I pull away, turning, and grab his shoulder before he can escape.
“Fox, it was hilarious, but really sweet. You rushed out to protect me, us. You were brave and ready to take on any human threat. I can’t blame you for being surprised by some of the local wildlife. Though I think we should leave the checking of the intruders to Sebastian.”
I turn away, suddenly both warm down to my toes and startled. I exhale sharply and grab the fence so I don’t fidget.
Am I planning forever? In my mind, it’s us forever. But I haven’t even told them yet, and they might leave. I can’t be…Ineed to figure out how they are going to feel about Lynn Marino and me being the same person and then tell them.
“Do you want a drink?”
I turn back to the house and hear a chain drop. I turn around, scanning the fence, and find Mat sitting there watching me. Below him, the chain that locks the gate is swinging. I grab Fox’s hand and pull him towards the house.
“What’s going on?”
“Just watch.”
We turn sideways and watch as Gale comes over and lifts the latch, and suddenly, he’s free.
“Far out, that is some team.”
I glower at the magpie horse team and wonder how I can fix this, short of getting a padlock or a bike chain.
“Stop right where you are, mister!” I snap at Gale.
He flicks his ears back and forth and lowers his head, trying to look all cute, and it works, but not well enough.
“Turn around and march your tuchus right back into that paddock and stay there.”
He stomps a hoof.
I fold my arms across my chest.
“Gale,” I warn him.
He snorts, then turns, and goes back into the paddock. The magpie doesn’t even move as I approach, just lets out one of his songs, stretching up and singing at the top of his lungs.
“Don’t do that again, Mat.”
The magpie ignores me, fixing its eye instead on Fox and letting out a cute trill. Almost as if he’s showing off.
“Hey, you two,” Katsu says.
He looks immaculate, even after everything. But, no, is he panicking?
“So, uh…”
I stare at him as he rubs the back of his head and struggles for words.
“Katsu?”
He closes his eyes. “I’m really sorry, but my parents are here, and they would like to meet you.”
“WHAT?” I shriek.
Tarou sits at the restaurant and studies me over steepled fingers.
“She is very pretty. In a classic kind of way.”
I bare my teeth. “If you say I have good hips, I will swear off packs forever.”
