Page 68 of Novice Girlfriend

Now if they would actually do that instead of just saying that was the real question.

And apparently, it was something I actually said out loud. I flushed so hot that I almost fainted when so many people looked at me with a range of everything that it wasn’t even funny.

“I really have to stop doing that and learn how to be around people,” I mumbled, wanting to melt into the ground. “It’s so beyond ridiculous.”

“It’s getting better and seems to be only when you’re stressed,” Mrs. Oliveria quickly interjected. “And it’s not like you didn’t say anything most of us weren’t already thinking, so let’s take it as a reality check we all need to do better and move forward.”

Awesome. For some of us, that meant moving locations and that left a bunch of us at my actual house.

Tracey seemed beside herself when we appeared. “What took so long? You promised to call the moment it was over because I couldn’t be seen at the Berns estate for Bevin.”

Clare flinched. “Sorry. Sorry.”

“She’s not used to being a fighter,” Jean muttered as she moved to block Clare slightly. “I forgot too. We’re used to hiding and blending.”

I wasn’t the only one who blinked at Jean like she’d grown another head.

She didn’t ignore it. “I told you both I truly regretted what I tried to do to Clare. It wasn’t a lie. Leave it.” She cleared her throat. “But don’t expect it.”

So clearly, something happened that made her act like a real sister right then, but Cinderella would turn back into a pumpkin soon… Or however that comparison went.

Tracey seemed to accept that, Jasmine too.

And that I was looking around for Wyatt.

“I left him a message,” Tracey muttered. “I know that’s a whole thing too.”

I sighed, scrubbing my hands over my face. “Yeah, there are so many at this point it’s not even funny.”

“I hate to add to your plate, but I have another one,” Jean warned me.

“Wait, we need to discuss what happened,” Clare muttered.

Jean moved aside and gave her an amused look before focusing on me. “Let’s skip the part where you lie to me that you’re a goddess witch. I’ve already accepted you can’t ever be on my ‘chessboard,’ as I’ve heard you refer to it or whatever. I’m annoyed I didn’t catch what you did that day I first accused you until—I’m sharper than that.”

I held up a hand to hold off everyone else, truly curious. “Caught what?”

Challenge and something else filled her eyes. “You said I got one of two correct, but actually I listed three things that day. You’re the owner. You’re a goddess witch. And you don’t want people to know that. But you do actually want people to know that because you’re tired of everyone treating you like you’re a magicless blonde bimbo.”

“Yes.” I gave a half shrug when people around us gasped. “But it’s not worth how many would get hurt, so it’s a gray area really but yeah, that’s how I got around the magic that day.” I studied her. “When?”

“Did I figure it out?” she checked. She sighed when I nodded. “When Mother side-stepped the magic the same way we’re all taught to pull that. I realized you had that same blank face and Clare jumped on too fast. It’s when I stepped up my…”

I blinked at her and could have been pushed over with a feather. “Publicly backing of us.”

“Call it whatever, but you cannot fall into the hands of other top-tier families. Taylor Reid is correct that you are—this is a better alliance plan for me, so no, I no longer want you under me. Two sides of a wall is better even if we don’t fully trust each other. We trust we hate the people on the other side and both want to survive.”

I gave a slow nod. “Then let me be just as fair that there is a lot I won’t tell you because I can’t, not just it’s you.”

She snorted. “There wouldn’t be so little information about goddess witches if the gods didn’t gag you all somehow with that blessing they gave you. Everything comes with a cost. Normally, one too high to pay. We grew up as Shaws. If anyone knows the curse of paying too high of a price, it’s us, and I wasn’t lined up to be sacrificed for my magic.”

“I now fully understand why you said she’s probably the most dangerous top-tier family head because she’s undoubtedly the smartest,” Taylor said from behind the group, his parents with him and looking just as surprised.

Jean didn’t acknowledge him or them, keeping my gaze. “I hope you take my words to heart and start being a bit more selfish. I know you see me as evil or a psychopath, but I survived by being selfish to come out and fight now. Do I wish I could have done it all? Of course. But it always has a cost, Bevin. It’s not on you to always pay it.

“I hate what Alex did to you. I do.” She waited until I nodded. “It wasn’t on me to pay the cost of what he did to you.” She gestured to everyone around us. “They would put that all on me. Why is it? Why should I have paid it? Been mated off and stuck? To someone abusive or horrible to hide what Alex did to us?

“So yes, I hate what was done to you. I was young and handled it—some of it is a blur and—I don’t know. But I will not take it as a sin or fault that I wasn’t willing to pay the cost of what Alex did, and you need to stop paying the cost of what others do too. You want to help? Fine. That’s noble. That’s who you are even, but stop costing yourself so much for them.