Page 36 of Of Poison & Pumpkins (Of Witches & Men #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Rynn

A fter Hudson releases me, the first person I see is Elias, with his crooked smile and a hopeful look in his eyes.

I run across the station like an imbecile and crash into his arms like I’ve been desperate for human contact for a century, even though it’s only been a few days that I’ve been locked up.

Elias is the only one I’d want holding me.

As I bury my face in his chest, I let a few tears drop, surprised I have more left.

“You got me out,” I whisper into his shirt. “I’m sorry I ever made the cursed paint. I’m sorry to have dragged you into all this.”

He only squeezes tighter, resting his chin atop my head. The solid warmth of his frame cocoons me in the best of ways. I could live here, in his hug, for eternity. Against all my wishes, he steps back and wipes my cheeks dry, then plants a kiss on my forehead.

“I made a bet with Zee for how long it’d take you to break out on your own. You cost me five bucks.”

I can’t help but laugh. “What was the wager?”

“I assumed you’d be home yesterday, knitting away in our bed.” Elias shrugs.

“ Our bed, hmm?” I rise on my tiptoes to kiss him, but someone clears their throat behind Elias.

“Oh, right,” Elias says, stepping aside to reveal the last person I ever expected to see. “Surprise! It was actually your brother who paid your bail!”

I stare. Orion stands with his thumbs in his pockets and a sheepish look on his face. “Uh, hey, Rynn. What’s up?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Let’s go outside.”

After signing my release paperwork, I’m finally free.

Outside, the sun kisses the rooftops of the buildings, saying goodbye for the evening. I’ve barely had a concept of time without windows and immediately inhale the fresh air and absorb the purple sky. I’ll never be so stupid as to risk my freedom again.

We mosey to the same fountain Brooke contaminated, which has been cleaned, the water clear and sparkling once more.

Apparently, they reset the fountain, since they collected all the coins at the bottom.

Dusk sweeps around the corner of a building as we sit at the fountain.

Both shops are in view: Purple Palooza and Peculiar Pumpkins, their signs glowing in the soft golden light.

“So, did you bail out Brooke, too?” I ask my older brother.

Orion shakes his head. “Not only do I not have enough money, but after hearing what she’s charged with, she needs to stay in there.”

“How did you know I was here?” My knee must’ve been jiggling, because Elias puts his hand on my leg to help calm me down.

“Mom and Dad called. They’d be here too, but they’re in Greece.”

A thousand questions whirl through my mind. Since when do they travel? How often do they talk to Orion? Where has my brother lived recently? I hope I have time to ask them all, but for now I settle on one question.

“How did Mom and Dad find out?”

He nods towards Elias. “You seem to have a good guy here. I’m glad you’ve found a supportive partner. To be honest, Rynn, it’s about time you let someone in, because you sure haven’t let me within a thousand mile radius. Do you know I have twenty unanswered calls to you logged on my phone?”

I gulp, feeling an oncoming lecture that I deserve. Isolation can help a girl prioritize what matters in life. I’ve been running from my fears instead of facing them. Before he can use his elder brother voice on me, I speak up.

“I know, I’m sorry, Orion. I should’ve answered your calls. Should’ve come home to visit and checked in on you.”

He stares at my shop. “Yeah. It sucked to learn about all this through social media,” Orion says, gesturing to my shop.

“You’ve created something incredible, Rynn, and I’d want you to feel safe in sharing that with us, or at least me.

” His jaw ticks. “Whatever I did in the past to make you run, I’m sorry.

I know we weren’t best friends, but when you turned eighteen, you just … poof. Vanished.”

“If I could do it over, I’d make changes. I thought you all hated me.”

At this, Orion finally meets my eye. The hazel color I have memorized stares back. “I was jealous when we found out you were a Fuzer, but then I was in awe. You inspired me. I guess I could’ve shown that better.”

“I had no idea.”

“Yeah, well, I guess we need to catch up. Mom and Dad told me about how Brooke treated you when we were kids. Believe me, I was clueless about all that. I swear! Otherwise I would’ve stepped in.”

A traitorous tear trickles down. “Really? I thought you didn’t care.”

