor. When I was younger—" She stops for a moment, eyes flickering down to Pet and then back to me. "When I was younger I wanted to teach, but my aunt always said it was too dangerous. Many careers were not approved by her. I resolved to be a researcher, and even that didn't sit well with her when I told her I was going to Edinburgh. We haven't spoken since I left."

I don't hesitate to flip my hand over and tug hers into mine. She holds on as if she needs a physical tether and I'm more than willing to be that for her.

"Since coming here, I'm learning more and more about all the possibilities in front of me. It's exhilarating and terrifying at the same time." Then she looks up at me with such an open expression, it's a good thing I'm sitting down. I think…I think I would give this girl the whole world if she asked for it. Especially if she's going to keep looking at me like that.