Gifted Connections 3

The elevator doors opened once more and Jaxson, Troy, and Jace stepped off the lift. “Who told them?” I groaned. I knew some of the gifts I got weren’t going to be easy to keep hidden.

I jumped out of the SUV and held out my hands. “Step no farther,” I insisted. “You can’t see anything yet!”

“How about we give you the wagons, and you put the stuff in there we can see?” Jace asked with a smirk.

I nodded satisfied with his compromise. I grabbed one of the wagons and kissed his cheek. “Always so smart,” I teased him.

“So, I’ve been told,” Jace grinned at me.

Jaxson started to creep towards the vehicle.

“Take one step closer and…and I’ll have you running around this parking garage meowing like the curious cat you are,” I warned him.

He turned with a mock frown. “You would-” He was cut off midsentence as he began to running around the garage meowing loudly.

I smiled at the laughter surrounding me. I compelled him to stop just as quickly as I compelled him to start. “Believe me now?”

He turned with a feigned look of hurt. “That’s not very nice. You promised no compelling us against our will.”

I raised my brow at him and put my hands on my hips. “I distinctly recall Noah screaming in the shower the other day because a spider was in there with him.”

Of all the things Noah could be afraid off, I was shocked to find it was spiders. He screamed like a little girl when he saw them. I loved finding more things out about my connections, so I was even amused by that one.

Jaxson tried to hide a smile behind his hand. “Who said it was me?” he tried to look innocent.

Tried to.

“It was singing the itsy-bitsy spider,” I said dryly.

Everyone began to laugh in surprise and amusement.

J

emmy hollered with laughter. “You’re kidding me? Why am I just now finding out about this? Why wasn’t it filmed?”

Jaxson looked over at her and mouthed something to her that I was unable to see. Jemmy covered her mouth and tears sprang to her eyes.

I rolled my eyes. I hadn’t noticed at the time, but maybe he had been recording it. Noah was going to kill him…again. “So, the moral of the story is, I’m not using it maliciously or forcefully. Now stay right there so we can load up the wagons with what you can see. I’m hungry!”

“Drake has food waiting for you all,” Troy stated with a grin as he kissed my cheek.

I grinned up at him. “How am I not surprised?”

“We also get to test out the new theater room tonight. Everyone’s eagerly waiting for you guys,” Jace added.

“Theater room?” I asked in surprise.

“Senator Bowen had it set up today,” Jace explained as he looked over at Victoria. “I hear you are somewhat of a movie buff. He wanted to make sure you were settling in nicely.”

Victoria smiled widely, although I’m certain I saw a shadow cross her face. “I want to be a director one day,” then she grimaced. “At least I wanted to be.”

Jace frowned slightly. “You still can. Just because you found out you’re gifted, doesn’t mean it can stop you from pursuing your dreams.”

Victoria had been a roller coaster of emotions today. She had been happy, bitter, morose, angry, and every other volatile emotion. I knew she was still felt guilt for her mother’s death. She was upset her father had thrust her into this situation. She was still struggling with her ‘curse.’ She still didn’t see it as a gift.

“Yeah, right,” she said sullenly. “I’ll get all the education and experience I need hidden in a mountain in the middle of nowhere.”

“This is only temporary,” I told her resolutely.