“Right.”
“Well, hey. Since it’s such a nice day out, I was going to do some yardwork. Why don’t you go check on the fairy garden? I think I saw some prickers growing in there.”
“Those bastards!” I gasp and hurry to the backyard with Brendan laughing behind me. Pixies do not like prickers.
I kneel down and grumble at the mess. Brendan hands me my gloves before he gets the weedwhacker out and starts trimming around the fence. So, I focus on my garden. Some of the pixies have been working in their houses, but the outside is a mess. After I pull the bad weeds, I water the plants and houses with a sprinkle from the hose and wipe them down with a cloth. It’s hard to keep a pixie village clean, and before long, I’m covered in dirt and sweating, but it feels good to see the garden looking so fresh.
“I’m going to take a shower and relax in my room for a while,” I tell Brendan as I stand and brush the dirt from my pants.
“Okay. I’m going to mow the lawn.”
“Will you start in the front so you can see if someone comes in?” I ask.
“Sure, pixie.” He wipes my cheek.
I hurry into the house and laugh when I see how dirty my face is. Hopping into the shower, I wash up quick and head to my room. Maybe I’ll work on my blanket while I watch some ridiculous rom coms.
The sound of a door slamming has me jumping.
Fuck.
I fell asleep again.
Next thing I know, Vera comes storming in and slams the door. “Rory Leslie Byrnes. That was very mean of you.”
“Maybe next time you won’t embarrass me in front of my date.”
“I thought you weren’t on a date.”
“We weren’t. That’s on Wednesday.”
Vera cocks her head and screeches as she pulls me into her ample bosom. “Awesome. I told you he liked you! Oh! You need me to help you decide what to wear.” She starts looking around my room. “You need some skinny jeans and a crop top.”
“We’re having dinner, not going to a club.” I laugh. “But that’s not the problem?—”
“So you wear a sweater over it and take it off when the time is right to show him your rockin’ bod.”
“My god. No! Well, maybe, but no!”
“Maybe some mascara. It really makes your eyes pop.”
“No, Vera!” I shout and grab her by the cheeks so she stops running around like crazy and looks at me. “Yes, I need your help with an outfit, but I have two other more pressing issues.”
She softens. “Having sex?”
I shrug. “Yeah, that’s one thing.”
“Rory, you tell him up front if you’re not ready, and if he tries something, you tase the fuck out of him.”
I laugh loudly. “He wouldn’t push me.”
“I don’t think he would either, but I just met him.”
“He’s only been nice to me.”
“I like him for you. He’s got that seriously possessive Daddy vibe.” She waggles a perfectly sculpted dark eyebrow.
“Vera…” I whine again. “What does that even mean?”
