Page 30 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Thirty

KENNEDY

I can't get it out of my head—Olivia taught at the University of Edinburgh. It seems so unbelievably unreal. I really should stop being so amazed by things, but I don’t think that's changing anytime soon. Every little bit of life I've experienced since coming to Edinburgh has been life-altering.

"What are you so deeply in thought about?" Parker asks, plopping herself down on the couch beside me. It's Saturday and we, as roommates, have decided that it's bonding time for us. We've all been running around separately, but we need to take some time to actually process things together, which is why we're heading near Dean Village soon to look at St. Bernard's Well for magical properties.

"Did you know that Olivia taught at the University of Edinburgh?" I ask, turning to her just as Lily steps out of her bedroom, her trusty laptop in hand.

"Oh yeah, she mentioned it. She said she loved it, but she loves having the coffee shop now and the freedom to teach when she wants to," Parker replies.

"Was I the only one who didn't know?" I glance at Lily and she nods.

"Is it important?" she asks.

Isn't that a loaded question? I'm still amazed I opened up to Bennett about it so readily, but I suppose if we're going to make us work, I have to be upfront about things. He already knows my biggest secret anyway.

"I didn't think it was possible," I say, after taking a deep centering breath. "Growing up with my aunt…I was resigned to be someone in the background. Even though I stood up to her and came here, my life goal was still to be a researcher. Someone who was never seen, only heard through her work. But—" I stop for a moment and glance at the girls. They're watching me patiently, giving me the space to find the words. There's simple encouragement in their stillness so I carry on. "I've always wanted to be a teacher. I'm not sure why, but I have this desire…to nurture. I want to see minds develop and be there to guide them. Maybe it's simply what I wish I'd had for all those years, but maybe—I don't know. Does it sound crazy?"

There's a split second when I ask the question that I think they will say yes, but there's no hesitation in either of them as they both nearly shout no.

"Are you kidding me? You would be an amazing teacher. You have this unhinged planner vibe about you, so you can definitely handle a classroom. There's also the whole Mother Nature thing about you." Parker leans back, waving her hands in front of me.

"Was that a compliment?" I ask.

"It was," Lily answers. "She's totally right. I can see you in a classroom setting."

My tears well up at their words and I don't even bother wiping them away. The girls move toward me immediately, hugging me from both sides as they sit next to me on the couch. It feels like I've cried more since coming to Edinburgh than in the last ten years, but it's like I'm finally allowed to have all of these emotions now, and I have people to share them with, which is something I never thought would happen.

"Okay, okay, no more tears," I announce, wiping them away and getting up. "We have a well to look at."

Parker and Lily grin at me and then we're off. We take the bus to Fountainbridge and then head over to the Water of Leith entrance through the arch.

"Wow, I really like being near water," Lily says as soon as we walk past the bridge and hear the water through the trees. She seems almost giddy with excitement. It's adorable.

When we're past the entrance we have two options: to walk at the top or near the water. Lily immediately beelines for the water. Parker and I exchange a glance and follow her down.

"I've been wanting to go to the coast, but with studies and the research and looking for a job, it's been quite challenging to make time," Lily says, bouncing on the balls of her feet. There's a soft glow around her and it's getting brighter. It's definitely magic, even though outside of myself I've never seen it before. "We should take a trip though. When we all have time. I think it'd be fun."

"Lily," I call out since she's walking a bit in front of us.

She stops to look at me. "Do you have a water affinity?" I ask.

She furrows her brow, looking from me to the water and then back to me. "I don't think so? I never have before."

Parker and I pull her close to the wall bordering the water and lower our voices. Parker gives me a nod, letting me take the lead, but we're clearly thinking the same thing.

"How do you feel right now? How does your magic feel?" I never thought I'd be asking such questions out loud.

Lily doesn't reply immediately, giving herself the time to think about it. "I'm not sure, my magic seems very…happy? It's the only emotion I can think of. Like it's been anticipating something and it has finally happened?"

"Lily girl, I think you do have an affinity to water," Parker says, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. "How have you never thought this?"

"I'm not sure. There isn't much water in the desert where we live and I've never been around so much of it before. So much of it…moving and living." She looks down at the water and while I am aware of it, I don't have the same kind of connection to it.

I glance at Parker and it suddenly makes me sad. Both of them have found their magic affinity, or at least have begun to discover it. I haven't seen a glimpse of mine.

