Page 33 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Thirty-Three

KENNEDY

T he next morning he's gone, but I wake up with no sign of fever. The space beside me is crumpled, and it makes me think he stayed until the last possible moment before he had to go. My chest fills with warmth as I sit up. My eyes are immediately on the plants that are now growing ever more robust across the window and against the wall. My room is about to become a jungle.

"Kennedy, are you awake?" There's a knock on the door and then it opens slowly, Lily and Parker's heads peek in slowly. When they see me sitting up, Lily swings the door open and they pile in.

"You're alive! And no longer delirious?" Parker drops herself on the bed beside me, in her typical dramatic fashion, but before I have a chance to reply, Lily gasps, and we turn to her standing in the middle of the room, staring at my plants.

"Kennedy, did you do that?" she asks and I glance at the plants before I look back at the girls and shrug.

"Apparently in my delusional state, I am very prone to magical showing off?" I reply, leaning back against the pillows.

"This is incredible," Parker says jumping off the bed and joining Lily in front of the plants.

"Is this your affinity?" Lily asks and I stop rearranging myself on the bed to think it over. That didn't even occur to me, but I'm already shaking my head no.

"I don't think so. We are all attached to the earth, I've never done anything special when it comes to it."

Lily and Parker come back to the bed, Parker half lying beside me, while Lily perches at the end.

"But maybe we can ask Olivia?" she asks. "Sure, I can make plants grow, but this feels like a little more, don't you think?"

I look past her shoulders at the plants. They do seem robust and bigger than a regular pothos should be when it's this young. The ZZ plant will need to be repotted for sure. I nod, because I don't see any reason not to explore this further.

"But seriously, how are you feeling?" Parker asks, gazing up at me from her position against the pillows. "Rejuvenated by your boyfriend?"

"What? No," I say, glancing at her sharply. "He just?—"

"He just stayed with you every night, cuddling you to him like he can take all of your sickness into his body or something. We were barely allowed inside."

"Wait, what?" Now I'm confused. I thought the fever went away pretty quickly after I took the medication.

"You don't remember waking up fighting some invisible monster? We ran in here thinking something was wrong, but you wouldn't calm down. Bennett stepped out to use the bathroom and you only calmed when he rushed in and pulled you into his arms."

I sit up so quickly, my head spins. I only remember the flower magic and then waking up to him teasing me and the kiss on the forehead?—

"How long have I been sick?"

"Almost three days," Lily says, her voice gentle. I stare at her in shock and then glance around my room, giving it a more thorough study.

There are a few medicines on the table, some towels resting over the edge of the chair, and my phone, now plugged in to charge. I reach for it and see the date is indeed three days later. It also shows on "do not disturb." I remove the "do not disturb" and drop it back in my lap, completely flabbergasted.

"I don't remember it at all. I got sick so suddenly, and then, nothing."

"We're not surprised," Parker says. "The fever kept you under for the majority. Bennett hardly left your side."

"I thought he was only here for a night."

"No, he only left long enough to take a shower and call his professor. And only when one of us could sit with you. Today, he had a meeting in Glasgow he couldn't reschedule, so he left to catch a train early."

I am completely taken aback by this information. I lost three days to this fever without realizing it.

"Olivia has also been by," Lily says, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "She said that your body was working through some magical issues as well."

"Magical issues?"

"Well, not issues," Parker says, throwing Lily a look. "She said that your body was probably overloaded with so much magic use lately. It's not used to it, so it's readjusting."

"Am I always going to be sick like this? How come you haven't been sick?" I've never heard of such a thing.

"Because Lily and I have been using our magic actively our whole lives. You've had yours under lock and key. It's no wonder it's too much for your body."

My head is swimming all over again, but this time from all the information. It seems unreal somehow, like it's not something that would happen to me.

"Hey, it's okay." Parker moves closer, leaning her shoulder against mine as Lily takes my hand again. "We'll get through this. You'll be a magical pro in no time and your body will adjust."

"I'm just—I'm constantly amazed by how little I know about magic. It feels like it might never get easier, but at the same time, it feels like it's easier already."

I know it's because I have these girls by my side. I can feel our connection growing deeper and deeper with each conversation, each moment spent together. They're my support system and they have helped me so much that I really want to do something in return.

My phone buzzes and I search for it in the comforter. I have messages from school and my classmates and then there are a few from Bennett.

I hope when you wake up you feel refreshed. I'm sorry I had to leave. I tried to get out of it, but I'll be back as soon as I can. xx

That was sent this morning, around five. A few hours later, there's a follow-up.

I'm bringing you some coffee and a book I found because I fully believe you're awake and well now. xx

"He is a romantic," Parker comments, looking over my shoulder. "Coffee and books are truly what you need."

"And Bennett."

Parker and I jerk our attention to Lily so fast that I nearly have whiplash. She's sitting all prim and proper at the edge of my bed, but there's a wicked gleam in her eyes. Parker and I exchange a look before we burst out laughing.

"I think you may be a bad influence on Lily," I say, poking Parker in the shoulder.

"Me? You're the one with the boyfriend."

And for the first time, I don't even want to deny it. I lean back against the pillows, cradling my phone to my chest.

"Wow, she has accepted it. We have finally arrived," Parker says and Lily laughs.

"When will he be here?" Lily asks, "Do you need help taking a shower?"

I sit up immediately, making myself slightly lightheaded, and glance down at myself. I can't believe I didn't think of this. Bennett has seen me all gross like this—I want to hide all over again.

