Page 33 of Unhinged Magic (Cutters Cove Witches #2)

Skye

As I watched him leave, my heart left with him. Knots twisted my stomach, my vision blurring. My heart exploded into a catastrophic thing I no longer had control over. It caved as he turned his back on us, walking away. But Colton was right. Everyone needed space, and time to gather their thoughts.

Somewhere deep inside me, I knew one day he would return, but as he sank further into the evening’s depths, his every step away from me plunged my heart into a place I wasn’t ready for. A state of shock. It was so raw; I didn’t trust myself not to run after him.

Instinctively, I gripped Morgan’s hand as if it would anchor me in place, the squeeze of her own the silent reassurance I desperately needed.

An awkward silence smothered the group. No one wanting to speak for fear of saying the wrong thing, I imagined.

Reid’s signature low whistle sounded. “Well, I think that calls for a Twilight Martini.”

I didn’t know what I needed. If I went home right now, the walls would suffocate me, my tears drown me. I felt the group’s attention linger on my skin, waiting for my reaction. I had none. My mind was numb, my heart a tomb.

Another squeeze of my hand, and Morgan’s voice ripped me from the open grave threatening to dredge up buried feelings. “Martinis or home?”

A shiver tore through me, making the decision easier. “Hot chocolate?” I had been moments away from placing my order before that . The word being the only thing that seemed to describe what had just happened.

The group ventured back to the table we had hastily vacated, and I sat back down, bunching the rug around my shoulders this time.

“Holy shit,” I sighed, blowing out a whoosh of air.

I swear the temperature had dropped even further in the space of five minutes. The rest of the group placed their orders with Lola, who tried to make small talk, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t in the mood. I would need to apologize to her on my next shift.

When our drinks arrived, Reid took a sip of his Espresso Martini. “That’s really fucking good. You sure you don’t want some?” He motioned for me to try his.

I smiled. “Thanks, but I’m good with my hot choc.”

Since Wesley’s disappearance, Reid had gone out of his way to support me, always trying to keep my spirits up. It was as if he knew there had been something between Wesley and me, but I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure, and he never let on.

He shook his head. “Your loss.”

I eyed the explosion of goodness before me, the three marshmallows piled on top of a dollop of cream. These were next-level delicious. I sank one into the hot liquid below, knowing how good it would taste melted in my mouth later.

The group continued to chat, avoiding the elephant in the room for my benefit, no doubt, as I took comfort in both the lack of attention and the distraction.

“Here, have another.” Colt, who sat on the other side of me, popped one of his marshmallows on top of my stack. “Think you need it,” he added.

“I assure you, my ass does not.” I said dryly.

“Rough night, eh?”

I drew in a deep breath, wrapping my hands around my hot choc to keep them warm. “You don't say...”

He chuckled at my sarcasm, and I smiled at the sound of it.

Colt swirled his spoon around the inside of his glass, making sure to get every last bit. “You know we’re here for you. Whatever you need.” He nudged me in the side. “Even if it’s hot choc.”

I knew he meant every word. Someday, he would sweep one lucky woman off her feet and treat her like a queen. Lucky for some.

I smiled, holding it together… just. “Thanks, I might take you up on that offer more than you would like.”

He grinned. “Just say the word and I’ll be there.” When we were finished with our drinks, he gathered up the empty glasses on the table, helping the server load them onto her tray. “You guys ready to head off?”

The group agreed it was time to go and went to stand.

Tyler dug his keys out of his pocket. “We’re in separate cars.” He adjusted his jacket, motioning to Scar and me. “I’ll give you guys a lift back,” he offered.

Morgan lifted a hand into the air. “I would take him up on that, it’s starting to rain.”

She was right. In my current state, I hadn’t registered the change of weather.

A loud crack tore through the evening’s quiet, lighting the sky with a streak.

A moment later, a fat raindrop landed on my cheek.

I swiped at it in annoyance. There goes my mascara.

If there weren’t already smudges under my eyes, it was only a matter of time.

After saying our goodbyes, we went our separate ways, myself and Scar following Tyler to his van. I jumped inside, shuffling over to the middle seat, tucking my knees into my chest.

Scar kicked her doc martins up on the dash. “Wow, what a night.”

Tyler followed the movement, a muscle flexing in his jaw.

Not another word was spoken as we made our way down the main street of Cutters Cove. She wasn’t wrong. What a night it had turned out to be. I slumped further into my seat, watching the wipers swish over the windscreen, my vision clearing every few seconds only to be sloshed with rain again.

Tyler pulled off the road, a lull of silence filling the van. He ran a hand through his hair, staring up at the house, avoiding eye contact.

Scar rubbed her arms, shivering from the cold. “I’ll let you guys talk,” she said before making a hasty exit from the van.

Folding my arms around myself, I tried to mend the chill sinking into my skin. “I love him,” I said softly, staring out into the haze of ocean spray.

“I don’t like the thought of him touching you.”

A half-laugh, half-cry left me. I turned to look at Tyler as I spoke. “You would say that about any guy that touched me.”

He shook his head, a bemused look written across his face. “What he did…”

“I know.” He didn’t need to remind me.

“I’m not sure I can get past that,” he said simply.

The swell of the ocean filled the quiet in the van.

When he turned to face me in his seat, he held my gaze in silence.

It held words he couldn’t express, and I was certain I could feel everything he wanted to say.

That somewhere deep inside, he would do his best. Because if what Wesley said was true, and he had taken Morgan for fear of losing me , he may have gone about it the wrong way but he had also been backed into a corner.

