Page 92 of Impractical Magic

Startled, Scarlett turned to see Nate staring at her. He’d pulled his jeans back on, fortunately. If he’d been standing there naked, Scarlett thought, my brain would have melted and dribbled out my ears. “What do you mean, uh-oh?”

“You have that trademark melancholy look of yours. You do realize that that—” he flicked his head in the direction of his mussed sheets “—is supposed to make you happy, right? Not melancholy.”

“I am happy,” she said, unconvincingly. “I just . . . Well, the truth is . . . I came here to break off whatever this thing is between us.”

“I knew that. I’m a grown man—I can recognize an I’m dumping you look when I see one.”

“You talked me out of it. Or, I guess, kissed me out of it.”

He shrugged sexily. “What can I say? Should I put some coffee on?”

A tempting offer . . . but no. “I should get back. I’ve got a whole Walk of Shame to do. Best get it over with.” As she gathered her clothes and dressed, she felt so confused and conflicted that it made her nauseous. The memory of last night lingered, yet the light of day brought all her doubts raging back.

Nate watched her silently. His expression was unreadable, but she could feel his gaze following her around the apartment.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, pulling on her shoes. “This wasn’t fair to you. I shouldn’t have let things go so far.”

“I wouldn’t change a thing.” His dark eyes were serious but soft. “I meant what I said. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Scarlett. I’m not giving up that easily.”

Her heart constricted. She wanted to believe him, wanted to throw caution to the wind and trust that this could work. But a person doesn’t repeat the same phrase over and over for ten years and just stop believing it. She repeated the phrase again now. “You can’t leave, and I can’t stay. That’s it.”

Nate crossed the room and knelt beside her. He gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “But you’re wrong, Scar. You can stay if you want. We’ll figure this out together.” He tipped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“I wish it were that simple,” she said, blinking back tears. “But there’s so much you don’t understand.”

“Then help me understand. Because I’m not giving up this time. It was dumb for you to leave in the first place. It was dumb for me to let you. It was dumb to just let things stay that way for so long. And yeah, I can be kinda dumb sometimes, but ten years of dumb is more than enough, even for me.”

Scarlett paused, emotions swirling. She wanted to cling to him, to believe they could build something together. But the memory of Papa’s death loomed, clinging to her like she’d walked through a cobweb that she’d never shake off.

She wiped her eyes, kissed Nate on the cheek, and said, “I have to go.”

Chapter 35: Toad Suck

The inn was a buzzing hive of activity. The Gilbert and Sullivan crowd bustled around the lobby, putting the final touches on costumes and props in preparation for this evening’s performance of Pirates of Penzance. Feathered hats were adjusted, plastic swords were brandished, and vocal warm-ups echoed through the halls.

Meanwhile, Aphra, Dayo, and Priti gathered over coffee in the dining room. They were brainstorming what to do now that there were no supplies left in the hardware store—yet another challenge for the pile. Scarlett entered and joined them at the large wooden table.

“Well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence.” Aphra eyed Scarlett’s rumpled outfit. “Wearing the same clothes as yesterday, I see.”

Scarlett felt her cheeks flush. “Never mind that. What’s the latest on the grove situation?”

Priti sighed heavily. “Not good. The infection is spreading faster than ever. The EMS is out of supplies, so is Aphra’s store, and now so is Williams Hardware. If there’s some new explosion or fire . . . I don’t know what we’re going to do. EMS is going door-to-door, seeking donations of whatever people can spare. Herbs, crystals, anything to sort of band-aid this whole situation.”

“Do you really think the townsfolk will hand over their supplies?” Dayo asked skeptically.

“Doubtful,” Aphra said. “But we have to try something. Unless anyone has a better idea?”

“What about reaching out to that coven in Boston?” Scarlett suggested. “Maybe they could lend some support.”

Dayo shook her head. “They’re dealing with their own magical crisis at the moment. An infestation of pixies that are turning all the beer in the city into mead.”

“Oh, the humanity,” Aphra deadpanned.

Just then, Priti’s phone buzzed with an alert. She glanced at the screen and grimaced. “I knew I shouldn’t have said anything; I jinxed myself. Another fire, other side of town. I better go check it out.” She pushed back from the table and hurried out.

Scarlett suddenly felt eyes boring into her. She glanced over to see Louise Demain staring intently from across the room, her unblinking gaze deeply unsettling. Scarlett squirmed uncomfortably, then abruptly stood. “I’m going to go see what Delilah is up to. Be back later.”

She found her sister in the lobby, fiddling with an antique clock on the wall. “Hey, I have a thought,” Delilah said as Scarlett approached. “Why don’t you take Max’s dragonflies to Luna? She’s gone through one of the portals to try conjuring some potential predators. We realized it would be smarter for her to work somewhere without all the anarchy.”