"She's freaking out. Are you freaking out?" Parker asks and then I feel her try to pry my hands off my face. "It's too late to freak out now. He's already seen you."

"Ah!" I grunt, falling back into the pillows and trying to pull the comforter over my head. Parker and Lily tug it down and I don't miss the amusement on their faces.

"Instead of being all dramatic, why don't you just take a shower?" Parker points out. I throw a glare her way but don't argue. At least I know that after seeing me as a complete disaster, Bennett is still coming back. I hold on to that thought as I head for the bathroom.

BENNETT

I've been away from her for half a day and I miss her terribly. I'm not sure what that says about me, but I will readily admit that I am beyond smitten. While the professors were droning on about the same subjects as the last time they met up, I wonder why I'm even here. It feels like Professor Stewart just wants to make sure I'm at every possible event, but I have no idea for what.

"Did you look over the notes I sent regarding your outline?" Professor Stewart asks after we said goodbye to the department head.

"Yes, I haven't had a chance to make any changes, but that is my project for next week."

Professor Stewart is staying in Glasgow, but I have a train to catch. I can't miss it.

"Mister MacKay, what is it that has your attention so divided these days?"

His question stops me because he's not one to usually ask any kind of personal questions. It's true that I have been distracted lately, but I don't think my work has suffered any. I actually believe it's been enhanced.

"My project will be submitted on time, I assure you of that," I reply, holding his gaze. He watches me right back, unblinking, and I wonder what exactly he's thinking about.

"See that it is," he finally says before giving me a tiny nod and turning to walk away.

I have no idea what he's all about, but I will admit that I don't particularly care. There's a very beautiful girl waiting for me in Edinburgh. Thankfully, the train is on time and when I step out of Waverley Station on Princes Street it's already dark outside. I hurry over to The Black Cat because I know Kennedy loves Olivia's coffee the best.

"There you are," Olivia greets me when I step into the café. Pet gets off her perch and walks over to where I lean against the counter. She bumps her head into my shoulder and I lift her into my arms.

"Good evening, Olivia. You good?" I greet the café owner, while I give Pet her deserved scratches. The cat begins to purr so loudly I'm sure everyone in the café can hear her.

"Things here are good. Kennedy feeling better?" I watch as Olivia reaches for a takeaway cup before I can even say anything.

"Yes, she's better. At least enough for some of your coffee." I watch her prepare it expertly. "Oh actually, could I get the girls—" I stop because Olivia points to a carrier on the counter beside her, with two other cups already in there.

"I know you by now, Bennett," she says. This woman carries warmth in everything she does and she loves those girls; I can see it. "Just let me make yours and you'll be off."

She moves back to finish up and I glance down at Pet. She gives me a look like, " what did you expect? " and then gets back to her napping.

Olivia puts the last coffee cup into the carrier and places it in front of me, but when I reach for it, she doesn't let go immediately. I look up to find her watching me with concern in her eyes. "Is everything okay?" she asks.

I open my mouth to say yes automatically but then decide against it. "My thesis project is a bit stressful at the moment. It feels like I keep doing things wrong."

"That professor of yours isn't the kindest man when it comes down to it," Olivia says and that's right. I forgot she used to teach. Kennedy had been amazed by that for days.

"He's fine. Maybe I'm too distracted."

"No such thing," Olivia waves it away immediately. "If anything, I think being in the girls' life is helpful to your project."

"How do you?—"

"I can read it on you, my boy." She reaches over and squeezes my upper arm in such a maternal way I'm suddenly blinking rapidly to keep the emotions at bay, but if the look she gives me is of any indication, I don't fool her. "Tell me, when you started this project, you were curious, correct?" I nod. "And now? Is it curiosity that's driving you or a need to help?"

The question makes me pause. Because she's right. Before it was all knowledge and past locked inside of nearly forgotten books. Now there are living and breathing people who are affected by what I find. It makes history come alive in a way I never would've imagined possible. And there is that need—the need to help, to fix everything for Kennedy so she never has to worry a day in her life. That she's accepted for this part of her being and never has to hide.

"There," Olivia's voice breaks through my thoughts, "that right there tells me that you're good for her, that you're good for all of them. This isn't some passing fancy for you, you care. And deeply at that. Don't be afraid of that."

I look at her sharply, at the way she drove straight to the point. It's true, loving someone scares me. When you're essentially abandoned as a child, those scars stay no matter how much you want to cover them up. I found a family I didn't have with Nicholas and Lana, but even though I see the world shiny and sparkly compared to some, I stick close to the surface, without letting myself dive in too deep.

The moment I met Kennedy though, it was like all of those notions were shattered. Immediately, I wanted to know her. I wanted to strip off the rose-colored glasses and see everything just how it was because around her it is all beautiful. I gave so much more of myself than I thought I did and I want to keep giving.

"Thank you," I say, giving Olivia a warm smile which she returns.

"Don't ever be afraid to come talk to me if you need to, my boy. People like us, we have to stick together."

Suddenly, I wonder about her life. What brought her to Edinburgh, what kind of life she's lived being a witch out in the world. As curious as I am, I am mostly grateful. For her being the safe haven the girls need, for having someone to guide them. It's like we're their own protective services, covering them from all sides.

"I'll be back," I tell Olivia, before carefully placing Pet in her bed and picking up the drink carrier. I'm antsy to see Kennedy.