"Kennedy, you'll figure yours out," Parker says, and I roll my eyes.

"You're not allowed to use your powers on me," I grumble and she chuckles.

"I don't have to be a witch to know you're bummed on your behalf while happy on Lily's."

"I am happy for Lily," I say, shaking it off. "And this isn't about me. It's about us. So let's go see this well."

BENNETT

I've spent most of my Saturday in meetings, running from one café to the next. Annoyingly enough, this has nothing to do with my own research and everything to do with Professor Stewart's. He argued that I need to learn the political ropes of the way the university is run if I'm going to work for it. But, as usual, I'm mostly distracted and thinking about Kennedy. Especially since none of these meetings are yielding anything in the way of actual knowledge. It's more about making contacts and I'm not a fan of this part of the game.

"You have done well today," Professor Stewart says as we're leaving a café on George Street. It's past five in the evening and this is where I finally have the chance to say goodbye.

"Thank you for taking me along, Professor Stewart."

The man watches me for a long moment before he nods and turns to where a car is waiting for him. Once he's inside and pulling away, I feel like I can breathe again. I'm not sure what it is about being around him lately, but it feels—draining.

My phone vibrates with an incoming text and I glance down to see an all-caps message from Lana.

GET YOURSELF TO OURS ON TIME AND DONT FORGET ICECREAM…ok ily byeeee

I chuckle, reply with a,

Yes your highness

and head for the bus. It takes me no time at all to get to their neighborhood, and I get off the bus a stop before heading into Sainsbury. As I look over various ice cream choices my mind once again is on Kennedy. I don't think I know what kind of ice cream she likes, and realizing this, it seems imperative that I have this information as soon as possible. That's a good enough excuse to text her, right?

Before I can talk myself out of it, I'm pulling out my phone and sending her a text.

What kind of ice cream do you like?

The moment I send it off, I feel kind of dumb. What are we, in high school? I also don't regret it either when a message pops up on my phone.

Wow, coming in with the tough questions.

Then there's a follow-up text.

Vanilla, but with something in it. Cheesecake, raspberries, chocolate. It's the perfect team player ice cream. You?

I stare at the phone, a stupid grin on my face at how seriously she took the question. There's something special about a person meeting you where you are.

I can't believe you'd disrespect chocolate like that!

Her response is immediate.

Vanilla can become chocolate, but chocolate cannot become vanilla.

The laugh that escapes me is much louder than is appropriate in public, but when I glance down the aisle, thankfully no one is there.

Your logic is indisputable.

I know.

I want to ask her another hundred questions, but I refrain. I want to at least appear sort of chill. I pick out Lana's favorite —cookie dough—and head for the checkout when my phone buzzes again.

What prompted this important question?

I’m grinning down at Kennedy's text like she's the one standing before me now.

Picking up some ice cream for dinner at Nicholas's and I had to know.

Ah, of course. I'm assuming Lana requested it?

You know her so well already.

She's a good kid.

Four words and my heart swells all over again. It's important to me that Kennedy gets along with the most important people in my life. I can't deny it any longer that this is more than just a fleeting crush and the fact that both Lana and Kennedy seem to click brings me immense happiness.

How did it go with the girls today?

We're at the well now, although not sure why they call it that since we can't get inside.

St. Bernard's Well. That's right. They were going to see if they had any magical response to it.

So nothing at all?

Well, we think Lily discovered her affinity.

I finish paying for the ice cream, leaving the store behind as I read the text three times before I reply.

Are you okay?

There's a long pause and maybe I got it wrong. Maybe there's nothing behind those words and I'm only making up the tone.

But then she replies.

You could tell, huh? I just feel like I'm behind. I don't want to be the one to hold us back.

I stop in the middle of the street, staring at the text as if it's in a foreign language. The need to go to her is hard to resist, but I can't just run to her every time I want to. I dial her instead, fully expecting her not to answer, but after two rings she does.

"I didn't mean to dump that on you. I just—I don't know," she says by way of greeting. The desire to go to her escalates, but I stay put.

"Kennedy, you don't ever have to apologize for sharing your thoughts and feelings with me. Tell me what you need. To simply listen? A pep talk?"

I stop talking because I'm about to offer her everything. She doesn't reply right away and I have no idea what she might be thinking, but then she sighs a little and I can hear the change in her voice when she speaks. It's softer, more relaxed. "That's actually all I needed. Thank you."

"You're welcome."