Page 131 of How to Flirt with a Witch

Shame fizzes in my gut. Yup, I ghosted.

Katie

Ha. Sorry, I’ve been busy with personal stuff

Andrea

Everything ok?

Katie

Yeah, thanks. I’d love to see you all this weekend

Andrea

Yay! We’ve missed you

I re-read the words, not believing them. A warm wave of relief hits me, and my heart thaws a little. Maybe I was too dismissive of my friendship with these people—and maybe making friends in university is easier than I thought, just like Hazel said.

As the texts fly back and forth with evening plans, I rub my forehead and let out a breath of resignation. It’s time to move on—from both Natalie and CSAMM. I have a degree to earn and friendships to repair, and it’s not too late to reclaim the normal university life I should’ve had.

Bolstered, I grab my laptop and video call Hazel.

She answers from her laptop, her messy bedroom behind her and a tired look on her face. “Hey, bestie.”

The tension in my head eases at the sight of her. “Been a while. Surviving?”

“Yeah. Sorry. I’ve been…” Her voice is thick. Her face is blotchy, her eyes puffy.

Wait, is she crying?

My heart plummets. “What happened?”

She blinks a lot, making a pitiful attempt at a brave face. It crumbles instantly. “Sean and I broke up.”

I gasp and grab my screen with both hands as if to reach through it and hug her. “No!”

“He said he wanted to focus on school and didn’t have time for a relationship. I sh-should’ve n-noticed the signs…” Hazel waves a hand, drawing a shaky breath. “He obviously didn’t f-feel the same w-way about…” She puts her elbows on her desk and her palms on her face, and her shoulders shake as she dissolves into tears.

My heart bursts, all the little pieces sinking like stones. I clutch the collar of my sweater as the news smothers my own problems. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I wish I could be thereto hug you right now.”

“Thanks.” She rubs both hands down her face, her breath hitching. “I could picture our whole future. I know that’s ridiculous when we weren’t even together long… but you know me… I fall hard…”

“It’s not ridiculous,” I say gently. “Falling hard is a beautiful thing, and you’re meant to be with someone who reciprocates.”

She nods, her face twisting as she fights back tears. She grabs a tissue and aggressively wipes her eyes. “Men suck. Tell me you and Natalie are still happy and there’s joy in the world.”

I grimace. “Actually…”

She gasps, dropping her hands and sitting taller. “No!”

“I… sort of went behind her back for information. She’s really mad at me—and I’m not sure how I feel, to be honest.”

Hazel sits back in her chair, her tears stopping. “What information?”

I hesitate. “I needed to know more about what they were having me do. With the curses and all. I… don’t regret finding out the details.”

Her shoulders slump. “It sucks you had to go around Natalie.”