21

Dan grabs me by the elbow and pulls me back from his nephew. The act is so effortless that I feel like I am floating on air as we leave the scene without another word.

Aspen gives me a look that I do not know how to perceive. Is it pity? An apology? But why would she pity me or apologize to me? She’s not the type. She’s a witch.

Right, Dad?

“Where are we going?” I ask Dan once I am a bit out of my daze. Only a bit, though, because I think those pills I crunched on like candy are starting to take effect.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“Why?”

“Because you are a few minutes away from collapsing.”

So he did know about my exhaustion. Yikes. Am I that obvious to everyone else?

“I can take a cab. You said you were going back to the firm.”

“Since you were late, I rescheduled my morning meetings, so I do not have anything until the afternoon.” He unlocks his car and steps to the driver’s side.

I roll my eyes. “Sorry for messing up your morning meetings, husband.”

He pauses with his hand on his door’s