Blood Witch_ Book Three - Cate Tiernan [26]
“Yeah, I guess,” I said finally, keeping my voice light. “I mean, it’s amazing. But who would’ve thunk it?”
We grinned at each other, and I found a pretty pine branch on the ground that had three perfect little cones on it. I also stopped to pick up a few oak twigs that had clumps of dried leaves on them. I love the shape of oak leaves.
“It’s really changed everything,” Robbie murmured, picking up a likely branch and handing it to me. I accepted it, and it joined the others in my basket. “Magick, I mean. It’s completely changed your life. And you completely changed my life.” He gestured to his face, his skin. I felt a brief stab of guilt. All I’d meant to do was try a tiny healing spell to clear up the acne that had scarred his face since seventh grade. But the spell had continued to perfect him. He didn’t even need glasses anymore. Every once in a while the whole thing spooked me all over again.
“I guess it has,” I agreed quietly. I leaned down to study a small, fuzzy vine climbing a tree. It had a few withering, bright red leaves on it.
“Don’t touch that,” said Robbie. “It’s poison ivy.”
I laughed, startled. “Great witch I’ll make.” We smiled at each other in the deepening twilight, the silence of the woods all around us. “I’m glad there’s no one else besides you here,” I added. “I know you won’t think I’m a complete idiot.”
Robbie nodded, but his smile faded. He bit his lip.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Do you miss Bree?” Robbie asked out of the blue.
I stared at him, unable to answer. I didn’t know what to say. But I knew what he was feeling: here we were, having fun as we’d done so many times in the past—only Bree wasn’t here to share the fun with us.
“I’m in love with her, you know,” he said.
My jaw dropped open. Wow. I’d had some suspicions about his feelings for her, but I’d never imagined they were so strong. Nor did I ever expect him just to put them out there like that.
“Uh, I guess I sort of figured you liked her,” I admitted awkwardly.
“No, it’s more than that,” Robbie said. He looked away and tossed an acorn off into the bushes. “I’m in love with her. Crazy about her. I always have been, for years.” He smiled and shook his head. I stole a quick glance at him, and any regrets I had about healing his face vanished. I’d done a good thing. He was handsome, secure; his jaw was smooth and strong. He looked like a model.
“Years?” I asked. “I didn’t know that.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t want you to. I didn’t want anyone to know, especially Bree. She’s always gone for the dumb, good-looking types. I’ve been watching her be with one jerk after another, knowing I never had a chance.” His smile faltered. “You know she told me about when she lost her virginity?” He turned to me, his blue-gray eyes glinting in fading sunlight. He shook his head again, remembered pain on his face. “She was all happy and excited. The best thing since mocha latte, she said. And with that loser, Akers Rowley.”
I frowned. “I know. Akers was an ass. I’m sorry, Robbie.”
“Anyway,” Robbie went on, his smile returning, “have you looked at me lately?”
“You’re gorgeous,” I said instantly. “You’re one of the best-looking guys in school.”
Robbie laughed, sounding for a moment like his old awkward and self-conscious self. “Thanks. But, um, do you think maybe I have a shot now?”
I bit my lip. Now, there was a loaded question. I mean, totally apart from the fact that Bree might be getting involved in dark magick, it was so odd to think of her and Robbie as a couple. They’d been friends for so long. “I don’t know,” I said after a minute. “I don’t know how Bree sees you. Yeah, you’re good-looking, but she might think of you more as a brother. You sort of know her too well to put a spell on her. Or vice versa.” I grinned. “Nonmagickally speaking.”
Robbie nodded,