“What time is the lesson?”
“Four, but I can see if my student can come earlier, though I really need to go grocery shopping and do laundry.”
“Being an adult sucks, doesn’t it?”
“It does.” I splay my fingers over Ethan’s chest. “Though I do like this part of it.”
His hands move up and down my body. “I like it too.”
I close my eyes, soaking up another few blissful moments lying here with Ethan before we have to get up and face reality. We both fall back asleep, woken about half an hour later when Ethan’s phone rings.
“It’s my dad,” he says with a sigh. “I’ll call him back in a minute.”
“Okay,” I reply sleepily. “I should get up and get going too. And I’m going to tell my brother and best friend about everything. How they react will be interesting to say the least.”
“You know you don’t have to tell them.”
“I want to, because hiding something this big…I don’t see how we can still be friends. And Harrison already called me out for acting weird. It’s only a matter of time before Laney does too.”
“Good point.” Ethan kisses my forehead before forcing himself up. I move a little slower but get up too. I’m pulling clothes out of my overstuffed closet when an unwelcome thought enters my mind: I can’t keep a secret from my friends, but will Harrison and Laney still want to be friends with me when they learn the truth?
“Thanks for coming over.” I bring two mugs of coffee to the table, giving one each to Laney and Harrison. We’re in my kitchen, and I’m going to open up and tell them everything. Ethan is back at home, doing something for the Order with his family. I’m going to his house before my lesson this afternoon so we can go to the barn together.
“You made it sound pretty urgent.” Laney slides her coffee over, wrapping her hands around the mug. “What’s going on?”
“You’re pregnant,” Harrison blurts, just to be an ass.
“Hah. I’m not, well, I don’t think so, at least. Anyway, it would be too soon to tell if I was,” I say.
“What?” Laney’s eyes widen. “Who are you sleeping with and why don’t I know about this mystery man?”
“Talk about that when I’m not around,” Harrison says.
“Oh, we so are,” Laney tells him. “Is that why we’re here?”
“No,” I go on. “But Ethan does have something to do with all this.” I lean against the counter. “It’s going to sound weird, so I’m just going to come out and say it. I’m a witch.”
Laney and Harrison exchange looks.
“You had us come over to tell us you’re into Wicca now?” Laney makes a face. “You know those this could have been an email memes? This applies.”
“I’m not into Wicca. I told you both how I can’t remember like anything from my childhood that has to do with Aunt Estelle, right? Well, it’s because she cast a spell on me that made me forget. She bound my powers too, but now that she’s dead, the binding spell broke, I’m starting to figure out how to use my powers, oh, and demons are after me, but Ethan’s a demon hunter and we’re working on how to have me not die.”
Laney opens her mouth only to close it, and Harrison’s brows furrow.
“Should I call Mom?” he asks gently. “Or are you sensing the spirit of a crazy person?”
“I’m not crazy,” I snap, and Hunter gets to his feet, coming over and gently pawing at me. “Thank you,” I tell him. “Hunter doesn’t think I’m crazy.”
Laney eyes Harrison again, looking concerned. “Anora,” she starts.
“I can prove it,” I interrupt and grab a napkin from the counter, balling it up in my hand. Closing my eyes, I remember Aunt Estelle’s voice, telling me to feel it. Feel the fire. “Ignis,” I whisper and the napkin in my hand goes up in flames. I drop it on the table and little embers spark into the air. Eyes wide, I can’t help but smile as I watch it burn, feeling a sense of familiarity.
“Holy fucking shit.” Harrison jumps back so fast he hits the table, sloshing his and Laney’s coffee out of their mugs.
“See? I’m not crazy.”
Laney pokes at the charred remains of the napkin with her nail. “You’re really a witch?”
“I am.”
“And you’ve always been one?”
“I think so,” I reply.
“Why would your aunt bind your powers and alter your memories?”
“I don’t know.” I let out a breath. “If there was a way to get my memories back, I’d probably figure it out.”
Harrison slowly sits back down. “You said demons are after you.”
“I did.” I pull out a chair, sit, and take a breath. “I’ll tell you guys everything.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Come in,” Julia says, answering the door. “I think Ethan’s in the shower. Well, someone is. I heard the water turn on.”