Xavier’s crouched now, rake handle in hand, slow and calm like he’s done this a thousand times. The snake hisses, coiling tighter.
“Xav—” I start, but he lifts a hand to hush me.
Xavier moves calmly, slipping off his cap, gently placing it over the snake’s head, so it doesn’t see him coming. In oneswift movement, he grips the python just behind the head, lifts it smoothly, then gathers the rest of its thick body before it has a chance to coil around his arm. He walks it a few metres away and lowers it gently into the bush, releasing it like he’s done it a dozen times.
Harrison jumps back in his seat. “I don’t care what anyone says, that’s not normal. Humans aren’t meant to just… grab snakes!”
Xavier brushes off his hands as he returns. “Relax. Nobody died.”
“Yet.” Harrison mutters. “Have you not been bitten before?”
“A few times.” Xavier shrugs. “But python bites won’t kill you. They just hurt like Hell.”
Joseph breaks into wild applause. “Uncle Zee saved us!”
I can’t help the laugh that slips out.Zee. The poor kid still can’t say Xavier, so we’re all rolling with it.
Callie’s little voice pipes up next. “Daddy’s brave!”
“He sure is, baby,” Isla responds, beaming at her husband.
“See?” Xavier smirks, puffing out his chest. “Hero status restored.”
“More like local idiot confirmed,” Harrison mutters, deadpan.
Imogen snorts, pushing her wet hair off her face. “At least the kids now have a story for show-and-tell.”
Laughter ripples around the yard easily. Someone splashes someone else, Joseph squeals, and just like that, everyone drifts back toward the pool; sun, water, chaos resuming like the snake never happened. I reach for my towel, ready to follow them in, when my phone buzzes on the table. One glance at the screen,one name, and my pulse does this ridiculous, completely unnecessary skip.
Sebastian:Did everything go alright this morning? Teddy didn’t have a good night last night.
Me:No issues at all. Is everything okay?
Sebastian:Yeah. Just a rough patch. He’s been waking up more lately. Probably growing pains, or the storm last night. Hard to say with him.
I soften a little reading his message. He always sounds so steady, even when he’s worried.
Me:If he needs to talk about it, I’m here. Might be good for us both if we stay on the same page anyway.
Me:And you too, of course. I’m great at making conversation.
Sebastian:Oh, I know.
Sebastian:But yeah… you’re probably right.
I stare at the screen, thumb hovering. I should stop here. This is the logical, professional stopping point. But my logic is apparently way off because the next message is already sent.
Me:How’s work?
Sebastian:Busy. Your brother is being an overbearing brute as usual.
Me:Hah. I know someone else like that.
Sebastian:Better not be referring to me, Little Mitchell.
Me:And if I am?
The second I hit send, I want to throw my phone in the pool.What am I doing?Am I… flirting?There’s a long pause, one bubble, two, and then nothing.Fantastic. I’ve officially embarrassed myself. I’m mid-self-pep-talk about how I need to stop making impulsive decisions, when my phone buzzes again.
