Corvin gaped.“You know each other?Everyone knows everyone?”
Celeste put a hand on his shoulder.“New Elvenswood’s supernatural circles are not as big as you’d imagine.”
“Didn’t think I’d run into you here either.”Theo fumbled with the cookie bag in his hands.“Thanks again for dropping by that day.”
“Mm-hmm.Sure.So, listen up.”Basil unfolded his arms and reached for Will’s hand without looking.Then he took a deep breath.“Peter’s…he’s a good man.Fuck, that sounds wrong.But he is, okay?Listen, if you think you can get him to buy groceries for you and then cheat on him with the next best—” He glanced at Corvin.“—whatever.Anyway.I’m not letting you do that to him.”
Theo’s mouth fell open.“You think…” He pointed at Corvin.
Celeste tutted.“Sage, this really isn’t what it looks like.Theo was just here for cookies.And for my advice.”
Will blinked his big brown eyes at her.“Do you really do therapy?”He glanced at Corvin.“You didn’t break up with the siren, did you?”
Celeste shrugged.“I’m just good at listening.”
Corvin gasped.“Oh!John—sorry, Will.You missed us getting engaged.We’re getting married.No parting me from my Pineapple Mike.Oh, did you know he’s a siren back then?”
Will nodded, taking a small step forward and unhunching his shoulders slightly.“I did know, but he forbade me from telling you.I’d have totally told you.You’re really happy, huh?”
Not-Basil-but-Sage turned to Will.“And you’re not?”
He said that with what Theo recognized as affectionate playfulness.I wish Peter were here.He’d put that witch’s playfulness to shame.
“You know I am.”Will cuddled up to Sage, hugging him closely, and buried his nose in the witch’s neck to nuzzle there.And lick him, unless Theo was mistaken.
“Hey, what did we say about the public licking?Godsdamn, sweetcakes, don’t be cute when we’re at work.”
Will blushed and moved back.He still ended up with his side touching Sage; plenty of PDA in Theo’s book.
Celeste clicked her tongue.“Sage, give your poor apprentice a break.Did someone direct you to the shot glasses I’d like enchanted?”She turned to Corvin and Theo.“You’re welcome to stay for a drink.I can whip up mimosas while these two work.”
Corvin shook his head.“We should really have brunch first.Hey, sorry if I’m interrupting your workday, but, Will, if you want to come along…” He looked at Theo.“That’s okay, right?”
Theo relaxed his hold on the cookies.“Sure is.”
Will’s eyes went big.Theo had been too preoccupied with other things when they’d first met, so he hadn’t noticed it, but Will had really big eyes, like a model, almost.
“Uhmmm.”He glanced at Sage.“We have work?”
He was using those big eyes now to convey an unspoken plea, and Sage was clearly weak against it.
With the utmost gentleness, he brushed Will’s hair back.“If you want to catch up, you can take the rest of the day off.But you have to promise you’ll call when you want me to pick you up, okay?You have your phone on you?And your wallet?”
Will nodded.“Yeah.I promise.”
Corvin clapped with excitement.“This is exciting!Also kismet.Come on, guys, let’s get going.”
Theo was glad Corvin’s enthusiasm about brunch took any trace of awkwardness out of the situation.The excitement seemed contagious.The way Will followed Corvin, he’d been infected with it too.
Theo turned to Celeste.“How’re we going to handle…you know.Work.”
She shrugged.“I think it would be a very good idea for you to tell him, don’t you?”
He nodded.“Yeah, right.Makes sense.”
Sage frowned as he looked after Will, then stepped closer.“Hey, uh, sorry.About earlier.Look, Will…” He clenched his jaw.“Watch out for him, please?And remember, he’s probably expecting you to eat first.”
“It’s fine.I mean, I get it.No hard feelings.”
