“Mom?”
“What’s up?” I straightened up from where I’d been slouching and lifted my eyebrows.
“I asked what the deal is with that butler.” Jimmy sat down beside me, content to have patience when there was the prospect of being waited on, just like his mother.
“He’s as weird as they come, bud. No other explanation for it.”
“But you pay him?”
“Kinda. The house funds pay him. He kinda…came with the house, like I said yesterday. Because of the…”
“Magic, yeah. I’m still trippin’, trying to piece reality back together. Like…Xbox doesn’t seem as interesting when you’ve seen a gargoyle, you know? I’ve seen a gargoyle!” He bent over the island. “I have seen…a gargoyle.” He swore, and I let him have that one.
“Now.” Mr. Tom reentered the kitchen, as pleased as I’d ever seen him. “What are we thinking, Master Jimmy? The works? You ate enough to feed an army last night; I can only assume you’ll eat all I’ve prepared for you today.”
“Yes, please.”
“There.” Mr. Tom nodded. “Manners. That is much better than the foul mouth I heard a moment ago.”
“What did you want to do today?” I asked as Mr. Tom compiled enough food for two. I knew none of it was for me. Apparently he wanted to test Jimmy’s stomach. “Do you want to check out the town, or—”
I felt Austin’s feet touch down on the walkway leading to the house and butterflies swarmed my stomach, quickly turning ravenous and beginning to eat through my stomach lining. My links were all closed down out of habit. I hadn’t expected him.
“Or a hike, maybe?” Jimmy said. “Mom?”
“Yes. Sorry. Yes, a hike would be great. Want to meet a Bigfoot?”
Jimmy just gaped at me.
“He is a basajaun,” Mr. Tom said with a sniff. “You’ll slip one day and call him Bigfoot to his face, miss, and then he won’t want to help you anymore. You’d better be careful.”
“He doesn’t know what a basajaun is—”
“I know what that is,” Jimmy cut in. “I can’t remember where it’s from.”
“Basque mythology portrays them quite well,” Mr. Tom said.
“Right, right.” Jimmy nodded as Mr. Tom delivered a heaping plate. “Mythology class, that’s right. Or maybe it was a dude in D&D who mentioned them. It’s bigger than a Bigfoot, right? Meaner?”
“He is very mean, yes. When you aren’t on his good side, at least.” I magically opened the front door as Austin reached it. “He loves magical flowers.”
“This is a trip. You are living the absolute best life.”
I glowed from within, trying not to preen at being the cooler parent for the first time ever. “It’s a crazy life, and it has some serious dangers.” Austin walked down the hall toward us. “It’s not all fun and games.”
“Well, I mean…” Jimmy pushed food into his cheek. “It is for me, right? Because I’m just visiting.”
“Smart boy.” Mr. Tom snapped up straight and turned toward the door as Austin entered. “Hello, Austin Steele, can I get you something to eat?”
Austin’s cobalt eyes burned as they beheld me, tracking me like prey, and I didn’t dare peek at the link.
“Hi,” I said, suddenly unsure where to put my hands. He’d always been the one uncomfortable with our closeness. I’d been the blasé one. The sudden shift wigged me out. Made me feel like a high schooler with a crush.
Jimmy’s fork slowed on the way up to his mouth, his eyes widening and the rest of him freezing.
“Hi. I’m Austin.” He put out his hand for Jimmy.
“They prefer fist bumps these days,” Mr. Tom said as though he were the leading expert on college-aged kids. “Or high fives.”
My son shook himself, lowering his fork. “Oh.” He pushed to standing, his face suddenly flushed. “Hi. Hello, sir.” He grabbed Austin’s hand, offering a hearty shake.
“It’s good to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Austin let go of Jimmy’s hand and stepped back, giving him space.
“Oh, yeah. That’s my mom.” Jimmy absently gestured at me, bending like a gawky teen. “You don’t… Ahhhmm.” He pointed at Austin’s chest. “I don’t see a cape—er, wings. Or…a cape?”
I frowned at him. When had he inherited my social awkwardness? He usually charmed the room like his father.
Austin rested a hand against the island. “I hear you got the lowdown on the hidden world within the world. I’m what’s called a shifter. I—”
“A shapeshifter, yeah.” Jimmy grinned. And then his lips went slack. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Still frowning, I reached out to touch Jimmy’s arm. “Austin is a good friend of mine. You don’t have to be so formal.”
“Oh right. Yeah.” Jimmy slowly slid onto his stool, anything but comfortable. He was clearly reacting to Austin’s raw power, the lethal confidence he didn’t try to hide. “Sorry. Um, what do you turn into? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“A polar bear.”