Page 28 of The Tea Witch's Promise

I glanced at my changing screen, knowing exactly why Brew had been avoiding Oliver. It was my fault so the least I could do was help my brother.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

Oliver patted Banjo's head before sitting down in the only chair in the room. "If you knew something was wrong, but you really wanted it, would you do it?"

I suddenly felt very hot and bothered, but not in the same way I had a few moments ago. "What do you mean?"

"So I have a friend and he's caught feelings for the wrong person. He knows people wouldn't approve of the relationship and that it might complicate things. Should he still go through with it?" Oliver asked.

"And this is about a friend of yours?" My voice shook and I resisted the urge to look back at the changing screen. Had Brew talked to Oliver about me without telling him it was me he was talking about? That didn't seem likely, but it was one of the only explanations I could come up with.

Oliver sighed. "Fine. You always see right through me. It's about me."

Relief rushed through me, and I felt my whole body relax. "Oh, thank goodness."

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm just relieved. Excited, I mean. You've got feelings for someone?" I wanted to ask who but I didn't really want to fall down that rabbit hole because my secret was standing three feet away behind a flimsy partition.

"Someone I shouldn't have feelings for," Oliver muttered.

"I think you should follow your heart," I said, letting my statement hang in the room.

"So you would put your heart over your duty?"

I gulped, realising that somewhere along the line, I'd actually decided that was the case. "Yes. Now if that's all, I'm actually really tired."

"Of course. Thanks for the advice, Katie. You're the best sister anyone could have." He patted my head the same way he patted Banjo's and left the room.

I wassonot a good sister.

The moment he was out of the room, I put on the latch and leaned back against the door. I closed my eyes and let out a loud sigh.

"We have to tell him, don't we?" Brew asked as he stepped out from behind the changing screen.

I nodded. "If he's already figured out you're avoiding him, and he's also starting to get feelings for someone, then it's for the best. Even if that does sound like an awkward conversation."

"I can do it," he offered. "Ishoulddo it, I'm the one crossing a line."

I snorted. "Hardly. We're both responsible." I pushed away from the door and made my way over to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Unless you're not interested in something serious enough to tell my brother about."

"Oh, I am," he responded. "You're my future, Katie. Just you."

My mouth went dry and I waited for panic to set in, but it didn't. Being with him felt right, and that included a potential future together. "All right, talk to him. And soon, because I'd much rather not feel guilty every time I kiss you."

"I'll talk to him tomorrow," Brew promised.

"Thank you. And if you can get him to admit to who he's got feelings for, I really want to know now," I joked.

"There's only really one candidate," he said.

"You?" I joked, only for dread to rise up in me. “It better not be you. That would be awkward.”

He chuckled nervously. "I don’t believe so. I’d put my bet on it being Hana Steeper."

"Ooh." The pieces fell into place. "He did take her eggs last week."

Brew raised an eyebrow. "Like you did?"