Submission: The Mystic Series (Brietta & Kegan #2) by B.C. Burgess

Author:B.C. Burgess [Burgess, B.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 30370417
Publisher: Bandit Publishing
Published: 2016-06-09T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Brietta handled the morning shift well, remaining too busy to burst into tears or crawl into a hole of depression, so she decided to stay through lunch.

Big mistake.

When Quin mind searched her from a few blocks away, warning her he was on his way in with Layla and her hexless friend Travis, Brietta cussed herself for sending the temp home. How was she supposed to stay strong while facing Layla’s penetrating stare and powerful heart? This would be the ultimate test. If Brietta could get through this without falling apart, she’d feel more confident facing Kegan.

Brietta knew she was in trouble the moment Layla spotted her behind the counter, so she braced while watching her approach. “Layla Love,” she sweetly greeted, but it didn’t simmer her down.

“Don’t Layla Love me. What on earth is going on?”

Brietta played dumb, hoping Layla’s hexless company would distract her. “What do you mean?”

“You shouldn't be working, Bri. Why are you here?”

“I wanted to get back into my routine.”

Quin and Travis walked up, so Brietta offered her hand to Travis with a greeting, and he kindly returned it while gawking at her multi-colored eyes. Brietta tried to move things along and take their order, but Layla wasn’t having it. She told Quin to get coffee then dragged Brietta into the kitchen and took her by the shoulders.

“What are you doing, Bri? Why are you pushing so hard?”

“Because I need to stay busy.” Brietta recalled the previous day, a drunken day full of tears and mistakes, but she couldn’t bring herself to confess them to Layla, an angel, the perfect witch who wouldn’t dare ditch Quin to go get drunk and kiss an old crush. Layla was the most compassionate and empathetic witch Brietta knew, but if there was one thing she couldn’t relate to, it was the guilt of betraying the man she loved. “I was going crazy, sitting at home just thinking about Mom and Dad and everyone else, worrying about Banning and Kegan and... and... Eve. I needed a distraction.”

“You still haven't talked to Kegan?”

Brietta’s heart flinched as she hung her head, ashamed because she wasn’t as strong as Layla thought she was. “No. He's been to the community three times since the memorial, but I stayed inside and refused to see him.”

“Bri.”

“What?” Brietta snapped, vibrating with guilt and shame. “We’re not like you and Quin. We don’t have to be connected at the hip.”

As soon as she said it, she regretted it, and when Layla stepped away, it felt like she’d plunged her hand into Brietta’s chest, grasped her heart, and pulled the organ with her. Brietta quickly followed, desperately clutching for her cousin while blurting an apology. “I'm so sorry, Layla. I didn’t mean that. Please forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive. I shouldn't be lecturing you. I’m sorry.”

Brietta knew the mercy was genuine, but her guilt ran so deep she continued spewing explanations. “But you're right. I need to drop the denial. And I only said that about you and Quin because I do miss Kegan.

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