Page 61 of Happily Ever Witch
“Marion? I’ve known her for…” Jesus, how did you calculate time when you were in stasis for two years and she had traveled through time? “…awhile.”
“Have you slept with her?”
“Isthatwhat this is about?” He laughed, finally figuring it out.
“Have you? Yes or no?”
“No.” He darted to the left to avoid another sweep of the laser. “I have not slept with Marion.” He’d half-heartedly tried years before, but she’d turned him down. Now, he never even considered it.
“I don’t believe you have any platonic, female friendships, Trevelyan. I’ve met you.”
“Can we talk about this after I’m done with the robots? I’d like to enjoy your jealousy, without so many distractions.”
“We’ll talk about it, right now! And I’mnotjealous. We’re supposed to have a monogamy deal, though. I gave up guitar players for you, so you need to give up this Maid Marion girl.”
He settled on an offensive strategy and headed down a long aisle, knocking ancient scrolls and grimoires off the shelves as he moved. Scholarly vandalism should draw the Tweedles’ attention. “Wedohave a monogamy deal. But, if you get Marrok, then I get Marion. That’s only fair.”
“He’s my brother!”
“And she’s my sister!” It wasn’t until the words left his mouth that he realized they were true. He saw Marion as a sister. He had a sister, not of his blood. Did that count as believing an impossible thing?
Yes.
He was winning the dare from that cheery affirmation on the refrigerator door. That was two out of six impossible things already and it wasn’t even dinnertime.
“Your sister?”
“Marion and I were in prison together. You know better than anyone the bonds that can build.”
Esmeralda was quiet.
“Marion got sent back in time ten years. Then, she saved my life, because I savedherlife in the original timeline.” He gave his head a shake. Even he was getting confused. “Anyway, now she’s rolling in cash and treats me like I’m fourteen. And she’s married to her True Love. You have nothing to worry about, alright? Can we drop this?”
Although, it was thoughtful of Esmeralda to be so possessive. A man liked to know he was wanted.
Esmeralda remained silent, as if she was trying to sort through that convoluted explanation. “You saved her?” She finally said and her voice sounded strange. “You deliberately went out of your way to protect this woman?”
The Tweedles were closing in on him, one on either side of a long aisle of priceless manuscripts. He was cornered. ...Or so they thought.
“Actually, it wasn’t me that helped her. It was theotherme. From her timeline.” Trevelyan climbed up the shelves like a ladder.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about and I don’t want to.” Esmeralda snapped. “One of you isplenty. Why are you always mixed up in so much weird shit?”
“I make a lot of enemies. God knows why.”
“I can make you a list of reasons, if you’d like.” Her voice changed, becoming less irritated. “Hey, speaking of enemies, did you know Bluebeard’s in Wonderland, too?”
“I have no idea who that is.”
“He’s a jackass with turquoise facial hair and middling powers. I’m sure he hates you. Everyone always does. We’ll probably have to kill him, if he shows up.”
“Fine.” Trevelyan couldn’t care less.
“So, does Maid Marion have that spark in her eye, you were talking about earlier?” Esmeralda asked, back to her main focus. “The one Good girls sometimes have and you want to science experiment with?”
She did. Trevelyan wasn’t stupid enough to admit it, though.
“Stand back, Ez.” He called out instead. “I’m about to make a mess.” The Tweedles were directly under him, trying to get a clear shot, as he perched on the top of the bookshelf.
