13. Phil
Phil
I wasn’t sure how much of Pussywillow’s words Sedrick heard.
Who was I kidding? Sedrick was a werewolf.
Most likely, he’d heard more than me. I’d known Pussywillow since I moved to Virginia.
The first time I’d seen her, I’d been in awe.
I’d never seen a pixie with the array of colors that drifted through Pussywillow’s hair.
Her pixie dust was no different. Everyone gravitated toward her.
That was part of a social pixies’ charms. Pussywillow honed her skills well.
I didn’t recognize the golden pixie with her.
I could tell he was a social pixie, just like Pussywillow, but I didn’t know him personally or his name.
Regardless, he knew mine now. Pussywillow hadn’t missed an opportunity to comment on poor, misfortunate Phil.
Her comments grated, but only because she was right.
The golden pixie was right too; there wasn’t anything in Petal’s store that would fit me.
I tried to brush the incident off. It wasn’t all that unusual, really.
I stuck out. Even if I’d lived in New York City, most everyone would know who I was.
Pussywillow would have loved that kind of notoriety, though not for the reasons everyone knew me.
Social pixies craved attention. In a way, all pixies did.
We loved being noticed, being called beautiful, and having our work acknowledged.
Peaches was beautiful, but he’d cherish a compliment about his orchard far more than one aimed at his appearance.
“I think this place has vegetarian options.” Sedrick interrupted my increasingly melancholy train of thought. “To be fair, I’ve never tried those options, so I’m not sure how good they are.”
Ruthie had transferred her attention to Sedrick and had a chunk of his jeans clasped in her hand. If she’d had her claws out, she would have shredded them.
“I’ll be fine.” I appreciated Sedrick’s concerns, but I didn’t share them. “Peaches and I have eaten at Murphy’s, and it’s good.” I couldn’t afford to eat out much, but Peaches and I went out on special occasions. Despite my protests, Peaches usually paid the bill.
Sedrick’s body tensed when I mentioned my best friend’s name. He’d done that before, but I assumed it was because I’d implied that Peaches might be able to handle the gnomes. I had no idea what to make of Sedrick’s response now. He hadn’t even met Peaches.
“Come on, Uncle Sed. I’m starving.” Dillon dramatically pulled Sedrick toward Murphy’s entrance. Sedrick ruffled Dillon’s hair and allowed himself to be tugged. Ruthie followed along.
We got a table quickly, and our hostess only gave me a few sidelong glances.
Most of the employees at Murphy’s had worked there for a few years and had seen me before.
Murphy was human, and most of the people who worked for him were too.
Humans weren’t any worse or better when it came to how they reacted to me.
Fairies were the experts in manipulating their reactions. No other species even came close. I wasn’t sure I liked their blank, emotionless stares any more than the judgmental side eyes I typically got.
“Come on, Phil.” Dillon waved to the seat next to him.
Ruthie was on his other side, which placed Sedrick and me next to each other.
Just like at home, Ruthie pulled her chair closer to her brother.
She had to climb into her seat. She could have used a booster seat, but when our server asked about it, she shook her head so hard that her braids threatened to come loose.
Dillon snatched a menu and started to mumble about all the different choices.
I had no idea what he planned to get. He and Ruthie huddled behind a menu, and I heard him tell her the options.
Dillon’s voice quieted, and the menu dropped.
His dark brown eyes peeked over the edge of the menu, and his voice was hushed when he asked, “Uncle Sed, what do you want us to order?”
Sedrick appeared just as taken aback as me. “Whatever you want. Do you need help deciding?”
Dillon chewed on his bottom lip and shook his head. “No, not exactly. It’s just . . . some of these things are a little expensive.”
I stared at my menu. Murphy’s wasn’t expensive, not even by my standards.
It wasn’t the cheapest place, but it was economical.
Dillon had been a little weird today when we were shopping too.
He kept looking at price tags and placing things back on the rack.
I went behind him and plucked them back up.
I checked the prices, and nothing was too bad.
I wasn’t sure what was going through Dillon’s mind.
Sedrick quietly sat there. Finally, he laid his menu down on the table and leaned forward.
“Dillon, it’s okay. You and Ruthie can order what you like.
