Spellbound: A magical sequel to Bewitched Read Online Free Page A

you are and break up with you already?”  
    “No.”
    “You should sound happier about that.” He steps into the street to avoid a maple tree planted at the edge of the sidewalk.
    Tate’s right. I’m a miserable asshole. For a guy who finally has the girl of his dreams, I should be happier. This doesn’t make sense.
    “I am happy about Madison.” I kick a pumpkin off a low step and into the gutter where it lands with a soft splat.  
    “Destroying property definitely shouts happiness.”
    “I’m doing a public service.” I glower at him. He’s too tall and too smiley for my mood today. With his blond dreadlocks, he looks like he’s on a permanent tropical vacation. The smug grin he insists on continually plastering on his stupid symmetrical face only adds to my annoyance. I need an uglier friend who doesn’t whistle when he’s trying to hold his tongue.
    I kick another pumpkin. This one is carved like a one-eyed minion and deserves to die. The pumpkin projectile startles a black cat who leaps on the hood of a parked car and glares at me.
    “Okay then.” Tate holds up his long, monkey arms like he’s afraid of me. “Maybe you should go back to bed.”
    “Maybe—” I cut myself off before I tell him where he can stick his advice. I’m in a bad mood. A black mood. I roll my head back to confirm there isn’t a dark cloud above me. Surprisingly, there isn’t.
    When I glance at Tate, he’s scrunched up his face waiting for me to curse at him.  
    “Maybe I am in a bad mood.” I toss a sidelong look at three white pumpkins stacked and carved to resemble Olaf from Frozen. It takes all my restraint to not stomp on them. I change course, crossing the street mid-block. The stone walls of Hawthorne come into view.  
    “If this is a bad mood, I’d hate to see you angry.” He readjusts his backpack. “Come to think of it, I’ve never seen you angry. Or in this big of a snit ever. Not in all the years we’ve known each other. That’s a long time.”
    “Why don’t you use your soothing powers on me?”
    “Trust me. I’ve been trying. Everything’s bouncing off of you and fizzling. Did you figure out how to create your own personal force field?”
    “Huh.” Stretching my arms above my head, I try to shake off the negativity. “I’m not sure what’s going on with me.”
    “Everything good with Madison?”  
    As we pass through the ancient wrought iron gates of campus, a small smile cracks my frown. “It’s only been a week since Halloween, but yeah, really good.”
    Madison is my girlfriend. At least I consider her my girlfriend. Although, I’m not sure if at twenty-one I need to ask her to go steady. I don’t really know how these things work as adults. I’ve had a crush on her since her freshman year, although she didn’t know I existed until this semester. Sometimes my ability to be invisible in plain sight works too well.  
    I’m not about to ask Tate about the finer details of dating. He’s the last person I’d ever accept advice from on matters of the heart. I’m not saying he’s heartless, but he keeps his emotions protected behind a wall topped with barbed wire. Ironic for a guy with the gift of empathy.
    “You better snap out of your sour-puss state, your woman is waiting for you.” He points to the library steps in the near distance. Students and faculty mill around between classes. Everyone seems to be on the move and heading in a different direction.  
    I spot Madison’s dark bob right away in the crowd. In her red coat, she stands out amongst the hoodies and fleece. My smile grows into a grin.  
    Tate bumps my shoulder with his. “I’m thinking you need to stick close to her and keep your bad mood away.”
    Madison brushes a hand through her hair and turns to face us, happy surprise lighting up her face.  
    My mood brightens at the sight of her and I wave like a little kid.
    Flipping off Tate behind me for his laughter, I shoulder my way through a small group of