Spellbound: A magical sequel to Bewitched Read Online Free

heart.” He shakes his wrist in my face.  
    I want to rip off the ribbon and then punch him with his own fist.
    I swear I’m not a violent guy, but right now I’m seeing nothing but the red of Hamilton’s blood.
    Of course the knot could untie itself and slip from his wrist with a little help from me. Then what? The cheap, fake silver heart and penny’s worth of ribbon aren’t the issue.
    Hamilton believes she’s choosing him. He thinks she wants him again.
    Wrong.
    She’s mine now.
    My Madison.  
    The word mine begins to loop through my mind like a caveman.  
    “Dude, you’re kind of invading my Luke Zone right now. Can you step back?”
    I’m inches from his face. I don’t remember moving.
    Still thinking about punching him, I step away and mumble, “Sorry.”
    “You’re acting weird, Wildes. I mean, weirder than usual.” He pulls his jacket sleeve over his wrist.  
    I brush my hair off my forehead. “I don’t think she’s interested in you.”
    “Who?”
    “Madison.”
    “My wrist says otherwise.”
    “It’s been days since Halloween. Have you spoken with her?” My stomach clenches at the idea. I know she’s not interested in Hamilton. When would she have time to go out with him?
    “No need to rush these things. She gave me the sign and now I’m playing it cool.”
    Idiot.
    At least I have the advantage of common sense over my rival.
    The fact that I’m even considering Luke to be a rival startles me.
    I’m not the jealous, possessive sort. Never have been.
    My life is structured around logic, hypotheses, research, problems, and solutions. Jealousy and anger have little value in my life. Pointless emotions.
    Then why am I feeling them now and aimed at this doofus?
    I wish he were sitting in a chair I could knock out from under him.  
    Something harmless, but embarrassing for him and amusing for me.
    Like him tripping over his own feet.
    That’ll work.
    “It’s been fascinating. I’m late for lab. May the best man win the girl.” As I move past him, I bump his shoulder with mine. Okay, it’s more of a shove, enough to tilt his balance a little.  
    When he overcorrects, I imagine his feet near the edge of the step.
    Without turning around, the squawk and sound of shoes slapping on concrete tell me the vision in my head is playing out behind me.
    With a loud grunt, he lands on his ass. “What the fu—”
    “Mr. Wildes?” Professor Philips steps in front of my path.  
    I know from his expression he witnessed my encounter and Hamilton’s fall. “Hello, sir.”
    “Perhaps you could visit during my office hours this week. I think we’re long overdue for a chat.”
    I know I’m not failing his seminar. In fact, he’s told me I should be his TA, despite being a chemistry major in an upper level literature class. “I’ll make sure to come by.”
    “Bring Miss Bradbury with you.” He continues walking down the stairs where Hamilton still sits cursing and complaining. “Mister Luke, pick yourself up before someone mistakes you for a vagrant.”
    I chuckle at the professorial version of a burn as I cross campus to make my lab.

Four

    “It’s an act of mercy to smash pumpkins after Halloween. Saves them from the long, slow death of rotting from the inside out.” I glare at a slumping pile of jack-o’-lanterns outside an otherwise respectable colonial-style house. Other than leaving decaying vegetables on their porch, I’m sure the people who live there are perfectly nice.
    “You’re morbid today,” Tate says. “Even more than usual.”
    “What’s worse? Smashing a pumpkin or leaving it to mold and rot on your porch steps until it collapses into a pool of its own putrid death?”
    “Definitely more. What’s up with you?” He steps away from me.
    “I don’t know. I don’t get people. Halloween is over. Done. Finished. Last week’s rotten squash isn’t going to turn back time.”
    “Are you and Madison having a fight or something? Did she realize what a sad sack