Page 32 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Thirty-Two

BENNETT

" H ow is she? Can I see her?" I ask the moment Parker opens the door.

"Good morning, Parker. How are you?" Parker replies.

I swallow my worry and try to remember my manners. "Good morning, Parker. How are you?"

She rolls her eyes. "She's in her room."

I nod and barely manage to take my shoes off as I walk into the flat. Lily is in the kitchen and I say hi, but don't stop. Kennedy's door is ajar and I step into the doorway, my heart in my throat. When she texted me that she couldn't meet because she's sick, I went into panic mode. It's been three days since I've seen her and it feels like too long already.

"Bennett." Her voice is hoarse and she gives me a weak smile from beneath her duvet and pillows.

"I didn't know what you needed so, I brought a few things," I say by way of greeting, stepping in, and placing the bags on the bed. Parker and Lily crowd in immediately, opening the bags.

"She's got a cold, she's not on her death bed," Parker comments, pulling out three different cold and flu medicine boxes with ten sachets each. There's also some vapor rub and tea and chocolate. Lana always says I must bring chocolate when she's sick, so I went with it.

"I'll go make this." Lily grabs the medicine sachet and moves to go, but then doubles back to grab Parker and pull her behind her. Lily throws a quick wave my way and closes the door on her way out.

"You didn't have to bring anything," Kennedy says, her voice barely above a whisper now. I reach over as she tries to sit up, moving the pillows more comfortably behind her neck.

"I know, but I might’ve panicked." Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit it, but suddenly I'm not. I lean forward a little, keeping my gaze steady on Kennedy's. "You're important to me, so I wanted to make sure you have everything you may need."

Kennedy's eyes grow big and I would like to close the rest of this distance and kiss her senseless, but I know now is not the time.

"Thank you," she whispers, and I lean back but a fraction.

There's a knock on the door and Lily pokes her head in."I have the drink. Would you like it now?"

Kennedy nods, and I help her as she sits up fully. Lily hands over the cup and then retreats, closing the door again. Kennedy takes the spoon and sips a few times before she drinks from the cup. I sit on the bed, watching her patiently. Once she's done, I take the cup from her and place it on the bedside table. She sinks down into her pillows and I lean over to help her get more comfortable. Before I can move away, she reaches for my shirt, tugging it closer to her.

"Don't go."

Her voice is small, but there's a lot of feeling behind that simple phrase, and I reach over, moving some of the hair off her forehead, cupping her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise?" Her voice is barely audible, and I can see she's fading fast, the sleeping agent in the medicine already doing its thing, but her eyes are clear enough as she looks at me and I nod.

"I promise."

She smiles, closing her eyes, but she doesn't let go of my shirt. Without hesitation, I lean down, scooping her up, comforter and all, and move her over just enough to climb into the space beside her. She curls into me immediately, as if she's been waiting for this exact moment. Her head is buried against my chest as I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

"Bennett," she says and I glance down to find her eyes closed, but she’s smiling.

"Kennedy."

"I feel really safe," she says, and it sounds like she's telling me a secret. She opens her eyes, looking up at me and then she pulls her arm from under the covers and waves it in front of us, while still looking at me.

Suddenly, the plants near the window move and I glance over to find them growing bigger, spreading out across the top of the ceiling and weaving around the curtain rod. I glance back down at Kennedy and she's looking at the plants with a self-satisfied expression before she lowers her arm to wrap around my middle and settles against me once more.

"There, that's better."

I stare at the girl in my arms before I look over at the plants she just replenished in the most beautiful way. They're greener and fuller than before and if I didn't know any better, they look happy. I tuck Kennedy closer to my body and hold her as she rests.

KENNEDY

When I open my eyes, the room is cast in shadows. I don't even remember falling asleep, but I feel more rested. Still foggy, yet clear at the same time. I'm surrounded by warmth and a weight of comfort. I shift my head and realize that the weight is more than just comfort, it's an arm. Pulling back just a little I glance up and find Bennett's face just a few inches away from me. Immediately, I start to slide away, confused about finding him in my bed, but his eyes are closed and he looks so peaceful I can't seem to move. I search through my memories, pushing through the fog…and I did this. I asked him to stay. I made him promise not to leave.

The desire to hide is overwhelming, but it's not like I can go anywhere since I'd hide in my bed, which is currently occupied by the person I'm trying to hide from.

Never in my life did I expect things to go this way. I never expected to be brave enough to leave home and I certainly didn't expect to find acceptance when it comes to my magic. I most certainly didn't plan on Bennett.

But now that I let myself imagine a future, I can't see Bennett not in it.

I have no idea what to do with that.

My eyes catch on the windows and the plants now twining around the room. They weren't this grown when I went to sleep, were they? Wait…the realization slowly comes. I did that.

I can't believe it. Did I honestly just use my magic without thinking? And in front of him? I mean, sure he knows about magic, but it's not the same. The frequency in which he sees me use magic is increasing—what does that mean? I should be more careful. Right? And I probably came on too strong too. Who am I to be clingy? Stupid fever scrambled my brain.

Ah, yes. I can blame the fever. That's a great plan.

"Are you going through a crisis?"

I jerk my head up in time to catch an easy smile grace his handsome face, while his eyes are still closed. I push against him immediately, but he pulls me closer instead, right to his side, his arm firmly around me.

"I don't know what you mean," I reply, trying to wiggle away half-heartedly. I won't admit this out loud, but I don't actually want to get away. He feels so solid and comforting.

"Right. Because you're not overthinking every action and reaction right now like your life depends on it."

"I don't think I appreciate you seeing inside my brain like that," I mumble and he chuckles. His whole body shakes and the arm that's right around my shoulders tightens to bring me closer before he leans down to place a kiss on the top of my head. I freeze at the casual show of affection, my entire being focused on the space where his lips touched the top of my forehead. Such a simple action, but it carries so much weight. It makes me feel important and cherished at the same time.

So, instead of my signature pulling away move, I surprise both of us by snuggling closer.

"Wow, that's all it takes?" he asks, glancing down at me. I give him a quick look and then settle back in.

"Sometimes, but don't get used to it. I'm a complicated creature."

"Don't I know it."

I slap his stomach, but he catches my hand, twining our fingers together.

"Go to sleep, Kennedy. I'll be here."

Opening my eyes once more, I stare at our entwined hands over his stomach, a sting of tears suddenly there. I blink a few times, trying to push them back down. It feels like I've carried all of these wishes inside of me, like lightning bugs trapped in a mason jar, hovering in the middle, shining, but in this one suspended space.

Now, being here in Edinburgh, it's like the mason jar has broken away from around me and all the wishes are out there, in the space around me, coming alive one by one. I have a different solid space around me now. No longer walls that hold me in, but a support system that surrounds me. I snuggle in a little closer to Bennett, exhaling softly. He rubs his arms up and down my back in a slow progression, and I relax into sleep once more.