Witchdependence Day: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Shorts Book 8) by Amanda M. Lee Page A

“You’ll probably feel different on a full stomach. Your mind will go back to its usual peak performance and you’ll realize that saying no to a defenseless old lady is cruel and unusual punishment.”
    What is it with the women in this family knowing exactly how to manipulate me? I’m starting to think it’s a pattern.

Six
    “ H ow was your morning with Aunt Tillie?” Thistle asked later that afternoon, settling next to me on the picnic table bench as she slid a plateful of food in my direction. “Are you ready to join the circus yet?”
    “Ha, ha.” I rolled my eyes. “She’s a piece of work.”
    Thistle arched an eyebrow, surprised and amused. “You rarely speak badly about Aunt Tillie. She must’ve been a real pill this morning.”
    “Yes, I think she was a stool softener,” I deadpanned, earning a belly laugh from my girlfriend. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t say anything negative about her. She’s … a lovely woman.”
    “Yeah. She’s a real goddess amongst men,” Thistle said.
    “Who are we talking about?” Landon asked, settling in across from us with his own heaping plate. “Did she happen to be walking around the property in pajamas and a sleep hat this morning, by any chance?”
    “Ooh, intrigue,” Thistle said, leaning forward. “What was Aunt Tillie doing out in her pajamas? She usually saves that behavioral gem for when she’s trying to make Winnie’s head implode.”
    Landon snorted. “That would do it,” he said. “Winnie caught her coming back inside with Marcus before breakfast and had a fit. Aunt Tillie said she and Marcus were meeting for a secret liaison and not to tell you because jealousy is an ugly beast.”
    My cheeks burned as Thistle shifted an annoyed gaze in my direction. “Did she really say that?”
    “She might have insinuated it,” I conceded. “She was clearly joking.”
    “Yes, I wouldn’t worry about Marcus leaving you for Aunt Tillie,” Landon said. “No man wants to wake up to that sleeping hat.”
    “What did she really want?” Thistle asked.
    I didn’t miss Landon’s pointed gaze as it landed on me. “Oh, well, she just wanted to talk about fertilizer options.” I really am a terrible liar. I get why everyone says that. I’m not immune to my shortcomings.
    “You had to talk about fertilizer before Aunt Tillie was out of her pajamas?” Landon challenged. “Why don’t I believe that?”
    “Because you’re smart and handsome,” Bay supplied, dropping a kiss on Landon’s cheek before sitting next to him. “Did you miss me?”
    “I cried the entire time you were gone,” Landon replied.
    “Ugh. You guys make my stomach turn,” Thistle groused. “Do you have to be so cutesy all of the time?”
    “You’re just jealous,” Landon said, grabbing a french fry from Bay’s plate and popping it into his mouth. “You wish you could be as cute as us.”
    “Yes, it’s my hidden dream,” Thistle said, her tone droll. “How did you ever figure it out?”
    “You make me tired,” Landon muttered, rolling his neck until it cracked. “I’m not going to let this early-morning excursion go until you tell me what’s going on. It would be easier on everyone if you owned up to it.”
    “Yeah, Marcus,” Thistle said, poking my ribs and grinning. “Tell everyone what you were doing during your clandestine meeting with Aunt Tillie this morning. We’re all dying to know.”
    “I … .” Crud. I hate being put on the spot. “I noticed you took a sample of the blood you found in the loft yesterday, Landon. Did you send it in to be tested?”
    “Smooth,” Landon said, shaking his head. “I did send it to the lab. It’s not exactly a priority, but they said they should be able to tell whether it’s animal or human before the end of the day. It’s going to bug me if I don’t know.”
    “That was a great swerve,” Thistle said. “Now how about we go back to your morning with Aunt Tillie.”
    I love the woman, but she’s a real pain