Ch 12

I tossed and turned all night, thinking about what to say to Sage, but I knew I needed to say something. It drove me crazy all night trying to find the right words, to the point that I looked like a creature back from the dead the next day, and Ames didn't hesitate to point out and be concerned. I managed to convince her I was well enough to go to the garden that this was just stress (not a lie), but about the meeting I had just had (there was the lie). Walking into the garden, I did my usual routine and found Sage with her seedlings. She was sitting on a stool reading 'The House with the Windows Painted Green,' a classic we read in school, but I found the ending very sad. She jumped when she saw me watching her.

"Oh goddess, Reed, I nearly fell. You scared me so much," she said.

"I didn't think my face was that scary." I hope I pulled off a smirk, and my nervousness didn't show through. "Tough read."

"The book?" She looked a bit guilty. "I hope you don't mind. I stole it from your house."

"I don't mind, but Jeremy may want it back. Believe it or not, that is one of his favorites."

"Well, we will say borrowed without permission," she said slyly, putting it on the desk. "It washes the roses day, so grab a bucket, and let's go." With that, she left for the golf cart. All that I had been thinking about telling her, I stayed up all night, and we talked about a book. I wanted to scream and kick myself, but I poured the soap into the buckets, filled them with water, and went out to meet Sage. Sage hopped out and reached for a pail when we got to the roses, but I stopped her hand. Was I going to do this right now? Yes, yes, I am.

"Sage, I think I should... well, I know that... still um, I, well, you and I Ahhh. Why can't I say this right?" I held her wrist, which I had grabbed earlier, while she stared at me with a raised brow. Or maybe I won't say anything, and perhaps that is for the best. She is Sage, and I am Reed; we are very different.

"Maybe I should talk," she said. Thank you for helping me. I never would have gotten this far without you."

"I barely did anything. Jeremy did all the hard work. He got them to look at you. He has the sway to actually help you. I just brought you home where he was. I am just happy he could help you. I am really just sort of here hanging out... I mean, hanging on or wait, um. Honestly, my dad says I'm like a turtle. They live for a long time even though they aren't smart because no one has run them over yet. And he would consider that not reporting you and taking you home was a screw-up, but at least messing up helped you. And like I said, I'm not doing this because of my dad. It is just to help you. Don't get me wrong, but it is like I care on the inside, but on the outside, sometimes it's like I'm not really in the place I need to be." I explained like word vomit: "I wish I was more helpful than maybe people would trust me."

"Reed, you have done more for me than anyone." She smiled and took the pail. Maybe we are only supposed to be this way, and I have just been overthinking.

"right, you are right." I nodded and allowed her to take the pail.

"I can't convince you that you are worth it, but I really think you should start believing it," she said. Then I didn't speak; I did one of the stupidest things I have ever done that I haven't regretted. I yanked on her arm, crashing Sage into my chest, and kissed her. She froze like a statue in my arms, and I panicked. I am definitely going to jail for assault, so I let her go and stepped away, looking anywhere but at her. Then tiny, warm fingers clasped my face, forcing me to look at her.

"It felt wrong that we were on opposite sides," she whispered, our breath mingling before returning her mouth to mine. Her words reminded me of what I had said to her, but I couldn't unpack the meaning of saying them now. Not when her hands slide into my hair, pulling me closer. The taste of her lips was like apples, and she smelled like nature, that grassy smell when it is cut. I didn't have time to appreciate it when I kissed her the first time because of the panic, but now, my arms wrapped around her body. She had strong muscles in her back, probably from gardening. I could feel the tickle of her hair at the edge of my skin on my arms. My hands moved up her spine. I couldn't get enough of her or hold enough of her, and I think while she was more hesitant, she was also holding on to me, pulling at my shoulders for support. I was hungry for more, so I bit her lower lip, making her gasp in response. Instantly, my tongue explored her mouth, deepening this kiss, this moment. Then she pulled away, placing her hands on my chest to keep me at bay.

"I, um... wow, I didn't think my first kiss would be like that," she said, breathing heavily.

"Your first kiss?" What have I done? I was too aggressive; I must have scared her. "I'm so sorry, Sage. I didn't mean to be that forceful. You probably wanted your first kiss to be special, and I, well, I..."

She put her hand over my mouth. "Shut up, Reed, that was spectacular and perfect and a bit of a learning experience, so stop stressing. I'm not going to hate you or anything."

I sighed with relief and pulled her close again, not kissing but holding her. Her head was resting on my chest. "I thought you would be mad and bite my head off."

"Reed, I have to tell you something, and you aren't going to like it." She was still in my arms, holding on to my waist, but I froze hearing her say that. "Reed, remember how I told you that my mother has many encounters with men, resulting in children like me? All warlocks are encouraged to do that to help raise the number of warlocks. All those carrier children grow up and get arranged marriages with warlocks, creating more evil babies. So what I have to tell you is that I may not have mentioned that she already arranged one with me. She signed the arrangement paperwork when I was born."

"You are arranged to be married?" I pulled away, running my hands through my hair. That was not what I was expecting her to say. It was like the world froze for a minute as I watched her face. I had just kissed her, and she was engaged. Does that make me a horrible person?

"But I don't want to be. Reed he is horrible. I have met him and can't stand to be in the same room." She grabbed my shoulders, trying to keep my attention, but I was stuck in the past when the words left her because time had stopped, my heart had stopped beating, and now I had to wait for reality to stop, too. Was this the end of the plan? This feels like something that Jeremy needed to know.

"There has to be a way out of the arrangement?" time slammed back into me at once, and I was itching to move to fix something. I was pacing now, and this was crazy.

"He said he would come for me when I'm legal." She cringed, even saying it herself. "last time I saw him, he stayed at my mother's house while I lived there. I may have been off limits, but my mother's human staff was not. I watched him drag a poor girl into his room, and I don't think I will ever forget her screams that night."

"Oh my goddess, did he kill her," I asked in horror.

"no, but there are some things in this world that make you wish you were dead," she shuttered, and a surge of fear panged through my heart. "I have been researching, and I can prove the contract null. My mother wrote the union of a half-warlock, Sage Arden, to a warlock, Hollis Strickland. So you see, once I become a witch, I will doubly not fit the description of half warlock. If they ask me to change my name during the process, I won't even be Sage Arden. I'll be free, and that should nullify the agreement, I think," she said. I stopped pacing and walked over to her. My brain was running at a million miles a minute when I remembered that letter of hers that I read. It mentioned a Hollis coming for her. I knew this was coming but was too slow to understand it.

"I don't know, but that seems pretty flimsy. But the most important part is that we keep you out of his hands. He can't marry you if he can't find you," I reasoned.

"How are we keeping him away?" she asked.

"changing you to a witch is probably the best plan, and if that doesn't work, I'll do something else."

"I turn 18 soon, Reed," she whispered.

"Listen, if this doesn't work, my father's lawyers can find a way." I grabbed her hands again. "I may not be great at helping people, but his lawyers are smart, and I will figure this out. I won't screw it up. I know how independent you can be, but maybe you can let me try to help you."

"Please, anything to keep Hollis Strickland away. I trust you." She pressed her lips to mine again, my arms wrapped around her. I never thought I would hear those words, and I will not let her down, even if she is the only person I don't. "I hate to say this, but we should get to work on those flowers." I groaned but agreed. Throughout the work, I thought about how much groveling I would have to do to get my father to help me break this engagement because I would not let Sage down.

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hello beautiful humans,

I know this is short, but I thought that the first kiss deserved to be the main focus oh and the arranged marriage reveal. I hope this spiced up their story a bit.

So mote it be