Page 72 of Missiletoe
“My stalker.”
“My waffles!” At this rate, I was never going to get to eat waffles again.
Chapter15
Paris
We got outside much faster than it took to get inside, because we took the back way that my mouse friends and I had torn apart on our way in last night.
By the time we reached the secret exit, many of my new mouse friends had joined us and formed a semi-circle at our feet.
“Hi! It’s good to see you all again.” Vix crouched down, like he had all the time in the world to make friends with mice and wasn’t in the middle of an emergency. “Next time you want to let someone inside, just come to me, okay? It will save me some work, and you’ll get treats!”
I scooped Vix up and carried him away from the secret exit. “There’s a fire, bunny. Let’s get to safety before making new friends.”
Why did my stalker have to express themself through fire? Couldn’t they have just TPed stuff like a normal person? I HATED fire, and my loathing wasn’t getting any better from all the exposure I’d had to it lately.
“Oh, right.” Vix began to snuggle into my chest, but then he froze and said, “Your friends! You have to tell all of your mice to get out of the house!”
A large, brown mouse climbed onto my shoulder and touched my neck with his nose. I couldn’t quite make out words, but I got the sense that he wanted me to let Vix know that mice weren’t stupid and that they’d all fled. They’d just come to check and make sure we weren’t stupid either.
After Trixie’s revelation and impromptu animal magic lesson, I’d been able to sense animals and communicate with them on a basic level. None of them spoke in my head like Trixie did, but I could still tell what they were thinking.
Most animals seemed to already understand a lot more of human speech than I imagined. But communicating mentally was something that would probably take practice. I had to form images and feelings clearly, locate the creature I wanted to speak with, and send them the message I was trying to convey. I had to do it slowly or else the creature would get overloaded and run away.
It had taken a while before I’d been able to get the hang of it last night. Trixie told me I owed her bacon for the headache I’d given her.
I asked the mouse if the humans inside the house were okay, and he informed me that he was only one mouse. He couldn’t be everywhere at once, and that, even if he could, he didn’t care enough about the other humans to check.
At least that’s what I thought he was trying to say.
“The mice are fine, bunny. I’m more worried about your family.”
“They should be okay, But I’ll check in just a second.” Vix pressed his face into my chest and inhaled deeply. Then I think he motorboated me a little. “Sorry. It’s just…they arerightthere in my face flirting with me. I’m only human.”
Vix squirmed until I set him down.
I didn’t want to let go because my instinct was to hang onto him until I knew where the fire was. It was like I was afraid he’d run right into it like a toddler dashing recklessly into a busy street. Since that was the cause of our meeting, I had a valid reason to feel that way.
I didn’t cling to him like a helicopter parent, though. That wasn’t what he needed, and to be honest, it wasn’t what I wanted either. I didn’t want to play the role of the overbearing partner. I wanted to care for Vix and cherish him. If I could help keep him safe, happy, and well-loved, nothing would make me happier.
And if my idea of keeping him safe included making sure no one but me (sigh…and Baz.) ever touched him again, that was my business.
Hey, I said I didn’twantto be overbearing. I didn’t say I’d be good at not being so.
So I didn’t snatch Vix back off the ground. Instead, I asked, “How do we find your family without going back inside?”
Vix tapped the silver shooting star ear cuff on his right ear and asked, “Love, where is everyone?”
“Everyone is meeting in the back, Boss. Just like every emergency drill we’ve ever had.”
“Oops,” Vix winced. “I forgot.”
“I know, and so did everyone else, which is why I had to tell them that Paris got you outside before anyone was willing to leave.”
Vix fiddled with his fingers nervously and had his gaze on the ground. “Um…I’m sorry I’m such a mess. I just—”
“Please don’t apologize for being yourself. I love you exactly the way you are.” I took his hands in mine. They were cold even though we’d only been outside for a few minutes, so I leaned down and held them to my mouth so I could blow on them to warm them up. Vix’s cheeks were bright pink by the time I was done.
