Page 56 of Of Poison & Pumpkins
“You look viciously bloodthirsty,” he says quietly, sliding the pizza onto the counter. “But you may want to rearrange your face a little before they come over.”
I stick my tongue out at him. Right when I’m about to take a bite of pizza, someone stumbles on the street outside the window, drawing my attention.
“What’s wrong?” Elias follows my sightline, landing on the same view, Porter swaying and wobbling. As I push back, making the leg of my stool screech across the floor, Elias blocks me. “I’ll get him. Stay here.”
“You’re leaving me with these two?”
“You’ll survive. You are the cat queen, after all,” Elias says, reminding me of our adventure with Maya yesterday.
Elias rushes out the door, into the sunset light that makes his skin shimmer like a god. It’s not a detail I should be noticing. I sigh and shake my head. What a disaster. It’s obvious that Elias is trying to ask him questions, but he finally just pulls Porter into Palooza and leads him to a sitting position in the corner. As soon as Tinsley arrives, we’ll concoct the antidote to use on Porter and the others.
Brooke and Noah join us, arm in arm, apparently summoned by the glorious pizza smell, because I sure as Abyss didn’t call them over.
“Mmmm, sausage is my favorite,” Brooke says, grabbing a slice.
In a strange, creepy way, Noah watches her gobble and chew. They’re such a strange pair—Brooke, a miniature version of me but ‘brighter’ in all physical features. Her hair pops while mine fades. Her smile dazzles when mine is forced. Her eyes shimmer when mine narrow. Then Noah mirrors Elias in so many ways, it’s almost uncomfortable. The similar posture in which they hold themselves is uncanny. I hate that the father-son duo has the same intonation in their voice, the same dip of vowels when they speak. Honestly, I find it disgusting that Noah also slides his hand through his thick hair in the manner I’ve grown to adore when Elias does the same. This whole situation makes my insides twist with the epitome of disgust. Suddenly, I’ve lost my appetite.
“Let’s get this night started. Who wants a bottle?” Brooke pulls wine out of her tote, one after the other, then twists off the top of a cabernet and chugs.
Elias doesn’t drink, so I check his reaction. I haven’t had the chance to ask if he would want me to remove any. There’s so much we still need to learn about each other.
“Woo! That’s my chica!” Noah slaps Brooke’s ass, then lowers onto another stool. “She’s good at everything, isn’t she? You must’ve loved the competition. I heard you two shared a room growing up.”
Love? No, she obliterated my social life. Our older brother was never cruel, but Brooke had the tendency to create drama, which hasn’t seemed to change. Does Noah know Brooke’s age? Or that she is a Nerg? I gulp, wanting to be anywhere else. Thankfully, Elias wraps his hand around my waist and slowly brushes his thumb over my skin. The distraction does wonders. Now, if only I can make his touch magically transport me to another place or time, then that’d be spectacular.
“Um, so how did you two meet?” I ask, already regretting the question. A better option would be discussing ways to get them to leave.
“In April, at the Fuzer Ceremony in Meadowcrest.” Brooke gives me a look. “You know how much I always loved supporting our hometown magic.”
Before I can argue, Brooke kicks my shin under the counter. I curse silently and bite my lip.
“Yes, my bumblebee saw what she liked and wouldn’t take no for an answer, isn’t that right?”
I can detect the tiniest cringe from Brooke. Apparently, these newlyweds haven’t exchanged all their secrets yet. Maybe she thinks Noah is rich. But from what Elias has told me, none of the family business was left to Noah.
“At least someone in my family will show tenacity, after all these years of waiting for Elias to man up,” Noah says with a laugh. “You’d think that I’d have something to brag to my colleagues about, but nope, Elias still has some work to do, don’t ya son?”
Elias’s grip around me tightens. I stand and place myself between the two men staring each other down. Every little ounce of my being longs to kick Noah out of my store for eternity.
“It’s too bad you’ll miss the festival,” I say in the sweetest voice possible. “Obviously you’ve already heard that Elias’s thriving shop will be announced as the leading new small business in Oakmar Times. Unfortunately, only those with an exclusive VIP pass are allowed to attend, you know, because of all the celebrities that will be in attendance.”
Noah’s jaw literally drops and his gaze whips to mine. Next to him, Brooke squirms as she finds something fascinating on my purple tiled floor. For the first time, I wonder if she’s been forced into this relationship and needs help to escape this rotten joke of a man. How could someone as wonderful as Elias be created from such a foul monster?
“Oh, and Lias must’ve kept the mayor’s secret about his Medal of Honor he received last month,” I continue, unable to help myself. “Otherwise, I know a man of your prestige would never make such a mistaken assumption.”
“Medal of Honor? What for?” Noah asks, looking down-right furious.
I shrug. “You must have connections with the mayor, ask him yourself. We’re sworn to secrecy, for national security.”
“Bullshit!” Noah slaps the counter and a pizza box soars to the floor.
Out of thin air, Goosie appears to lick at the cheese. For a moment, all four of us are frozen, waiting for someone to make the first move. My heart rate drums against my ribs, fast and deadly. If I’m quiet for too long, Noah might view me as weak. But if I stand up to him and defend the man I lo—I mean, the man I’m sharing my home with …
“Okay, I’ve had enough.” Elias gestures towards the door. “You can leave now.”
“Naw, that’s not how it works. I’ll go when I’m good and ready.” Noah grabs a slice from the counter and starts munching, eyes locked with his son’s. The tension in the room is thick enough to choke on.
Elias points to the door. “Get. Out.”