“Naw, Rynn. Come on, you were smart as fuck in high school, and I never considered that someone would have the nerve to mess with you. Especially our own baby sister.” Orion pauses.

“Since I work remote, how about Vanessa and I stay here for a few months? But before the baby comes, we’ll need to head back home. ”

Who is Vanessa? There’s a baby on the way? Am I going to be an aunt? Shit, I’m a terrible sister. I don’t know anything about Orion’s life. Starting today, I pledge to mend my relationship with my family, Orion first.

I nod, unable to find words, and let Orion place his hand over mine.

“I’m glad you’re okay. We’re staying at the Merlin’s Hotel around the corner, so I’ll text you in the morning, okay?”

“Yeah, that sounds good,” I say, trying to keep the confusion out of my voice.

After my brother saved the day, he walks off into the sunset towards a life that didn’t include me before today. I plan to change that.

Elias blows out a deep breath.

I half-chuckle and lean my temple against his arm.

“Thank you. I’m not sure how you managed to find my family’s contact information, but whatever charm you bespelled them with worked.

” I look up at him, but he’s already watching me.

“But how on earth did you get one hundred signatures? Everyone must hate me after hearing I was behind the cursed paint.”

“You own the most beloved shop in town. Everyone loves you, Rynn. The whole town was outraged by your arrest. Even Nergs. Sheila, at the ice cream place, was planning to barge in and knock down the station’s walls. You wouldn’t believe how mad she was.”

I’m pretty sure my jaw hits the ground. “Seriously? I barely know her.”

“Like I said, Oakmar adores you. At least ten women said they wished they knew you better, or that you should join their book club. One invited you to brunch on Sunday afternoons. Plus, did you know that Willow and Jane also rock climb?”

“Who?” I squeeze my eyes shut, ashamed I have no idea who he’s talking about.

“Don’t worry. I’ll introduce you. I know Tinsley is sprinkles on a cake, but you need a bigger support system. What if one day I break my leg and can’t walk? Who will reach Goosie’s food on the top shelf of your cabinet?”

The wind rustles his hair in the most adorable way. Goddess, I love this man. And he needs to know.

“You moved Goosie into my apartment?”

“No. I moved us both into our apartment.”

My chest constricts. I should be terrified of this leap of faith, but he’s who I want. “This is definitely the moment then.”

“For what?”

I face him straight on and take a deep breath. If I’m going to do this right, I need to speak his language.

“I love you more than a rose loves the morning sun, more than a dancer loves the thudding of a drum, in a way that’s stronger than two magnets stuck together.”

He smiles so wide, so genuine, full of such giddy glee it’s like I handed over a box of kittens.

“Don’t make me laugh.” I gulp, “Let me finish this stupid speech.”

“Go on.” He bites his bottom lip, adorably I might add.

“I love your charm, Lias, and charisma and energy. You bring joy to everyone around you and make my life better,” I say, feeling tears pool, threatening to betray me.

“And you love my muscles.”

“Sshh, I’m not done. I love you more than a sculptor loves art. More than a key loves a hole.”

“I’ll fill your hole with my key.”

“Oh my Goddess, fine, I give up!”

Under his tight hold, he brings me closer. “Aww, keep going. Those were metaphors at their finest. Please keep going. I won’t tease you, I swear.”

I must be scrunching my face in a death-glare because he bites his lip to keep from laughing.

Prepared to finish what I started, I continue, “I want to be the one to make you laugh and comfort you on bad days. I want to be seventy years old and blast songs during a road trip while singing side-by-side out of tune. I want to protect you from anything sticky until the end of our days and sit together on the grass during a rainstorm. I love you more than the moon loves the sky.” I pause, try to calm my frantic heart and wait. “Lias …?”

“What?”

“I’m done! That’s my full proclamation.”

“Oh, perfect!” He swoops me off the fountain in a surprising lift, then places me on the cobblestone. “Nice speech but I love you way more than that and you’ll never convince me otherwise.”

“Prove it.”

“I may have an idea of what to do first in our new place.”

Hand in hand, we make our way towards our home.

“We need to break in our bed,” he says, giving me a hungry, savage look.

A tingle of anticipation runs up my spine. I can’t wait for Elias to devour me.