Page 90 of Impractical Magic

“And once you’ve completed that job? Hey, what do you know? Something else will come up that you have to deal with immediately. And your guilt will drive you on and on until nothing is left of you but a little green globule like a drummer in Spinal Tap. How am I doing?”

“Disturbingly accurate,” Scarlett admitted.

“Right, so here’s my idea,” Nate continued. “Stay here. Sleep. I’m not suggesting anything beyond that. Sleep, for as long as you need.”

“But—”

“When your mother inevitably calls to ask me where you are, I will say you got called away on urgent witch business and can’t be contacted.”

“She won’t believe you.”

“I don’t care. Unlike most of this town, I’m not afraid of Kelly Melrose.”

Scarlett’s breath immediately left her body. “That is the greatest goddamn sentence I have ever heard in my life.”

Nate’s cheeks flushed, but he held her gaze. “Go rest. I’ll take the couch.” He stood and reached out to pull her to her feet. “Feel free to borrow a T-shirt if you want—clean ones are in the bottom left drawer.”

She smiled. I will absolutely be doing that, Scarlett thought, warmth spreading through her. “Nate . . .” There was something she needed to say, but she wasn’t sure how to find the words. “Sorry I’m so . . . complicated.”

He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “I don’t mind complicated.” They gazed at one another for a long moment. Scarlett wanted so badly to kiss him but felt so strongly that it was wrong. So she just stood there, letting him hold her, trying not to move, breathe, or do anything that might cause the moment to end.

Finally, he smiled and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “C’mon, you should get some rest.”

“Why don’t you come lie down with me? Just to sleep?”

Nate winked. “You think we can be trusted to manage that?” But then his face turned serious. “I’m kidding. Of course. Whatever you need.”

Scarlett quickly changed into one of his T-shirts; the soft cotton enveloped her like an embrace. She curled up on the cozy old wooden-frame bed. Nate settled in behind her, his arm around her waist. Their bodies fit together like a puzzle that had been missing a piece for a long time.

Just before she drifted off, Scarlett threaded her fingers through his. Holding on so tightly, a deep sense of comfort washed over her. The scent of Nate’s skin and the sound of his breathing lulled her into a deep sleep. For the first time in years, her mind was not filled with anxious thoughts or regrets about the past. She was simply at peace.

Sometime later, Scarlett awoke to find herself still wrapped in Nate’s arms. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. They had slept for hours, and the morning light was creeping through the windows.

Nate stirred. He sleepily nuzzled the back of Scarlett’s neck.

“Hey, you,” he murmured.

Scarlett rolled over to face him. The look in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. She reached up and stroked his cheek.

“Hey, you,” she said softly.

They gazed at each other for a moment, a thousand unspoken words passing between them.

“I should probably go,” she told him.

“You should definitely go.”

Scarlett leaned in closer, their faces nearly touching. “Everybody is going to be wondering where I am.”

“They are,” he whispered. “There is a great and terrible crisis, and you must go forth and save the day.”

“That I must. Right away.” She kissed him. “Just five more minutes maybe . . .”

Downstairs in the store, the phone rang.

“Ignore it.” Nate took hold of her face and kissed her deeply, searchingly.

Scarlett returned the kiss, one hand in his hair while the other moved across his chest. She felt his strength and willed it to soak into her.