Page 136 of Pick Me Up On Tuesdays

“Anyone got magic?” I asked, panting.

“I’ve got this rock,” Joy said, holding up a gloriously average stone.

She handed it to me.

“No pressure,” she said.

No pressure?We were being chased by literal hedges.

“I mean, just aim well. And maybe don’t break glass. You’ll owe him money.”

I took aim.

And threw.

Thunk!

It hit the frame.

Seconds ticked by.

Then—

The curtain fluttered.

And Ethan’s familiar, sleep-rumpled head poked out.

His gaze swept the garden, his eyes landing on me—

And the levitating bunny, who floated towards his window like a passive participant in our felony.

“Ghost boy…?” he asked, groggily.

“Hi,” I said, a bit too cheerfully for someone being chased by a magical war elf.

Ethan blinked at the bunny.

The bunny blinked back.

He reached out, calm as ever, and gently pulled the rabbit into his arms. “What are you doing—?”

“Can you please come save us now?” I yelled.

The guardian elf was closing in fast, and damn was he interested in hearing us out.

Ethan disappeared from the window.

Moments later, the front door flew open.

Ethan stormed out in sweatpants and no shirt (again), the bunny tucked against his hip like a floating handbag.

The elf snapped to attention. “These creatures have infiltrated sacred land. They must be detained—”

“They’re guests,” Ethan said firmly.

The elf narrowed his eyes saying nothing.

Ethan glanced at me, at Joy, then at Shun.

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