“On what?” I ask cautiously. This could end up being anything from ice cream for the rental house to elaborate costumes for our next grift.
“Presents. Let’s go get Kip and Nik something fun, and we’ll treat ourselves while we’re at it.”
That makes me even more suspicious. Mags doesn’t generally spend on frivolous things, and she considers gifting to be extremely frivolous. For her, it’s just necessities and scam items only, no extras.
“Mags, what’s going on?”
She sighs and sits on the edge of my bed. “I’m bored. I’m not used to our marks giving us a day off. I don’t know what else to do.”
Now, that tracks. “Well, go shopping yourself. I’m still tired.”
A pillow slams into my head with a surprising amount of force. “Get up. We’re going.”
Well, I guess I’m getting up for the day.
The shopping expedition turns out to be horribly boring. Mags picks up her medicine, a few groceries for the rental, and exactly four candy bars.
“That was it?” I ask Mags as we stop by the house to drop off the items before going back to the Gradys’ manor. “We had enough extra to buy candy, anyway. Why did you need to wake me up for a special trip?”
She rolls her eyes as she knocks on the door to the bedroom I share with Kip to give him his candy. “Can’t you just enjoy spending time together for once?”
“Me? You, ma’am, are the one who’s always got some scheme brewing.”
“Moi?I object to any accusation that I don’t have pure intentions.”
Kip pokes his head out of the door and looks at the candy bar in Mags’s hand. “What’s this for?”
“Take it.”
“Why?”
“See? Even Kip doesn’t trust it.”
Mags pouts and tosses the candy at Kip. “Why doesn’t anyone trust me around here? I work and slave for you people, and this is the thanks I get.”
“You con people for a living, Mags.” Kip sniffs the candy bar and inspects the wrapper.
“It’s just fucking candy, Kip. Ask your brother; he came with me to buy it.”
Kip’s jaw drops. “You bought the candy? This isn’t some five-finger discount deal?” He lets out a low whistle. “And it’s the fancy stuff, too. What’s the occasion?”
She grunts with frustration and crosses her arms over her chest. “Why does there have to be one?”
“No reason. I’m just going off of past history.” He unwraps the candy and takes a bite. “I’m grateful you thought of me. Did Kaden tell you this is my favorite bar, or was this coincidence? I don’t remember ever telling you I loved Jimmy Bars.”
I open my mouth for a snarky comment, but then I realize I don’t have one. I know I never told Mags about Kip’s favorite candy. For that matter, I never told her mine, yet she bought me a Zork Bar without hesitation. I suspect this was an altruistic mission on her part, though, and now I feel shitty for harassing her about it.
Before I can reroute my train of thought to an apologetic track, Mags storms down the hall and back out the door. Itslams shut behind her, and seconds later the car peels out of the driveway.
Guess I’m walking back to work.
“What was that about?”
I sigh and pat my twin on the shoulder. “I pissed her off, and you helped fuel the fire when you acted like the candy bar was poisoned.”
“Oh.”
“She’ll get over it.” I hope.
