Page 120 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
Vi flung herself onto the couch with a dramatic groan. “It feels like a lifetime. I need a break. I need a snack. And I really do need a Red Bull… or a Rejuvenation Potion.”
“Is that what you’ll say when the head of a vampire hive comes knocking and asks for your help in keeping their residents in line?‘I’m sorry you’re having issues with rogue vamps, but I need to rustle up a Red Bull first.’”
Vi frowned. “Well, when you say it like that…”
“Hello! Hello!” Edie’s voice chimed as she entered the house, two brown grocery bags in her arms. “I thought you girls would be finished by now.”
“There’s no such thing as finished when Rose is leading the magical study session. I can’t believe I’m actually missing the tweedy librarian’s flash cards.” Vi perked up. “You didn’t happen to grab any Red Bull, did you?”
Vi and Rose took the bags from their grandma.
“Can’t say I did, sweetheart. Sorry.”
“You know who will have some?” Vi grinned at Rose. “Dad. And I happen to know where he keeps his stash. I’ll be back. Study break!”
Rose cried out, “We’re not—”
Shepoof’d, leaving her alone with Edie.
“I think I preferred when she couldn’t do that. She’s getting too damn good,” Rose complained, tossing the flash cards on the kitchen table with a sigh.
“She’s getting good at a great many things although I’m not so sure your sister sees all her improvement.” Edie eyed the flash cards knowingly and began putting the grocery items away. “How are things going with potions? Any progress?”
“She thought Red Bull was the last ingredient of a Rejuvenation Potion, so how do you think?”
Edie chuckled. “Technically, one can substitute it for the ginseng, but it’s not common knowledge. Are you sure that’s the only reason why you’ve been at this for hours?”
She plucked a grape from the bowl on the counter. “Why else would I be here on a Saturday night? It’s not like I have something else to do or anyplace to be… or a person to see.”
“No one? Are you sure about that?” Her grandma watched her like a hawk, wearing a knowing look.
Rose growled. “Vi told you, didn’t she? That blabbermouth couldn’t help flapping her lips about Damian. Did she tell you he signed offon my community service hours so that I never have to darken his doorstep again? Super sweet and thoughtful of him, right?”
“Vi? No. She was suspiciously closed-mouth about everything.”
Her mouth dropped. “Olive?Are you serious?”
“It was only out of concern for you, I assure you. Maybe also a deflection as I asked about her current living arrangements—whichdidcome to me through Violet.” Edie focused on Rose from across the counter. “But you should know I won’t be distracted in this instance. Talk to me, sweetheart.”
“There’s not much to say. Damian and I agreed to have a temporary thing.” Even being a grown witch and Edie being Edie, she wasn’t about to sayfuck buddyto her grandmother. “It ran its course. We crossed the finish the line. Game over.”
With each word she uttered, it became harder to breathe. By the end, her chest ached.
Edie watched her thoughtfully, her lips pursed in thinking mode. “Are you sure it’s over?”
“I told you he signed off on my community service, right? That was him telling me to have a good life. Seems pretty finished to me.”
“Maybe… maybe not.”
She smiled wanly, and reaching across the island, took her grandma’s hand. “I know you mean well, Gran, but not everyone is as lucky as you and Violet. Not everyone gets to meet their soul mate and live out a fairy-tale happily ever after.”
“So you don’t have strong feelings for the good-looking vet?”
“It doesn’t matter if I’m in love with Damian. He won’t risk getting too deeply invested with anyone, and as much as I love him, I love myself more. I won’t settle for anything less than someone’s whole heart, and he’d never be able to give that to me.”
Edie’s mouth slid into a proud grin. “How did I become so lucky to have three such intelligent, strong-minded, and independent granddaughters?”
“Because we inherited it from our intelligent, strong-minded, andindependent grandmother.” She squeezed Edie’s hand as realization dawned. “But you’re right. I am strong-minded. And independent. And determined. Just because I can’t have the man I want doesn’t mean I can’t have the life I want.”
