“You know.Corvin.”
“Ah.Right.Well, he’s fine.”Theo let out a sigh when he realized they’d hung out only yesterday.“Will texted yesterday.I guess we’re all invited to play some D&D or board games at his place.”
Carl cocked his head.“I call warlock.I’m usually the party’s sorcerer.”
Theo looked at him.“I don’t know what that means.”
“Well, I get to cast Magic Missile.”
Celeste sighed.“Oh, my darlings…”
“I don’t know what that means either.”
Carl gave him a level look.“It’s for attacking the darkness.”
“Sweet baby deities and joyful sinners,” Celeste mumbled, then walked off while her kettle was heating.
Theo narrowed his eyes.“I’m missing something, aren’t I?”
Carl shrugged.“Does the pup play D&D?”
Theo shook his head.“Parsley does.”
Celeste cackled as Carl said, “Who?”
Theo balled his hand.“Shit.Basil?No, fuck.Sage!Sage.Sorry, it’s one of those names that has a hard time sticking.But it’s Sage like pumpkin, because pumpkin goes well with sage.I’ll remember it.”
Carl nodded.“All the adrenaline, probably.Should get better after some food.”
Theo straightened.“I don’t—”
Celeste snapped her fingers.She was looking out of one of the living room windows.“Save it.They’re here.”
Theo’s heart thudded in his chest, which was ridiculous.This was nothing, after all.Nothing.Out of habit, he glanced at his phone, but before he could even unlock his screen, he had the good sense to feel silly for it and aborted the gesture, stood, remembered he wasn’t going to run to the door just to greet Peter, and sat back down, frowning at himself.
“Feeling fidgety there?”Carl asked.
Theo crossed his arms to keep himself from moving.“Do I look fidgety to you?”
Celeste clicked her tongue.“Theo, stop letting Carl get to you.”
Carl shrugged.“I wasn’t trying to get to you.Hey, do I look okay?”
“Huh?”
Carl leaned toward him.“Because of Lord Laurette.First impressions and all that.”
Theo had never thought of Carl as overly self-conscious, but then again, he’d always looked flawless for a bodyguard, never mind that his work clothes were a black suit and tie.
“You’re a fanboy.”
Theo said it half to himself, but Carl gave him an embarrassed smile that made him look both younger and softer.“Don’t tell the pup, okay?”
Theo was about to ask why he called Will a pup anyway.Some days—a lot of days, frankly—Theo felt like a pup all right.He had cutely carved fruit still in his lunch box to prove that, and just rememberingthatmade him think of Peter all over again, Peter, who had made that lunch, then run into danger.
If that idiot had gotten hurt, then all I’d have left would have been, what, some flaccid, squished banana and a pithless orange?Did he think I’d get over his sorry ass being gone by making fruit salad?
The anger came with a sharp sting to Theo’s eyes, and he was on his feet before he could stop himself.He turned to the door, ready to meet Peter, but there was no need.Kira came in, holding the door, and Peter was the first one through.
