“Do you think this is funny?” Raven asked, tearing her glare from Luke and fixing it on me. “Do you think it’s funny that Kade led me on?”
“I didn’t lead you on,” Kade argued. “I told you from the beginning that I was interested in Poet. You gave me a hundred and one reasons why I shouldn’t be, but it’s not like you didn’t know.”
“She gave you a hundred and one reasons why you shouldn’t be interested in me?” That didn’t sound good.
Kade nodded. “They ranged from the fact that you have horrible bedhead and morning breath when you wake up to the fact that you’re probably going to end up fat when you’re older because you have load-bearing hips.”
“I don’t have load-bearing hips!”
“You’re going to be a tank and we all know it,” Raven said.
“Don’t worry. I don’t think you have load-bearing hips,” Kade said, patting my hand. “I think the bedhead is cute, too.”
“What about the morning breath?” Luke asked.
“Eat your dinner, Luke.” Kade was at his limit with my best friend. That much was obvious.
“I still don’t think this is fair to me,” Raven said. “I’ve been emotionally crushed.”
“I’ve talked to you five times since I’ve met you,” Kade pointed out.
“They were five magical times.”
“Oh, give it up, Raven,” I said, my mouth getting ahead of me – like it always does. “You’re going to move on to your next hapless victim tomorrow night when the circus opens. We all know it.”
“Excuse me?” Raven was livid. “I’ll have you know Kade could’ve been the one.”
“I don’t think Kade wants to contract herpes,” Luke said. “Not everyone thinks that’s cool.”
“You had better start running now, Luke,” Raven warned. “I’m going to steal the pixies’ shrinking dust and drop it in a very uncomfortable place.”
Luke blanched. “Now, Raven, you know I was just joking.”
“It’s not funny.” Raven grabbed her plate and huffily climbed to her feet. “None of this is funny.”
I found it funny. There was no way I was going to say that out loud, though.
“Raven, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” Kade said, holding his hands up to placate the angry woman. “I had no idea your feelings ran so deep.”
“Oh, stuff it,” Raven snapped. “You became odious to me the second you picked Poet over me. That shows you have bad taste – and you’re probably brain damaged from your time overseas. I don’t want anything to do with someone who has brain damage.”
Luke bit his lip. I could tell there was a funny retort on the tip of his tongue. He was afraid to utter it in case she followed through on her shrinking threat, though. I decided to do it for him.
“How are you ever going to find a date again if you rule out brain-damaged people?” I asked.
The withering look on Raven’s face would have terrified almost anyone at the table. “Enjoy your win now,” she said. “When he’s bad in bed, though, don’t come crying to me.”
“I am not bad in bed!” Kade was finally irritated.
“I think it probably goes with the brain damage,” Luke supplied.
I kicked him under the table, causing him to cry out.
“That hurt, Poet,” he said, rubbing his shin. “I was trying to help.”
“Next time don’t bother,” I said.
“I hate you all,” Raven announced, turning on her heel and stalking away. “You’re going to be sorry you messed with me! Mark my words.”
Once she was gone Luke had time to consider her threat. “She wouldn’t really shrink my … you know … would she?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past Raven,” Nellie chimed in. “Why do you think I’m never on her bad side?”
“Because she enjoys dressing you up like a sexually ambiguous Barbie doll,” Luke shot back.
“These dresses are comfortable and practical,” Nellie argued. “You’re just jealous that you don’t look as fine as I do in this season’s Vera Wang.”
Luke sighed and glanced at me. “I am a little jealous about that.”
I risked a glance in Kade’s direction, worried he was about to fly off the handle. Instead, his shoulders shook with silent laughter.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Are you worried I have brain damage?”
“I wasn’t until Raven brought it up,” I replied. “She is prettier than I am.”
“Only in her head,” Kade replied. “Are you done eating?”
I’d lost my appetite about the time Raven threatened to shrink Luke’s manhood. “Yeah. I can’t eat.”
“How about we take that walk?”
I smiled. “That sounds nice.”
“Where are you two going?” Luke asked, his eyes traveling to Kade’s hand as he helped me up and then linked his fingers with mine.
“We’re going for a walk,” I said. “There won’t be any nurse costumes or nudity, so you can put that to rest for the night.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “The second you two stop being cute and get to the banana peeling I’m going to be relieved,” he said. “The suspense is killing me.”
“You are so sick,” I muttered.
“Do you prefer giving the dog a bone?”
“As a matter of fact … yes,” I said. “Wait, am I the dog in that scenario?”
“I’m going to start calling you ‘Rover.’” Luke was enjoying himself again, Raven’s threat practically forgotten.
“I’m going to beat you, Luke.”
Luke lifted his hands and mimed being a dog, complete with panting and small barks.
“Come on, Fido,” Kade said, pulling me away from Luke before I could launch myself across the table and kill him. “Goodnight, Luke.”
“Goodnight, Kade.” Luke’s expression was thoughtful as we moved away.
“I’m going to have to hurt him,” I groused.
