“What?” The calm way Master Luke said the word made my heart do a little jump in my chest.
“He needs to be put in his pl—”
“Bear, would you please go pack your things? Everything you have here.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Okay.”
I didn’t know what was happening, not really, other than I was leaving Master Carl, but if Master Luke needed me to pack to get ready, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Not once had Master Carl ever felt as firm and comforting as Master Luke did.
I heard them talking and some raised voices that made me wince, but I kept going and packed my laptop and all the other things I needed for my work, my clothes and toiletries, and finally I sat Tonya on top of the bag.
Maybe it was kind of sad, that I’d come to a Master’s house like this, only having one bag, a laptop case, and a stuffed cat. I’d never had many things as an adult, and the things I’d wanted to buy for myself hadn’t felt like something I should if I was a grown up, so I just… hadn’t.
Tonya I’d had since I was fourteen, and I’d gotten her from my baby sister on my birthday. I’d never loved an item—or a baby sister—more.
I carried my stuff to the front door and took in a deep breath. I couldn’t help but to grab Tonya for support as I turned around and went to the living room.
“You ready?” Master Luke asked me, smiling slightly.
I nodded. And nodded again, and I didn’t stop nodding until he got up and came to me. He squeezed my shoulder and turned me around to go to the door.
Over his shoulder, he told Master Carl, “I’m sure you’ll have a fun conversation with Allen and the others soon.”
The ride to Master Luke’s place wasn’t very long. He lived in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The building had five apartments and he lived in number two. It was up one set of stairs outside of the house, and the door was on a balcony of sorts. I was sure there was a name for that type of building, but I couldn’t remember it.
I had my laptop bag and Master Luke had my other one, when we stopped at the door. He reached around me to unlock it, and I could feel his body heat momentarily. It felt so good that I swayed.
“You okay, Bear?” he asked, smiling as he gestured for me to go ahead.
I nodded quickly, then stepped inside and immediately took off my shoes. He took his off too, seeming amused, and then flicked on some lights.
The tour wasn’t very long, since there were only two bedrooms, a kitchen with a table for four people, and a living room. Oh and the bathrooms, there were two.
The smaller bedroom was so nice. There was framed art on the walls and a queen size bed and a desk and bookshelves and a—drawing table?
“I use this room as my home office when I need to work from home. It’s easier to draw with this table than on the couch, even though I prefer the couch.” He winked at me, and I giggled a little.
“What do you draw?”
“I’m a tattoo artist,” he said and nodded to a colorful fantasy scene that hung above the bed. “Most of the art here is mine. If you see that signature, then I made it.”
I leaned over the bed, absently putting Tonya by the pillows as I took in the castle on top of a hill with a path leading to it through a gap in some woods in the foreground.
“L.V.” I mouthed his signature.
“It’s Virta, my name is Luukas Virta,” he said, holding out his hand while his eyes sparkled with humor.
I shook his hand. “Bear Barlow.” I gave him a small, shy grin.
“Welcome, Bear Barlow. This is your room for now, until we can figure out what to do with you, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Did you eat dinner yet?”
“No, not yet.” I turned to put my laptop case on the desk.
“I’ll figure that out; you get unpacked. Any dietary restrictions?”
