Trev’s phone vibrated again. Stop trying to make me jealous. But seriously, I’m glad you’re connecting with Dante. You’re awesome, and lots of people care about you.

Trev took comfort in that assertion even as he fought the certainty that the rising wind presaged rough weather, and this was the calm before the storm.

Chapter 23

It was 3:00 a.m. when most of the coven departed, finally satisfied with the superior spell work that should protect Trev from all encroachment.

After everyone else left, Leanne said to Vanessa, “Why don’t you stay?”

“Sleepover?”

“Sleepover!” she confirmed.

They put on Vanessa’s favorite show, but neither of them paid much attention to it as Leanne listened to the family stuff Vanessa had been dealing with on her own. It wasn’t like the other witch needed her to solve anything, but before Leanne took a detour, they had been each other’s first stop with news and complications. She had no plans for that to change, even though she was married now. Sort of. Mostly?

“Thanks for listening,” Vanessa said quietly when she finished venting.

“Always. What are you planning to tell your folks?”

Vanessa’s father owned a regional restaurant chain, and her parents had been pressing her to move back to Atlanta and take over the company. She was currently working in graphic design while putting together enough sculptures for an exhibition, and she had zero interest in business management. Sighing, she shook her head.

“Hell if I know. Dad doesn’t understand why I can’t do my ‘little art projects’ while working for the family business, but it’ll eat up all my bandwidth, and I won’t have the energy to chase my own dream. I’ll be too busy living his.”

“I can relate. I still haven’t decided if I’m meeting my bio dad yet.”

Vanessa shook her head. “You’re out of your damn mind. Get in, get out, get paid.”

“You really think I should?” Leanne asked.

“I don’t understand how this is a question. He was a deadbeat your whole life, now he’s scared because his number is up, and even a wicked old witch can’t be sure our views on eternal life are correct. He’s trying to hedge his bets in case the mundanes are on to something. Man wants to clear his conscience, I say let him. It’s practically a charitable act.”

“When you put it that way—”

The keypad at the front door beeped. She hadn’t realized it had gotten so late, but here it was, well into the morning, and they hadn’t slept a wink.

Trev greeted Vanessa warmly, asking, “You look great. How’ve you been?”

“I’d spend an hour filling you in, but then I’d be too tired to drive home. Somebody told me you’re an amazing cook, when am I getting an invite to judge for myself?”