“Let it go,” Kade said. “He’s trying to adjust to sharing. It’s not easy for him.”
“You’re on his side now?”
“I understand his side,” Kade said.
“I’m not sure I do.”
“You will.” Kade squeezed my hand. “Come on, Fido. If you’re good I’ll give you a nice belly rub.”
“I’m seriously going to kill him.”
Twenty-Nine
After so much buildup, you’d think being alone with Kade would be a nerve-wracking experience. You’d be half right.
I was keenly aware of his presence. His hand, for example, was large and warm as it wrapped around mine. His eyes glinted in the moonlight as they scanned the fairgrounds for danger even as he enjoyed our walk. I couldn’t hear his heart beating, yet I convinced myself the steady thumping in my ears came from his chest. Why? Because my heart beat so loudly it drowned out almost everything else. He had to be contributing to the phenomenon.
I was nervous and excited at the same time. My stomach filled with butterflies even as walking with Kade felt like a normal occurrence. Everything was strange and new and soft and comfortable at the same time.
I have no idea how this happened.
“What are you thinking?” Kade asked.
We’d been walking for about five minutes, traveling far enough away from trailer row that our co-workers and their chatter were nothing more than a distant murmur.
“I’m thinking that … I must be crazy,” I admitted.
“Are you brain damaged?” Kade teased, although his eyes were serious as they moved to me.
“That’s a distinct possibility,” I said. “You’re doing strange things to my head.”
“That’s possibly the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
“I … you know what I mean,” I said. “I keep telling myself this is a bad idea, but I don’t want to listen to myself. It’s frustrating.”
“Trust me, I get it,” Kade said. “The last thing I wanted when I came here was … you.”
I slowed my pace and started to pull my hand away.
Kade gripped it tighter. “That came out wrong,” he said. “I meant that the last thing I wanted was the idea of you,” he said. “You’re something I can’t explain. You’re weird … and loud … and wonderful … and annoying … all rolled up in a pretty package.”
Well, that definitely sounded better the second time he said it. “Are you going to stay?”
Kade’s eyes widened. “Are you worried about that?”
“I can’t help but be worried about it,” I said. “I won’t lie and say I don’t like you. You’ve managed to break down every barrier I worked years to put up … and you did it in less than two weeks.”
“It must be my brain damage.” Kade was going for levity.
“If you’re going to leave, it would be better if you told me now.”
Kade rubbed his chin as he studied me. “So, let me see if I understand this correctly,” he said. “You want me to tell you I’m leaving so you can get out of dating me. Is that the gist of what you’re saying?”
“No.” He was frustrating when he wanted to be. “I want you to tell me you’re leaving if you’re leaving. I … .”
“Go on.”
“I don’t want a broken heart,” I said.
“What do you want?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I’d like the opportunity to hang out with you and see where things go, but if you’re going to leave then I’m going to take a step back.”
“Have you always been like this or did your parents’ death make you this way?” Kade asked, the question taking me by surprise.
“This has nothing to do with my parents dying.”
“I think most of what you do has something to do with your parents dying,” Kade countered. “Wipe that look off your face. I can tell you think I’m trying to psychoanalyze you. That’s not what this is.”
When did he turn into a mind reader?
“I think your parents dying before they could tell you what you are – or at least what you’re capable of – formed you in ways you struggle with,” Kade said. “It’s okay. Life forms everyone in different ways. If it’s any consolation, I think you’re pretty … cool.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Cool?”
“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” Kade said, grinning. “You’re interesting. As for me leaving, I have no intention of going anywhere. Not right now, at least. I can’t make promises about forever, though. I … you know I can’t. You can’t either.”
“I know,” I said, internally reveling in the relief washing over me. “But I’m glad you’re staying.”
“Me, too.” He shifted closer to me, his eyes sultry.
Uh-oh. I knew what he had in mind, and I wasn’t against it, but I also had one more thing I wanted to talk about before we got to the fun part of the evening’s festivities. I pressed my finger to his lips and stalled his momentum. “I have one more thing I want to discuss.”
Kade made a face. “You’re trying my patience, Fido.”
“Two more things,” I said, rolling my eyes. “If you ever want to put those lips on me again you’re never going to call me Fido – or any other dog name, for that matter.”
Kade sighed. “Fine. I am going to come up with a nickname for you, though. Prepare yourself.”
“Just know if you do that I’m going to come up with my own nickname for you and I’m going to adjust it so it matches your name for me,” I warned. “I’m going to have Luke’s brain in on it, too.”
“Bring it on.”
He’s afraid of clowns and yet the idea of me and my sidekick putting our heads together to come up with a nickname easily bounces off of him. I will never understand men.
“What’s the other thing you want to talk about?” Kade prodded, grabbing my wrist to tug me toward him. “I’m ready to do something besides talk.”
“Max.”
Kade ceased his movements. “What about him?”
“I want you to talk to him,” I said. “He’s upset.”
“When did he tell you that?”
“Yesterday.”
“I’m still angry with him,” Kade admitted. “I … he lied to me.”
