Page 76 of Wedded Witch
My pulse quickens, my body practically humming with anticipation.
But then—something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. A shadow, familiar and unnerving, just by the doorway.
Oland.
My heart stops, my breath hitching in my throat. I freeze, my eyes glued to the figure in the distance. It’s only a glimpse—just a flicker of him, or at least someone who looks like him—but that’s enough to send me spiralling.
I jerk back in my seat, knocking into the table and spilling Kel’s drink.
“Swyn, what’s wrong?” Kel asks, his eyes filled with concern as he moves closer, his hand reaching out for mine.
“I—I thought I saw him.” I shake my head, panic creeping in as my thoughts race. “My husband. I thought he was here.”
Kel straightens up, his entire demeanour shifting. His eyes dart around the room, scanning for any sign of danger. He’s in protective mode instantly.
“Where?”
“I don’t know,” I mutter, rubbing my hands over my face. “I must’ve imagined it.”
But I’m not sure. My pulse is racing, and my body feels like it’s on high alert. The evening had been perfect, and now it’s like I’ve been yanked back into the shadows I’ve been trying so hard to escape.
“Let’s get out of here,” Kel says, his tone firm but gentle. He doesn’t push me, just helps me up and guides me toward the door. “We can go somewhere else. Somewhere safe.”
I shake my head. “No. I just—I want to go back to the motel.”
He hesitates for a second but nods. “Okay. Whatever you need.”
The drive back to the motel is quieter. The lightheartedness from earlier is gone, replaced by a tension that sits heavily in my chest. I know Kel’s still watching me out of the corner of his eye, worried, but he doesn’t say anything.
I appreciate that. I’m not ready to talk about Oland. Not yet.
When we pull into the motel parking lot, Kel kills the engine but doesn’t get out immediately. I stare at the darkened windowsof the building, suddenly feeling the weight of the night pressing down on me.
I don’t want to be alone. Not now. But the thought of going back to the flat with all three of them, after being on a date with Kel, feels awkward.
Kel turns to me, his eyes soft in the dim light. “How about dessert?”
I blink at him, my mind still racing. “Dessert?”
“The diner’s still open. They’ve got great waffles and ice cream. Come on,” he says with a small smile, his tone coaxing. “You’ll feel better with something sweet inside you.”
I hesitate but then nod. “Okay. Waffles sound good.”
He grins and once again helps me out of the truck, keeping his hand in mine as we cross the road and then guiding me through the door.
Inside, the smell of warm syrup and freshly baked goods immediately lifts my spirits. We sit in a booth, and I let out a small sigh of relief, already feeling a little lighter.
Kel orders us waffles loaded with cherries, whipped cream, and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. When it arrives, it’s like a slice of heaven on a plate.
For the first time since we left the bar, I feel myself relaxing.
“You were right,” I say, taking a bite of the waffle. “This is exactly what I needed.”
Kel leans back in his seat, his eyes soft as he watches me. “Told you. Dessert fixes everything.”
We eat, sharing bites of the fluffy waffles and ice cream, the atmosphere between us slowly returning to the warmth from earlier. His foot bumps against mine under the table, and I smile at the familiar spark that flickers between us.
It feels natural, easy, like we’re falling back into the rhythm of our date, even after my scare at the bar.