Bell, Book, and Sandals
Page 43
I sat the paper down on the bed and picked up the pendant. It felt warm against my skin as I held it. I didn’t really know if I wanted something of Ryan’s, especially something that meant so much to him. But I did know one thing. He killed someone to save my life, and that should mean something.
Slipping the chain over my head, I let the pendant fall against my tee-shirt. It felt right on me, like I was the one it had been waiting for. Also, whether I liked it or not, it made me feel a little closer to Ryan. The vampire who had betrayed his family to save me.
Van watched me knowingly and then turned for the door. “Oh, if you’re up to it, you have a visitor.”
Visitor? Had Ryan stopped by? Had this all been a test? Intrigued, I followed Van out to the living room. Jensen waited on the couch. He smiled when he saw me.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” she said, disappearing down the hall, into her room.
“Hey,” I greeted Jensen, feeling the weight of Ryan’s pendant against my heart.
He stood up from the couch. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. The bruising has almost gone away,” I told him, holding up my wrists, showing him the fading damage the chains had done to me. “It’s almost like I was never taken at all,” I said, but the reality of that day hung heavily between us.
Jensen nodded, both of us knowing that wasn’t really what he was asking. He stepped closer, staring down at me. “When Van called and told me you were missing, my heart about stopped. The thought of losing you forever nearly shattered my world,” he said, stepping even closer. His hand gently pushed a strand of hair out of my face, his fingertips lingering against my cheek. “I know this hasn’t been the greatest start of a relationship, but if you’re willing to overlook that, so am I.”
The look in his eye was easy to read. He wanted me. He had wanted me the whole time. I was the idiot who kept pushing him away and he still wanted to be with me. “Jensen,” I said, barely finding my voice. “I admit the feelings I have for you are more amazing, more frightening, and more real than anything I have ever felt before.”
He smiled at me, encouraging me to continue.
“But there is so much uncertainty in my life right now. I don’t even really know who I am yet. I’m just meeting the real me for the first time,” I told him, wishing I didn’t have to. “I can’t have my head in the clouds any longer. Ryan’s dad is still out there. More attacks are bound to be on the horizon. And…something is coming. I can feel it. It’s pressing down on the edge of my awareness. I have to be focused. I have to be the best witch I can be.”
“Don’t you think I can help make you a better witch?”
“I know you can. I’m going to have to rely on you a lot and well…” I stepped back away from him, pulling out of his arms, regretting it even as I knew I had to. “My last two relationships have been disasters. I’m not ready to lose what we have, too. I need you. And the best way to protect that is not to get involved,” I said, taking a deep breath. “So, I’m going to try single life and make magic the number one priority right now.” I looked up at Jensen, at the sadness in his eyes. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I couldn’t be with him, not when there were so many unanswered questions still left in my heart. I held out my hand to him. “Friends?”
He looked down at my hand, a thoughtful look on his face. Slowly, a smile crept across his lips. “Of course, Max,” he said, scooping me into a hug. “There’s no one in this whole world I’d rather be friends with. Besides, someone has to stay by your side and keep you alive. You’re not too good at that yourself.”
I smiled, snuggling into his embrace. I didn’t know what the future held, or who I’d end up with, but this looked like the start of a beautiful friendship.
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Want more Maxie? Check out her Halloween adventures in It’s Not The Great Pumpkin, Maxie Duncan.