Witches Just Want to Have Fun

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Hadley.”

  “No.” I held up my hand. “You’re not the only one who is tired. I had a long day, too. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  With those words, I left Booker and Galen to fight to the death and headed for home. The last thing I heard was Booker and Galen speaking at the same time.

  “This is totally your fault!”

  I CHANGED INTO KNIT shorts and a T-shirt when I got home, grabbing a banana and freshly-cut pineapple chunks to serve as dinner because I had nothing else worth eating in the lighthouse. I settled on the back patio to watch the sun set.

  I was in a foul mood … and then some. I had no idea what had gotten into Booker and Galen. Okay, I knew, but I didn’t want to acknowledge it. They were both alpha males and they couldn’t help themselves. In an ideal world they’d stow the testosterone and act like proper gentlemen. Sure, that was completely unlikely and unrealistic, but at the moment I craved it all the same.

  I ate half the pineapple and ignored the banana as I watched the sun dip low against the horizon. It was a beautiful view, something I never thought I’d get to see on a regular basis when living on the mainland. I was thankful for it now … even if I was surrounded by buttheads.

  I was so lost in thought I didn’t notice the figure moving along the patio until he was already on top of me. Galen, his arms laden with a bag of what looked to be food truck offerings, tendered a contrite smile as he moved to the table.

  “Hey.”

  “Hello.” I wasn’t sure what to make out of his arrival. “I don’t want to argue.”

  “We’re not going to argue.” Galen heaved out a sigh as he took the open chair to my left. “I’m sorry we fought earlier. That is not how I envisioned our evening going.”

  “You’re kind of the reason it went that way.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m not going to apologize for walking with Booker.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m also not going to apologize for going to the cemetery,” I added for good measure. “I don’t even know how I ended up there. But I refuse to apologize for it.”

  “You shouldn’t apologize for it.” Galen smiled. “I am sorry. I really am. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”

  I knew it was unwise to forgive him so easily, but I was having trouble maintaining my fury. “Why did you react that way?”

  “Because Booker drives me crazy.”

  “I figured that out on my own.”

  “He always has,” Galen added. “We went to high school together. Did you know that?”

  I racked my brain. I couldn’t be sure if I knew that, but it made sense because they looked roughly the same age. “No, but … okay. Were you friends?”

  “Not really.” Galen answered without hesitation. “We weren’t enemies, but we weren’t friends. I hung around with the jock crowd and he hung around with the burnouts.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “I see. Are you trying to warn me away from Booker because he’s a pothead or something?”

  Galen snorted. “No. I’m simply trying to explain that what happened today had very little to do with you and everything to do with us. I’m not always an easy man to get along with – I know that – but I try really hard not to be as difficult as I was this evening.”

  Because I’d seen that up close and personal on numerous occasions, I believed him. “What happened today?”

  “The prosecutor is going forward with murder charges against Ashley. He won’t even consider waiting. He’s going for first-degree murder, and I can’t help feeling that’s the wrong course of action.”

  “Because you don’t think the murder was pre-meditated?”

  “I don’t know.” Galen threw up his hands in frustration. “That’s half the problem right there. I simply don’t know what happened or why. All I really have is Ashley and Trish fighting hours before one of them died, a longstanding family feud and a knife that looks a lot like a set I found in Ashley’s home.”

  I didn’t know about the last part, but it caused me to cringe. “That seems like strong evidence.”

  “It’s certainly strong enough for the prosecutor’s office.” Galen dragged a restless hand through his hair. “I’m not saying Ashley didn’t do it. I simply want more time to make sure she’s the guilty party.”

  “And why do you think the prosecutor doesn’t want that?”

  “Because this is a tourist destination.” Galen’s answer was simple. “Things like this are not supposed to happen here. He wants to make it go away as soon as possible. Out of sight, out of mind. People will forget it even happened in a few weeks.”

  Oddly enough, I could see that. “If you don’t believe Ashley is guilty, can’t you just tell him?”

  “He won’t listen to me. He doesn’t want to even consider anyone else might be guilty.”

  My heart went out to Galen and I awkwardly patted his hand. “I’m sorry. You’ve had a rough day. I should’ve taken that into account when you lost your marbles all over Main Street.”

  Galen snorted as he gripped my hand. “Yes, well, I guess I deserved that. I probably even deserved the ‘marbles’ comment, even though it’s somewhat insulting. It’s just … Booker knows exactly how to irritate me. We were kids together and he knew how to irritate me then. He’s only gotten better with age.”

  “I noticed that.” And, because I knew people like that in high school I allowed the remnants of anger pooling in the pit of my stomach to dissipate. “He only does it because he knows it bothers you.”

  “Do you think I don’t know that?” Galen flashed a rueful smile. “I know it. I can’t always help it. I was jealous when I saw you together, and something inside just snapped.”

  The admission caused me to squirm in my chair. “You were jealous? But … we weren’t doing anything.”

  “I know. I’m not blaming you. I’m blaming Booker.”

  “Because he knows how to get under your skin?”