“I lied to you and we’re taking a moonlit stroll,” I reminded him.
“Yes, but you’re hot and I haven’t known you for most of my life,” Kade pointed out. “You lied because you weren’t sure how I would react. We didn’t know each other. Max has known me long enough that he should’ve realized I would never tolerate lying.”
“I know you’re upset,” I said. “I get it. If Luke lied to me about something big like that … I would be hurt, too. Max is struggling, though. He desperately wants you to forgive him.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Was that enough? “Do you promise to really think about it?”
“Yes,” Kade said, grinning as he started pulling on my arm again. “Now … come here.”
“Are you about to implement the plan you wouldn’t tell me about earlier?”
“I’m about to kiss you for the first time,” Kade countered.
“We’ve kissed before.”
“We’ve kissed right before fighting a monster and while arguing with each other in the woods,” Kade argued. “This is going to be a better kiss.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’m an outstanding kisser.”
He was humble, too. “Okay,” I conceded. “Just so you know, though, I’m not doing anything else with you tonight.”
“I can live with that.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Now you’re just stalling for time because you’re nervous,” Kade said, tugging me the rest of the way to him and pressing my body against his chest. His mouth was inches from mine. “Don’t worry. I’m a little nervous, too.”
I licked my lips and focused on his eyes. “You’re going to be trouble in my world. I can already feel it.”
“That makes two of us.” Kade started lowering his mouth to mine, the anticipation making it seem hours instead of seconds flashed past. Just when we were about to finally connect the dreamcatcher alarm sounded.
I jerked away from Kade, my chin bumping against his and causing us both to grunt.
“I cannot believe this is happening,” Kade muttered, rubbing his jaw. “I … come here! I’m going to kiss you before we go after the monster.” He reached for me.
“How is that going to be a better kiss than the first one?”
“I … this sucks!”
I couldn’t argue with that. “I promise to give you another shot once we kill … whatever it is that’s attacking,” I said, patting his arm.
“I’m going to lock us both in your trailer and do what I want, for a change,” Kade said, falling into step beside me as we moved toward the trailers. “There’s going to be no more of this ‘I just want to talk about one more thing.’ We’re getting to the kissing first. We’ll do the talking second. I’m not playing around. A man can only take so much!”
“You’re handling this very maturely,” I said, slowing so I could reach out with my mind. I instantaneously brushed against Nixie – and she was terrified.
“I’m not saying that this isn’t important,” Kade said, obviously missing the look on my face as I changed direction. “I … where are you going?”
“Nixie.”
Kade sobered. “Where?”
“She’s back by the animal cages,” I said, breaking into a run. “Hurry!”
It took us two minutes to cover the width of the fairgrounds, but it felt an eternity. As we approached the area I slowed to a walk even though my heart was hammering and my inner danger alarm was dinging up a storm.
“Why would she be over here?” Kade asked, his shoulder brushing mine as he scanned the darkness. “I thought this part of the camp was just for show in case circus certification inspectors show up.”
“It is, for the most part,” I
said. “Behind the tiger cage area, though, Nixie and Naida have a little laboratory.”
“Do I even want to know what they do in it?”
“Probably not.” I pressed my eyes shut and reached out, my mental probe recoiling when I made contact with Nixie’s terror again. “She’s not alone.”
“Where?”
“Behind the laboratory,” I said. “I … she’s close to the trees.” I bit my lip as I turned to him. Things were about to get unpredictable … and dangerous. “I think you should go get help.”
“They’ll be coming,” Kade said. “I’m sure they heard the dreamcatcher, too.”
That wasn’t what I was getting at. It took Kade a moment to realize the true meaning behind my words. “Don’t even go there,” he warned. “I’ll admit I’m not cut out for all of this monster hunting yet. It’s new to me. That doesn’t mean I’m letting you go out there alone, so forget about suggesting anything of the sort.”
“You have to do what I say,” I prodded. “I … things might go fast.”
“Okay.” Kade wasn’t the type of man to let antiquated gender roles put anyone at risk. I had to keep reminding myself of that.
I squeezed his hand, silently reassuring him. “Let’s go.”
Despite Nixie’s predicament, our approach was methodical. I didn’t want to get ambushed. When I tried to scan for beings other than Nixie, I only got a glimpse of brief shadows – just like the changeling. “I think it’s another messed up changeling.”
“You can kill it the same way, right?”
“Yes. I would like to have time to study it if I can, though. I won’t risk Nixie, but if we can take it alive … .”
“You’re not going to cut it open to study it are you?” Kade asked.
“No.”
“Then we’ll try to capture it.” He moved between two tents, practically jumping out of his skin when Luke appeared in front of us. “You scared the crap out me.”
“Right back at you, stud,” Luke hissed, clutching the spot above his heart. “Criminy. Don’t do that again.”
“It’s another changeling,” I whispered. “It has Nixie.”
“Raven and Dolph are moving around the far tents,” Luke said. “Nellie is getting his ax and Naida … well … she’s about to go nuclear. Rodrigo is trying to talk her down, but I don’t think that will last long.”
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