Phil can too.” I started to protest, but Sedrick held up a halting hand.
“Lunch is on me, Phil. Honestly, it feels like poor compensation considering everything you’ve accomplished at the house. ”
Warmth flooded my chest, and my wings fluttered. Our hostess had been kind enough to switch out my chair for one that didn’t have a back. Pixie dust scattered, but Sedrick only smiled indulgently.
I stared down at my hands, and embarrassed pleasure raced through my veins. “I haven’t done much, and there’s a lot left that—”
“Phil.” Sedrick’s heavy hand cupped the back of mine.
I inhaled at the sight. My hands always looked so big, but Sedrick’s hand made mine look small.
“You’ve done plenty, and I’m beyond pleased.
I didn’t have a lot of expectations when I went looking for a home-and-hearth pixie.
You’ve exceeded everything I never knew I wanted or needed. ”
“Oh.” I had no words. Tears welled in my eyes, and I forced myself not to cry while eating lunch outside on Murphy’s patio. Finally, my brain clicked in, and I said, “But you already pay me.”
Sedrick paid me far better than any job I’d ever had, and that was only money. There was no way to place a monetary value on the cost of my soul.
“Now,” Sedrick leaned back, seemingly pleased with himself, “everyone, get what you want. My treat.”
Dillon still looked a little dubious, but he gave a firm nod, and when the server came back around, he ordered for himself and Ruthie.
I wasn’t sure who was going to get what meal.
I’d seen the two of them eat enough to know Dillon almost always tried to share more of his meal with his sister than was healthy for a growing were child.
I’d turned it into an odd game. Whenever I saw Dillon push a piece of food onto Ruthie’s plate, I replaced it on his.
Lunch passed in a whirl of laughter, good food, and good company. Quicker than I thought possible, Pussywillow’s toxic words faded from my mind. The sun’s warmth was pleasant, and it was nice to be outside.
With lunch ending, Sedrick verbally went over all the places we still needed to go.
Sedrick wanted to stop by the gnome exterminators.
He’d taken my suggestion a step further and thought having Dillon and Ruthie with him might persuade them to move our gnome issue up higher on the to-do list. Sedrick also wanted to stop by a home store to pick up some things for the house.
I’d made a mental list while helping shop with Dillon and Ruthie of things that would be helpful.
I felt confident Dillon, Ruthie, and I’d knocked out their clothes shopping while Sedrick was getting fitted for his new suit.
Sedrick left the table to take care of the bill.
Dillon leaned back in his chair and patted his stuffed belly.
He and Ruthie looked like they could use a nap, and I wondered how soon the crankiness would settle in.
Hopefully, we could knock out the shopping, and if worse came to worse, as long as Sedrick was comfortable with it, I could shop for the home goods by myself.
I was going over my mental list when Dillon growled.
It was different from anything I’d heard from him before.
This sound set the hairs on my neck on edge.
It was low and full of warning. Before I knew it, Ruthie scrambled into my lap.
Her claws dug into my pants and tore my shirt.
A small trickle of blood flowed down my arm. I ignored it.
“Hello. Dillon, isn’t it?”
I hugged Ruthie to my chest. Dillon jumped out of his chair, circled the table, and placed his small body between the stranger and us.
His growl deepened. Fur sprouted along the length of his arms, and claws tipped his fingers.
Turned away from me, I couldn’t see his face, but I could hear his fangs in the grumble of his guttural growl.
“My, my. Such a little spitfire.”
I stared up to that condescending voice and blanched.
I didn’t have the sense of smell or hearing that weres did.
Pixies couldn’t always discern other species, especially ones that looked human.
The power that radiated off the werewolf looming over us was unmistakable.
The three large, hulking weres behind him added to that ominous sense.
Sitting no longer seemed like the safest option.
I quickly got to my feet. Ruthie clung to me like an octopus, and I didn’t try to pry her off.
Instead, I clenched her tighter. Without thought, I used my free hand to reach around Dillon.
With a hand on his chest, I tucked him in closer too.
He didn’t fight me but kept his attention on our latest guest .
I took a step back. “I’m sorry, I’m not certain who you are, but you’re upsetting the children.”