  “Because he’s always had a way with women that makes them go weak in the knees. I swear, if the women on this island were cartoon characters little hearts would pop out of their eyes whenever they see him. It’s frustrating … and demoralizing at times.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at the cartoon heart visual. “Nice.” I remembered the way the teenagers at the festival the other night looked at Galen. “I don’t get the feeling you did all that bad in the dating department, and I’m referring to before we started going out. You don’t have any reason to be jealous of Booker. You know that, right?”

  “I’m not jealous because Booker gets around,” Galen clarified. “I was jealous earlier because … you’re the one person I’m interested in. I mean … the only one. I don’t see why he can’t focus on the other five hundred women in town who would fall all over themselves to hang with him and leave you alone. And, yes, I know that sounds petty and proprietary. I can’t help it.”

  Surprisingly, I understood where he was coming from. “You don’t have to worry about Booker. We really did run into each other outside the cemetery. He was only walking me back.”

  “I know. I trust you. I just … it’s Booker.”

  The face Galen made was adorable. “Well, he should clearly be flogged.” I snickered when Galen’s expression twisted to agitation. “What is in this bag?” I leaned forward, hoping to change the subject. “Whatever it is, it smells good.”

  “Fried green tomato sandwiches and elephant ears.”

  My eyebrows flew up. “Wow! I’m impressed. You went all out.”

  “I just wanted you to know that I was really sorry … because I am. I don’t think of you as a possession or anything, however you phrased it in town. I am grateful to have you around, but I don’t want to control you. What happened earlier was simply a timing issue.”

  “The prosecutor irritated you, Booker irritated you more, and I didn’t help matters by taking off. I get it.”

  “You did the smart thing by ta
king off,” Galen corrected. “That forced me to look at how I was acting and adjust my attitude.”

  “And Booker is still alive? You guys didn’t start throwing punches after I left, did you?”

  “No. He’s fine. Unfortunately.”

  I snickered as I dug in the bag and came out with a container. “Well, it’s fine now. Booker is off doing Booker things and we have a quiet night to ourselves. What could be better than that?”

  Galen rested his hand on my knee and gave it a good squeeze. “Nothing could be better than that right now.” He was earnest. “Absolutely nothing.”

  I found myself nodding in agreement, all my earlier anger disappearing. “Then let’s eat, huh?”

  “Definitely. I’m starving.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  14

  Fourteen

  We walked on the beach after dinner. Given our proximity to the downtown area, I could hear the revelry but was happy to be away from it … at least for tonight. Galen seemed content to leave his shoes close to the lighthouse and slosh around in the water, which never seemed to drop below a balmy seventy-five degrees from what I could tell. That was probably why Moonstone Bay was such a popular tourist destination.

  “Did you always know you would stay here?” I asked as I slid into my flip-flops and watched Galen retrieve his shoes shortly before ten. “I mean … it’s beautiful here. I don’t know why you’d ever want to leave. It’s a tropical paradise. Still, it’s an island. It’s a bit like being trapped at times.”

  Galen chuckled as he sat on the sand and tugged on a shoe. “I think everyone wonders what life would be like somewhere else. Of course I thought about fleeing to the mainland at some point, maybe setting up shop in Miami or St. Petersburg so I could remain close to the water, but when the time came to make that decision I realized I didn’t want to leave.”

  “Do you ever regret that decision?”

  Galen shook his head. “No. Are you regretting your decision to move here?”

  “Absolutely not.” I meant it. “This is the sort of place I dreamed about living when I was younger and suffering through brutal winters in Michigan. I understand that you’ve got a magical utopia here – in more ways than one – because I grew up somewhere else. I’ve already seen what the mainland has to offer and it’s lacking. I like it here. I was simply asking if you have wanderlust.”

  Galen’s grin was impish. “Since you got here, I’m afflicted with various forms of lust. Wander is not amongst them.”

  “Ha, ha.” I flicked the ridge of his ear. “I guess I was just wondering because of what you said earlier. You grew up here and had occasion to fight with Booker quite often … mostly about girls, apparently. Despite that, you volunteered him to help when I was attacked. It seems weird.”

  “Booker is a good handyman.”

  “And yet you still don’t like him.”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t like him. I said he drove me crazy. That’s true. He drives me crazy on a regular basis … like eat my hair and try to bite my own nose crazy. That doesn’t mean I don’t like him. Er, well, at least occasionally.”

  I snickered as I extended a hand to help him to his feet. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand the way men interact with one another. It’s nutty.”

  “Kind of like your buddy Madame Selena. How did things go with her, by the way?”

  Oh, right. I should’ve expected that question. He was obviously eager to change the topic and Madame Selena was an easy option. “It was fine.”

  Galen waited for me to expand.

  “She was a little manic,” I conceded, rolling my eyes when Galen smirked. “Okay, she was totally obnoxious and seemed more interested in getting a look at May’s books than anything else. She acted like that library was the holy grail of magic information. She didn’t explain anything about being a witch or what I can do. She didn’t offer to help me cast a spell or anything … not that I want to as of yet. Essentially I’m exactly where I was twenty-four hours ago.”

