“Em.” He dropped to his knees beside me, eyes wide. “Did you see that?”

I grinned. “Yes.”

“Howhow did you do that?”

“I’ve been practicing, but it hadn’t worked till tonight.”

“Okay.” He picked up the pot and placed it aside. “Touch me.”

“What? I don’t think that’s the next logical step, Hayden. This is the first time I haven’t killed a plant. Let me soak in that victory for a bit, first.”

He smiled, momentarily stunning me. It had been ages since I’d seen him really smile, the one that showed those dimples. “What did you do differently this time?”

A hot flush spread over my cheeks. “It was something Parker said, actually. That I’d made myself believe… the whole soulless thing so I didn’t have any responsibility or control, but it’s more than that.”

Hayden shifted closer. “What?”

I swallowed. “I told myself. I had a gift… I’m not cursed, you know?”

“I knowI’ve always known that. I guess you just had to believe that.”

My eyes fell to where his hands rested. Out of everything to ask and be concerned about, I went with the entirely ridiculous. “Why have we been mad at each other?”

“Mad at you?” Hayden rocked back. Three counts went by before he spoke again. “I haven’t been mad at you, Em.”

There was no turning back now. I was probably going to regret this. “But you haven’t really talked to me or… spent any time with me. Not since that night in the cabin when I told you that my parents knew about Olivia’s gift… and I thought, after what you said when I woke you up… well, I don’t know what I thought.”

He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It’s been hard. I didn’t want to believe that anyone I knew was behind the stuff in the locker, and you were right, but it’s more than that. I just need needed some time to sort it all out.”

I came to my feet, wiping my hands over my shorts. I felt his gaze inching over me. I realized then, he’d probably never seen my legs before. He didn’t say anything as he stood. “What is it?”

He looked like he was about to retreat, shut back down. Watching the war of emotions battle across his face, I had a burst of courage. “I’m not mad that you didn’t believe me when I said it was one of your family members doing that stuff. Okay, I was mad, but not anymore. It’s done now.”

“I should’ve believed you, though. The evidence was pointing at one of them. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”