“Well,” Caleb says, “at least the bread’s risen.”
“The bread,” I say. “Put it in the oven. Put it in the oven right now.”
Caleb gives me a strange look, but he doesn’t argue. He simply opens up the oven and puts it in.
“No,” I say, “take the damn towel off. Come on, the oven’s not even on.”
“What temperature?” Caleb says, flummoxed.
Gunner barks a laugh.
“I don’t know, try like 375. We probably should have preheated it, but we’re just going to have to hope this is good enough.”
“What are you going to do with the bread?” Caleb says.
“I don’t know. This is probably a stupid idea, but we can’t just leave that thing out there. That’s not safe. We don’t know what it wants. And if the wards are down?—”
“Whoa. A ward? A ward like a medal, like a prize?”
“No, no, no. A ward. It’s a protection barrier spell. I think that’s what the rune is on your light, I mean. Like, the rune anchors the ward. And I got all distracted because you kissed me and then I was thinking about, you know, kissing and?—”
I trail off completely flummoxed and disconcerted and out of sorts from the way Caleb’s looking at me… like he’s also considering kissing me again.
“Just turn on the oven,” I blurt.
Caleb snorts and I hear the oven beep as he sets it on.
Meanwhile the eye in the water is fixed on us, glowing light minty green that’s at odds with the strange power I feel humming right from the spot where the giant beast must be sitting.
“How the heck does it even fit there?” I say. “Something like that should be like way deep in the ocean.”
“Oh yeah, absolutely,” said Caleb. “But dogs also shouldn’t talk and we’re dealing with that. So, you know.”
“Fair,” I say. “A little bit rude, but fair.”
You have to laugh, which seems completely out of odds with the fact that there’s a giant magical kraken sitting right next to the lighthouse in the water and there’s a slimy tentacle somehow next to the lighthouse or still on it. I don’t know. I don’t like it either way.
“What if it tries to pull us into the water?” I say.
“Is that something that happens a lot to witches?” Caleb asks.
“Dude, I don’t know. I’m out of my depth.” I pause. “No pun intended.”
Gunner sighs, an exasperated sound.
A grumpy exhalation pops out of me. Gunner and I spare a second looking at each other.
“I can’t decide if I’m upset that Gunner never talked to me or impressed that he was able to hold it in for so long,” Caleb says.
“I think you should be impressed,” Gunner tells him. “Obviously it’s pretty impressive. Also, I wanted to talk to you, Caleb, but there wasn’t really any reason to. You’re already really nice to Ivy and me both. I’m just glad you guys are falling in love again.”
“Gunner,” I say, reprimanding tone.
“What?” Gunner says, scratching the back of his ear with his hind leg. “I’m just telling it like it is.”
Caleb gives me a long, amused look.
“He has opinions,” I tell him.