  “That’s not such a bad thing,” Galen pointed out. “I know this is hard for you. I know it’s not what you expected. But you’re strong. You’ll figure this out on your own.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “I am right. I have faith in you. I wish you would have faith in yourself.”

  “It’s not that easy when you have no idea where to start or what you’re supposed to be doing.”

  “I guess that’s fair.”

  We lapsed into amiable silence as we walked along the side of the lighthouse and headed toward the front door. I had every intention of kissing him goodnight and sending him on his way rather than inviting him to stay over. I was going to be strong tonight. I was determined. The open door at the front of the lighthouse threw me for a loop.

  “Did you go inside first? I mean … when you came looking for me. Did you come through the front door?”

  Galen shook his head as he tilted his head back and scanned the imposing lighthouse façade. I had no idea what he was looking for, but I imagined it was lights or a hint of movement on the other side of the windows. “No. I knew you were around back.”

  “How?”

  “I scented you.”

  That was a disturbing thought. I wondered what I smelled like. I imagined anise and cloves – two of my favorite scents – but figured it was far more likely I smelled like sweat and frustration. “That’s a wolf thing, right?”

  Galen nodded, all traces of mirth missing from his features. “That’s definitely a wolf thing. I need you to stay here.” He released my hand and reached for the door. “I’ll be right back.”

  He had to be kidding. I gripped his arm so he couldn’t race inside. “You’re not leaving me out here, are you?”

  “I … you’re safer out here.”

  “How do you know that?” I opted to be practical even though I wanted to shake him. “How do you know that someone didn’t break into the lighthouse, realize we were outside, and hide in a bush so he or she can attack me later? If you leave me out here, whoever it is might take the opportunity and jump me while you’re inside.”

  Galen made a face. “If you thought that you’d be hiding in my truck.”

  “Not really.”

  Galen growled. “Fine.” He linked his fingers with mine and tugged me toward the open door. “You stay close and quiet. If I tell you to run, you run.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m keen to stay alive.”

  “Good to know.”

  Galen was intent as he quietly slipped through the open door. He kept me close, practically pinned to his side, and cocked his head as he surveyed the room. “Does anything look out of place?” he whispered.

  I shook my head as I glanced around. The living room looked exactly as I’d left it, including the trashy magazine I’d flipped through earlier to take my mind off Booker and Galen’s potential fight. “No. It looks the same.”

  “Okay. This way.” Galen headed toward the stairs. “If someone is inside, it’s obvious he or she is on the second or third floor. No one is down here. I’d be able to scent a third person on this floor.”

  “What are you going to do if you find someone?”

  “Rip off a head.”

  I wanted to believe he was joking, but he looked so serious all I could do was swallow hard. “Okay. That sounds … delightful.”

  Galen flashed a quick smile. “It will be okay. I … .” Whatever he was about to say died on his lips as May flashed into existence in front of him, causing him to jolt back. “Hello!” He used his free hand to clutch at his chest. “You just about gave me a heart attack.”

  “Make a noise next time,” I suggested, looking her up and down. She didn’t appear flustered or upset, so I took that as a good sign. “Did the door blow open or something?”

  May shook her head. “Someone was inside the lighthouse. I tried to get your attention on the beach but either you couldn’t hear me or didn’t want to be int
errupted. Given the way you were looking at each other, I believe it was the latter. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the lighthouse, so I stuck close to make sure whoever it was didn’t steal anything.”

  Galen slid his arm around my waist as he regarded my grandmother’s ghostly countenance. “Well … who was it?”

  May shrugged. “I have no idea. I couldn’t see a face. He wore one of those hoodie things.”

  “Are you sure it was even a man?” I queried. “Women wear hoodies, too.”

  “Oh, well … .” May looked uncertain. “I didn’t look that close. I didn’t see breasts or anything. If it was a man, it wasn’t a big man. If it was a woman, it was a decent-sized woman.”

  “Lovely,” Galen muttered, shaking his head. “Let’s go with the assumption that it was a man for now. Which rooms was he most interested in?”

  “I have no idea. He barely made it inside before I knocked the broom over in the kitchen and frightened him to the point he rabbited. He ran so fast he left the door open. You two showed up a few minutes after that.”

  Galen flicked his eyes to the staircase. “You’re sure no one is here, right? You’re absolutely positive?”

  May nodded, solemn. “Whoever it was ran as soon as I knocked over the broom. He obviously thought it was you two returning.”

  “What about a vehicle?” I asked. “Did he have a vehicle?”

  “Not that I saw.”

  “We would’ve heard a vehicle,” Galen reminded me. “Your driveway isn’t that far from the patio. We would’ve heard if someone drove up.”

  “I didn’t hear you drive up.”

  “Fine. I would’ve heard someone else drive up.” Galen absently rubbed his hand over my back. “I don’t understand why someone would try to break in when it was obvious we were here. I mean … my truck is in the driveway. Anyone approaching would’ve heard us on the back porch.”

  “Unless we were already on the beach,” I pointed out.