Page 3 of Resurrecting the Witch
“I’m going to murder Gioia,” I muttered. “Also, sorry, I didn’t realize it was you.” I was being rude as hell; I’d changed these kids’ diapers at one point and didn’t even say hello when he asked if I wanted wine at the table.
He filled my water glass and gave me another one of his signature Merrick bright smiles that showed how much love he had in him for the world. “When you didn’t bring up some embarrassing story from my childhood when I offered you wine, I figured something was up.” The little turd grinned a more knowing smile this time, and I did not appreciate it. “And tell me I’m not witnessingtheCliona Erin Ó Cuinn acting nervous? You haven’t pried your eyes away from the door since you sat down. Mamma and Papá talked about their first date a lot and how they were both so nervous and didn’t want to go, but then they had seven of us pups.”
Merrick was speaking about as fast as I was going through bad scenarios in my head. I also knew he was probably laying it on thick since this was his first job; I had approved his work permit myself a few weeks ago. Haven Pass was a sanctuary, not a capitalist hellscape. If someone wasn’t ready to work, we took care of them as a community. No one here needed to work unless they wanted to for fulfillment or because they were bored, or because it was their passion.
“All I’m saying is that it’s totally fine to be nervous, and I’m sure it will be a fun night for both of you! Let me know if you need anything,ma’am,” he said with what could only be described as a nauseating amount of positivity.
“You little shit.” I smacked his arm as he walked away, throwing me a knowing smirk in the process. Merrick Hemlock did not justma’amme.
What fresh hell was this?
Merrick had grown into a handsome young man. He was nineteen now, and a cute thing. He probably had no trouble finding a date. Not like me, the rage-ridden, worry-filled mess of a witch who was supposed to have her shit together to run this town. Haven Pass was the Ó Cuinn legacy. The Hemlock pack got an Italian restaurant, and I was responsible for an entire island of paranormal beings who needed to escape the humans. Could I have a cute Italian restaurant instead? I’m sure I could find some of Gran’s dishes from Ireland and make something edible. Did Merrick’s sickeningly sweet smile mean he knew I wasn’t going to have a date tonight as well? Could he tell because he was young and probably getting laid all the time that I was a hopeless case? He seemed genuine, but these kids knew more about all this shit than I did.
I bet he and the other staff had a pool going for how long I would wait before I accepted that I’d been stood up by a stranger. It didn’t matter that it was still ten minutes before the date was even scheduled to start. I knew Patrick wouldn’t come.
Who would?
Why am I here?
This is a joke.
I didn’t have time to even try to think about dating again. And everyone in Haven Pass knew my ex-fiancé was a traitor and a liar, and that I didn’t deserve happiness because my one shot had been with Hunter Mega-Prick-Fuckwad Jacobs, and that ended in heartbreak and loneliness. And a lot of death that was all my fault anyway. I didn’t deserve anything else good in this life. I was only biding my time now anyway until the crone called me home, and I was on the other side of the veil with my family. And where I could find a way to kill Hunter Jacobs and his horrid family again. And again.
And again.
I knew I wasn’t worthy of leading in Haven Pass, I was surprised folks even wanted to stay here after I let Hunter in and ruined it all. But the real joke was thinking I could have possibly made anyone happy with how pissed off and overwhelmed with magick I was lately.
My breathing increased rapidly, and I felt my skin pull tight across my flesh. Even the barrier holding in all of my insides was done with me. It would collapse soon. I felt it each day, my power eating away at my insides, threatening to expose my true nature to the outside world.
As if on cue and listening to the certifiable inner melodrama about me being unworthy of this mystery date and any happiness in general circling my brain, the kitchen staff erupted in laughter as soon as sweet, extremely well-liked, and socially accepted Merrick retreated behind the swinging door.
“Okay, enough of this fuckery,” I said to the almost empty room in defeat and stood from the table.
Lennox could haunt my ass all she wanted, but I was getting out of here. And because I’m me, not just wrathful and anxious but also a major klutz, the nearly full glass of water Merrick, the little Hemlock snot, just poured for me spilled everywhere. There wasn’t much on the table, but it seemed to leap in the direction of my lap like darting toward a water magnet in my crotch, so the entire front of my new sweater and jeans were soaked.
“Fucking goddess-damned piece of garbage,” I said louder than I intended.
My useless hands, with several still-throbbing fingers from the hangnails I picked too far, wouldn’t stop shaking, and I felt my breathing increase and a spiral incoming. I looked up and saw the few other patrons staring at me and fucking Merrick rushing over with a few rags.
“I’m so sorry!” I explained and tried to grab a dry rag from him.
“Cliona, stop. You know it’s no problem.” Merrick started cleaning the mess, and the shiny whites of his slightly sharp canines showed as he smiled a too-perfect grin that made me grit my own teeth in response.
Of course, he wasn’t even worried, it was just a spilled glass of water to him, but that glass of water was my last fucking straw. It was a sign from the maiden, mother, and crone themselves that I was not meant to be here.
“Why don’t you go sit in the booth over there.” Merrick pointed at a semi-circle booth on the far side of the dining area, away from the other guests, because I obviously was causing too much of a scene and needed to be put in time out. “I am going to get this cleaned up, and I’ll bring fresh menus over there in just a minute. It’s seriously no biggie,” he explained with a calmness that only infuriated me. This wolf pup was barely old enough to work, and he was trying to calmmedown?
Me? The leader of this entire island? Cliona Erin Ó Cuinn?ME?
My vision darkened at the edges. My limbs began tingling in the way they always did before I either passed out or unleashed a torrent of power that couldn’t be contained. Merrick didn’t even notice. He simply continued sopping up the water that still pitter-pattered down the tablecloth onto the carpet, absorbing into the growing puddle with a dull sound. I didn’t bother going to where he pointed and instead grabbed my purse from the back of my chair and hauled ass out of there.
At least Lennox was nearby, she could drive since my own hands were shaking too bad, and I had walked here anyway. I already felt the familiar sting of tears dying to break free from the back of my eyes and didn’t want to stay here any longer.
It was too soon, I knew it had been too soon, and while Guillermo was right about a lot of things, he wasn’t right about this. I would have to tell him that tomorrow morning. I shouldn’t have let him talk me into this, and at least I was recognizing that I was not emotionally available in a space to go out and try to—
I slammed into a hard chest and would have fallen back if it weren’t for a strong grip on my arms. “Oh goddess, I’m so sorry,” I said, cursing the crack in my voice and didn’t lift my head but tried to walk around the body. I needed to get out of here before this turned into a full-on meltdown for Patrick to show up in the middle of. I could feign sickness or something or tell him it was too soon. Maybe he would understand.
Plus, I needed to get home to Schmidt as soon as possible. I needed kitty snuggles and some good weed to wash away this whole attempt at normalcy. Maybe Lennox would stay over like she sometimes did on Margarita Mondays so we could binge someReal Housewivesand eat junk food. I was sure if she saw me in this state, she would cancel anything else. We showed up for each other. She would show up for me today. Hell, she already had if she really was outside keeping a lookout. Lennox was always down for junk food and snuggles with her Schmidty-Poo nephew.
