When I finally start moving around at noon, Elsie is already up and halfway got her tea party prepared in her room. Today’s shenanigans include dressing up like ladies and having a spot of tea while we watch movies. Though Elsie is getting older, I’ve never been more thankful that she still enjoys tea parties. She wasn’t allowed to have them before, not while Ric was home, but that was the first thing I’d gotten her when we left. A tea set. She’s used it weekly ever since.
But first, I need some coffee.
I’m in the kitchen going through the motions of grinding my coffee beans and prepping the espresso machine – another happy purchase – when the air seems to grow heavier in the room. I turn, expecting Elsie, only to find Wylan leaning against the doorjamb instead. I shriek on instinct and throw the coffee mug in my hand before I’m conscious of doing so.
“Whoa!” he says, plucking the coffee mug out of the air and holding it up. “You could’ve broken that, love.”
“What the hell are you doing in my house?” I growl, pressing my hand against my chest to calm my racing heart. Fuck. I’m not prepared for the sneaky assassin. I hadn’t even heard him come in. Not even a breath.
“I came to discuss some things with you. You don’t have to throw shit at me,” he says.
“Then use the front door,” I grunt. “Don’t just show up.”
“I don’t know if you know this, crumpet, but assassins don’t last long if there’s evidence of them being there on the front door cameras.” He looks at me as if that’s the most obvious thing in the world for someone to know. Realistically, I understand he’s not wrong, but he didn’t need to scare the living daylights out of me.
“Whatever. Just maybe announce yourself before you go scaring me so bad. I nearly peed myself.”
He grins. “That would be a right shame, wouldn’t it?”
I run a hand through my hair in annoyance before holding out my hand for the coffee mug. He straightens and walks across the kitchen to hand it to me.
Thumps start to come down the stairs. “Mom! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine!” I call back, but her steps don’t stop. “Fuck. Hide!”
Wylan scowls. “What? Like a side piece? I’ll have you know I’m prime meat!”
“Just get in the fucking closest or something!” I snarl, shoving him toward the pantry.
“In the closet?” he repeats as if he’s insulted. “I don’t like closets. A bit claustrophobic. That’s where the skeletons hide.”
I’m in the process of trying to shove him into the pantry when Elsie rounds the corner and stares with wide eyes between me and the devastatingly handsome punk rock man I’m trying to hide. She’s holding a teacup in her hands, cradled carefully so she doesn’t accidently drop it and break the ceramic. We’ve already lost one of the cups.
“Who’s that?” she asks.
I stop trying to shove Wylan into the pantry, lost for words, but I never should have worried. Wylan immediately straightens with a look of annoyance toward me before turning on the charm.
“Hello, love. You must be Elsie. I’m Wylan.”
Elsie tilts her head. “You talk funny.”
“Well, you see, that’s because I’m from England,” he says with a cheeky grin.
Elsie’s eyes brighten. “Have you met the Queen?”
Wylan shifts. “Yes, and no. But it doesn’t really matter. You know why?”
“Why?” Elsie asks eagerly.
He leans down and whispers like he’s revealing a great conspiracy. “She’s a lizard lady. Eats babies and the like. Nasty business, that.”
Elsie’s eyes widen. “No!”
“Yes,” Waylan nods seriously, his eyes falling to the teacup. “Were you just about to have tea?”
She nods. “A tea party. Mom and I do it every Sunday. Would you like to join?”
“No,” I interrupt, shaking my head. “I think he was just leaving actually?—”
