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“Being right? I’d argue it is very like me.”

“You are typically the most vocal defender of love. I feel I should check to make sure you are well.”

“I’m still defending love. This wasn’t love. This was settling. They’re different.”

“Are they?”

“Enormously. Love is—” I waved a hand he couldn’t see, “love has nothing to do with him having a really high-quality juicer.”

There was a huff of laughter at that.

“So, love good…. long cons list bad?”

“See? You do understand romance.”

“I understood basic mathematics. Let’s not get carried away.” There was another pause. Comfortable, unhurried.

“The juicer was arguably practical.”

“Silas,” I said, a laugh bubbling out.

“We don’t know if he bought it for her well-being. The antioxidant benefits alone—”

“Goodnight, Silas,” I said, still laughing.

Then, softer than usual, warmer, “Goodnight, Madison.”

I turned down the radio.

Then I got back to my book.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

[ “SOME PEOPLE DON’T fall in love. They circle it. Slowly. Repeatedly. Like it might bite them.”

— Hex Appeal - Episode 71]

Maggie

If everyone thought the SilMad fan club had been huge already, it was nothing compared to what happened after that phone call.

Because everyone heard it.

The shift.

How it had gone from antagonistic in the past to something lighter, softer, bantering.

The fans called it flirting.

And as one of the parties involved, I guess a part of me had to agree.

It hadn’t been a long chat, but there were absolutely playful vibes.

At the time, it just felt right.

The listeners agreed.

Comments went crazy. New fan edit videos online were posted and went viral. And, apparently, there were several new fanfics started.