Page 40 of The Nowhere Witch

I made a noncommittal humming noise. Oscar was easy to find. I’d track him down tomorrow and pick his brain then.

“That’s it? No thoughts?” Oscar was still watching and waiting for a response.

I shrugged.

Of course I had thoughts. My wall was cracked. How could Inothave thoughts? There were lots of thoughts, including ones for the man staring at me from the couch.

“She doesn’t seem to have much to say today,” Hawk added, staring as if he could sense how hard it was to keep the words back.

“Any idea on how to fix it yet?” Oscar asked.

I shook my head.

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Hawk said.

“Why can’t she just do another wall? Double it up or something?” Oscar asked, glimpsing over at me before directing his attention to the only person speaking in the room.

“I don’t think it will work. Whatever she did the first time I’m not sure she could duplicate. It wasn’t the spell we were working on. She’s just as likely to tear what is there down completely or make it worse.”

“So no new ideas?”

“No, I don’t think so. Unless Tippi has something to add?” Hawk asked.

I turned to him. “No. I don’t.”

“Any ideas?” Oscar asked, alternating his looks between me and Hawk.

I shrugged as I sipped my tea.

Oscar narrowed his eyes on me. “Why aren’t you talking?”

Another shrug, because that was not the conversation I was having now.

He didn’t waste a second before turning to Hawk. “Why isn’t she talking? She’s usually feistier than this. I mean, I can see the words wanting to come out, but she’s, like, visibly biting her tongue.”

Hawk glanced at me. I refused to look back.

He looked at Oscar. “She’s mad, and the anger seems to be increasing.”

“Was it the apartment?” Oscar looked at me. “I told him not to do it. Said it was a bad move.” Oscar dragged a finger across his neck as he shook his head.

I sipped my tea. If I started a list, we’d be here all night.

“Wow. You’re so mad you won’t even talk about it.” Oscar turned back to Hawk. “This is bad.”

“I couldn’t tell you, since she’s not discussing it with me,” Hawk said in a glib tone.

“Maybe I should stop by Zark’s tomorrow and sit at the bar,” Oscar said. “Bet you tell Gregor why you’re mad. You two looked chummy enough the last time I stopped by.” He got off the couch and moved to sit on the shelves beside me, his shoulder brushing against mine. “Keep flirting with the boy that way and you’re going to make me jealous.”

I choked on my tea. Oscar had come by for all of five minutes. He’d sat at the bar, and he hadn’t looked even slightly jealous. What was he up to now?

Oscar moved closer, flipping a lock of my hair in his fingers. “Unless you’re trying to make me jealous? Is that it, doll?”

I wasn’t sure what Oscar’s game was, but he was shameless at it.

“Did you come by for anything in particular, Oscar?” Hawk said. He was still sitting, but he looked like he wanted to get off the couch and lunge at Oscar.

“Just to see what was up,” Oscar said, smiling.