Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(50)

If she were any less of a sister, she’d escape before the front door opened, but that wasn’t her. They’d shared a womb for nearly eight months. No way was she letting Olly deal with their mother without backup.

Rose’s phone dinged.

If you don’t listen, at least come around back. You can thank me later.

—O



With a thumbs-up response sent back, she walked around the wraparound porch to the side gate and followed the stone path toward the rear of the house. Voices murmured from inside the kitchen, and Rose slowly crept up the back steps, silently cursing when the motion detector went off, basking her and the entire backyard in a blinding white light.

The back door flung open, and Olive shook her head, hand propped on her curvy hip. She pulled Rose inside and into a hug. “And here I thought you had more survival instinct than this. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“It can’t be that bad, can it?” Rose greeted Edie with a kiss on the cheek, and when her grandma grimaced, she cursed. “It’s that bad?”

Olive lifted a dark blond eyebrow. “Have you met our mother?”

“Yeah, but I actually thought she was mellowing a bit. She called the other day, and didn’t once sigh, groan, or try and set me up with someone.”

Olive looked at her as if she’d sprouted a second head, and she couldn’t believe the words left her mouth, either, but they were true. When Rose had been engaged to Valentin, Christina had overseen every detail of the Bonding Ceremony. From flowers to linen, to what detergent brand the linen was washed in.

Rose hadn’t picked a damn thing. Not even her dress.

But Vi’s Bonding to Lincoln? Their mother had taken a surprisingly backseat role. Oh, there’d definitely been a multitude of grimaces and a few eye rolls, but for the most part, the ceremony and the other activities had all been Vi’s and Linc’s choices.

Progress …

But Olive’s fervent head-shaking told Rose her triplet didn’t think so. “I think she orchestrated this thing during Vi and Linc’s escape on purpose because she didn’t want us to have extra backup.”

Rose swallowed a laugh. “Escape? You mean on their honeymoon?”

“Whatever. I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with Mom alone.” She glanced to Edie. “Not that you’re not a great ally, Gran.”

Edie chuckled. “Oh, I know very well how it goes, my dear. When my brother, sister, and I were your age, we felt the same way. There’s no better backup than Magical Triad backup.”

Rose studied her sister. Curiousness gave way to concern as she registered the dimness in Olive’s usually sparkling blue eyes, and beneath them, the dark circles.

“Are you okay, Olly?” Rose asked. Her sister looked the degree of tired that sent people to bed for weeks. “Are you good?”

“Define good.” Olly gifted her a tired smile. “I’m kidding. Everything’s fine. Roommate woes are a little more woeful as of late, but it’ll get better. At least that’s what Gina assured me. Again.”

Rose waited for elaboration, and when it didn’t come … “I’ll need more information than that. You look like you’ll be face-planting in your plate by the time dessert comes out.”

“If it’s a chocolate raspberry tart thing that wouldn’t be so horrible.”

Rose shot her sister a look, making Olive sigh.

“Fine. Instead of working a normal, real-world job, Gina decided to peddle potions and herbs from our living room. At all hours of the night. The second I convince myself to fall asleep, the damn apartment buzzer goes off.”

“I’m sorry.”

Olly gave her a skeptical look. “I thought for sure you’d say I told you so for going to the Witch’s Cauldron to find a roommate.”

“Did you really think I’d do that?”

Olive shrugged, smirking. “Yeah. Because if the roles were reversed, I know I’d be doing some mega gloating right now.”

“No gloating here. Besides, it wouldn’t land the same way when you’re so sleep deprived you could double as the Crypt Keeper.”

“Bwitch!” Olive laughed, smacking her arm.

Rose turned to her quietly smiling grandmother. “So, I know why Olive’s back here hiding, but why are you?”

Olive snortled, obviously knowing something she didn’t. “Oh, you’re going to love this…”

Edie frowned. “You’d best watch your tongue, young lady.”

“Oh, come on, Gran. Admit it. It’s a little bit funny.”

“There’s not even a speck of humor anywhere in this entire ridiculous situation.”

Rose bounced her attention between the two witches. “Someone needs to shed some light on this because the suspense is killing me.”

Olive giggled. “Mom invited a couple special friends to join us for dinner.”

“Friends? Who?”

Edie bristled, finally snapping. “That damn Lionel the Lion from the bakery.”

Rose snuck a glance to an amused Olive. “Mr. Gingham? Why?”

They’d known the shifter for nearly their entire lives, the nice man having baked each of the triplets’ birthday cakes since their very first one. Hardworking with an easygoing smile, he had a habit of putting everyone at ease who stepped into his shop, and he’d been their grandpa Jethro’s best friend.