Tyler nodded to my house. “I need to get back to Morgan. You okay from here?”

“Sure, thanks for the lift.”

“Night.” A quick nod before he drove off.

I don’t know why I stood there, staring at the ocean as rain pelted my face, soaking my clothes.

Right then, I didn’t care. I looked at the sky, closing my eyes, letting the rain soak my skin.

As if it could erase the memories that hurt the most. The ones where Wesley had confessed things he had told no one else, had trusted me with his heart.

The stolen kisses, the side glances, the three words that broke my heart the most. I swiped at my sodden hair, dragging it off my cheeks.

Opening my eyes, something caught my eye in the dim light.

The silhouette caused me to freeze.

Sitting on a rock about fifty feet away was a man, staring out at the ocean as if it were speaking to him. I couldn’t tell how old he was from this far away, but he didn’t seem bothered by the rain. He just sat there.

I took a few steps closer out of pure curiosity, my movements drawing his attention.

He rose to his feet, remaining where he was. “Wait!”

My heart lunged into my throat at the voice I knew all too well.

Wesley stood planted on the rocks as if frightened a step in my direction could cost him the moment.

Words stumbled on my tongue, fighting for release, but I couldn’t set them free. I had considered time and time again what I would say to him on his return, but nothing could prepare me for it. For this .

This was happening. I wasn’t ready to face him right now .

My bottom lip wavered, a shudder wracking me as a cold damp chilled my bones. I just couldn’t. Water streaked down my cheeks, and I swiped it away as I stumbled backwards, catching my footing before I fell.

“Skye!” His voice carried in the wind, inflicting a fresh wound on my aching heart, slamming into me and not letting go.

I. Just. Couldn’t.

My socks soaked through as I ran in puddles, sprinting onward. I stopped only to twist the doorknob, the relief as it opened washing over my sodden self. As the door shut behind me, I fell against it, my head hitting the wooden door with a hollow thud . My legs gave way, and I slid to the ground.

Retreating to the dark place behind my lids, I sat there, knowing he was outside. Knowing he was right fucking there . How long would he stay there? I wanted to see him so badly, wanted us to be us again. But how?

Wooden floorboards creaked as footsteps came closer.

“Hey.” Scar’s worried tone brought my attention back to the room.

I ran my hand over my forehead, grasping my hair, silence holding my words at ransom.

My throat burned as I struggled to hold back emotion I knew would eventually overcome me, and I wasn’t wrong.

It rushed from me in a sob, my head falling into my arms that held my knees to my chest. I let it out, all of it.

I felt Scar’s presence beside me, her unspoken comfort rubbing my shin.

“He’s here,” I croaked between the sobs wracking my chest, knowing there was no further explanation required.

A curse fell from her. “It’s ok… let it out,” she murmured, her soothing voice enveloping me like a warm hug. “I don’t know what to say to make this any easier.”

Snuffling, I wiped my nose. “I don’t know what I do from here, Scar. I really don’t.”

She drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Nor me. But I guess if this fated mate’s thing is real, you owe it to yourself to hear him out at the very least.”

I turned my head to hers where dark red lips pressed together as if holding onto words. I knew it wouldn’t last. Scar rarely held in what she wanted to say.

“Why does everything have to be so damn hard?” I snuffled, swiping my nose.

My head tilted to the ceiling, my eyes closing, waiting for her to speak. Because what Scar said next would hit hard. It would be honest and the truth.

“I’m not condoning what he did at all. If it was anyone else, I doubt he would be so lucky to live another day. But it’s Wes .”

Hearing his name wound my heart tighter. Ignited a dull ember deep inside of me. I wanted to ignore it. Extinguish it even. How was I supposed to think logically when this bond lingered within me, warping my judgement?

I let out a sigh, filtering through the thoughts consuming my mind. She had a valid point, but I just couldn’t, not tonight.

She stood, and I let her assist me to my feet. A hand on each shoulder, she levelled her stare with mine. “You can do this. If not now, then another day. I just know it.”

I offered her a half-hearted smile, wishing I had her confidence.

“Maybe,” I replied, for no other reason than to change the subject.

She nodded, tapping a fingernail against her forearm, her head tipping to the side as she spoke. “You mentioned there was a photo the other day. Did you find out who the couple in it were?”

Her change of subject startled me. “I haven’t looked into it.”

In all my moods, and tears, and silence, the photo had honestly been the last thing on my mind. I made my way into the kitchen, pulling open a drawer to find a glass, filling it with water. The cool liquid soothed my throat as it slid down. I lifted it in the air. “Want one?”

She shook her head. “Do you mind if I take it for a day? I might know a way to find out who they are. It could be of some significance.”

The photo.

I sighed. “It’s probably just a spirit trying to get my attention. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.”

She pursed her lips, pulling out a kitchen stool and sitting on it. I did the same.

“What if there’s more to it? Don’t you think it’s strange when you tried to summon Wes’s twin ghost, he suddenly felt ill and then the photo appeared?”

I truly hadn’t considered all three things could be linked.

In my mind, each event was its own separate incident.

Could she be right? Was there something more to all of this?

Thinking back to the moment, it made more sense the more I thought about it.

At the same time the candles had dimmed, Wesley had suddenly felt like throwing up, and only moments after, the photo had smashed on the floor.

But if she was right, how was a photo of a couple somehow linked to us ?

I wrapped my arms around myself. “If… I entertained the thought that there is more to this photo, do you really think you could find out who the couple in it is?”

She smiled, one that saddened her eyes but lit up her soul. She shrugged. “The least I can do is try.”