The Witch in the Woods

It had been years since Alinda had introduced a girlfriend to her family, and this time, she was twice as nervous. She liked Evelyn more than she’d liked anyone in a long time.

So far, everything had gone smoothly. They’d been staying at her parents’ house for a week, and everyone seemed to be just as charmed by Evelyn as Ali was. It was a relief—yet somehow, it made her even more anxious as time went by.

“Evelyn, have you ever played poker with Alinda?” Ali’s dad asked her on one morning, his Colombian-Spanish accent thick, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Not yet, Mr. Gutierrez. Should I? Or should I avoid it?” Evelyn replied, her brow furrowing in mock confusion. “Oh dear, let me tell you this story,” he would chuckle, settle into his seat as he prepared to weave family tales, describing Alinda’s most mortifying memories. Each one was more outrageous than the last, his animated gestures making the whole room roll with laughter. Ali would always laugh along, but with each punchline, deep inside, she was afraid she was being made to look bad in her girlfriend’s eyes, even if just a little bit.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were filled with traditional family gatherings at the Gutierrez’s. Ali’s parents were devout Christians, and they took the religious festivities seriously. There were church services, prayers, and long dinners with extended family, steeped in tradition. Evelyn handled it all with grace, but Ali was counting the minutes until the more fun part of the holiday began. She could hardly wait for Brett and his family to arrive. They would stay through New Year’s, and Ali already had plans lined up for the three of them. Finally, she’d get to relax and enjoy herself a bit.

She hadn’t spent much time with Brett in Lake Laura recently. Though none of them would admit it, Kelly and Brett seemed to be in a weird place with each other, and Ali wasn’t entirely sure why. Things can get complicated when friendship mixes with romantic tension and unresolved feelings.

Brett had also been busy at work and caught up with his band’s practices and gigs with the twins. University had almost become an afterthought for him. This visit felt like the perfect opportunity for Ali and Brett to reconnect, and perhaps for her to talk him out of his strange obsession with the idea that Lua might be responsible for the so-called “curses” at Lake Laura. But she decided that was a topic better left untouched for now. They were here to have fun, and the last thing she wanted was to ruin the mood with awkward discussions about their mutual friends.

Brett and Evelyn had met once before, but they’d never had the chance to hang out properly. The first day of their joint vacation turned out to be perfect. They started with pancakes for breakfast, courtesy of Ali’s dad, Mr. Gutierrez, before heading out for a long hike at West Henderson Rock. “Hey, Evelyn! Don’t let Alinda get too close to a swan. I’ll tell you why later.” Mr. Gutierrez shouted while waving at them from the kitchen as they left.

The air was crisp, and the landscape was stunning—exactly the kind of peaceful escape they all needed. “It’s so good to be here,” Brett said, taking in the view. “Away from all the bullshit back at Lake Laura.”

“Yeah, I know,” Ali agreed. “Things are messy. In so many ways. How are things with Valerie by the way? Are you still dating her?

Brett replied quickly. “I am. She’s awesome, we’re having a good time. It’s been two months now, still fresh.”

After a brief pause, Brett turned to her, his expression serious. “You know, Ali, you’re not just my cousin—you’re one of my best friends. I don’t want any issues I might have with your friends to interfere with our relationship. I hope you feel the same.”

Ali felt a wave of relief. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed to hear him say that. “I feel the same way, Brett. Always.” She smiled, and as Brett pulled her in for a hug, she wondered silently if he was talking about Kelly, Lua—or both.

From that moment on, none of them mentioned either of Ali’s friends again for the rest of the week.

And it was clearly the best decision they could have made. The trio spent their days watching movies, exploring the town and bar hopping. Old places Ali had previously grown tired of, felt exciting again now that she was able to share them with the girl she loved. And Evelyn seemed to be enjoying visiting those spots just as much as Alinda.

Everything felt just right.

Brett and Evelyn hit it off immediately. It was like they’d known each other for years, bonding over shared interests, creating inside jokes, and bantering effortlessly. Ali was thrilled—it was exactly what she’d hoped for.

One evening, after a day spent visiting tourist spots, Ali drove them to a high point in town where they planned to meet up with some old friends for drinks and stargazing. Ali was excited to catch up with people she hadn’t seen in a long time, leaving Brett and Evelyn near the jeep while she mingled.

As the sky darkened, Brett pointed to the stars. “See those two bright ones over there?” he asked, his voice low, almost intimate. “That’s Vega and Altair. They’re part of an old legend.” Evelyn looked up, impressed. “Do you know about this stuff?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Brett smirked. “I’ve been reading about it—well, watching a lot of YouTube videos, really,” he admitted, charmingly self-deprecating. Evelyn laughed, clearly captivated by him. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a flirtatious tone. “That’s so cool. What else can you show me?”

They continued their conversation, voices low, while Ali watched from a distance. At first, she felt happy seeing how well they got along, but then something shifted in her gut. Evelyn seemed a little too interested in what Brett had to say. Was she fascinated by the stars, or by Brett?

The night continued with good vibes, laughter, and pleasant conversation, but Ali couldn’t shake the strange feeling that lingered in her chest. She knew Evelyn was bisexual, but that didn’t mean she would cheat on her. Still, it left a sliver of doubt. Attraction could exist, and the spark she thought she saw between them gnawed at her.

Despite all the fun they’d had, on the last days of her visit to West Henderson, the lingering feeling Ali took with her wasn’t the joy of reconnecting with Brett or introducing Evelyn to her family. It was the jealousy that had quietly taken root, growing from the moment she noticed the chemistry between Evelyn and Brett. She felt awful about it, wondering how she could shake it off.

On New Year’s Eve, after a few glasses of champagne at her parents’ house, Ali decided she couldn’t ignore it anymore. She pulled Evelyn aside, her heart pounding. “Am I crazy, or are you and Brett hitting it off really well?” she asked, her voice hesitant, unsure of how to phrase it.

Evelyn smiled, seemingly oblivious to Ali’s concern. “Oh, we are! I love him!” she replied brightly.

Ali’s stomach dropped. “I mean… are you attracted to him? Because I saw you two…”

But Evelyn interrupted before she could finish. “Ali, what are you talking about? Attracted to your cousin? Baby, are you insane?” Her voice was light, but there was a hint of offense, and Ali couldn’t quite read her expression.

Before Ali could respond, Evelyn grabbed her hand and dragged her to the center of the room, where her uncles and cousins, including Brett—already tipsy from too much champagne—were dancing happily. “Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad!”

As Evelyn spun her around, laughing, Ali forced herself to smile. The room was filled with joy and celebration, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in her gut. Standing there, surrounded by family and festivity, she thought to herself, Why can’t I shake the feeling that I’m being gaslighted?