Chapter 12 #2
Steeling himself for the inevitable ER visit the urchins meeting Myx was bound to instigate, Felix stood and crumbled one of the cat food cookies into Chamber’s cage. “Merry Christmas, you filthy animal.”
Liam swept the last of the mouse shit out of the garage and leaned against the broom’s handle with a long sigh.
After hauling garbage all day, a good dinner, and couple of beers—he was going to sleep hard tonight.
His dad had come back half a dozen times to truck things out to the dump, and now, save for two totes of semi-salvageable stuff for Liam’s mom to go through, the garage was empty.
He’d been pleasantly surprised by the condition of the stove and the L-shaped workbench already in there.
All he needed was some pegboard, and he could start moving in his tools.
Liam propped the broom against the wall and closed up the garage.
Guess he was making a run to the hardware store and his storage unit tomorrow.
He grinned, more excited than he could remember being in a long time. It was like he had a purpose again, and his outlook was definitely rosier. The alarm on his phone went off, and he hurried to his truck. He needed to get ready before he picked up Felix and the kids.
An hour later, he stood wrapped in a towel, staring into his closet.
He’d been sweating over that last text from Felix all day, trying not to read too much into it.
Was he just fucking with him? He had to be, right?
Liam dragged a hand over his freshly shaven jaw, praying he hadn’t made a complete ass out of himself, but last night…
no. Felix was into him, Liam had to believe that.
He pulled out his good, dark-wash pair of jeans and a dress shirt, then shoved the shirt back into the closet.
Christ, might as well wear a sign he was trying too hard.
But what…? A black t-shirt. Yeah. That could go either way, right?
Casual, but kind of dressy? He pulled it on and flexed.
Stupid. He shook his head at himself and grabbed a green flannel.
His phone pinged as he was mussing product through his hair. It was Felix asking him to pick them up at his apartment rather than the house. Liam texted back that he’d be there and hurried to finish getting ready and out the door.
He pulled into the parking space beside Felix’s pile, shaking his head.
He supposed he shouldn’t talk, but it would’ve been a different story if the car had character.
Felix’s early 90s piece of crap had zero redeeming qualities.
It was a rolling calamity just waiting to happen, and way too cookie-cutter to suit Felix’s personality.
He needed something that stood out, like the rest of—
Liam stopped short, a mental image of Felix driving around in a two-tone India Ivory and Colonial Cream Bel Air, the interior side panels and seat covers in teal and cream. Jesus, he’d be so fucking hot… Liam shook his head, getting way ahead of himself—but what if?
Maybe he wouldn’t tell Felix about the car. At least not yet.
Liam grinned, jogging up the steps to the fourth floor. It was suspiciously silent as he raised his hand to knock. More so when Cruze cracked it open a moment later, then closed it again to slide back the safety chain and let him in.
“Everything okay?” he asked, slipping inside.
She eyed him up and down. “Are you two going on a date?”
Liam’s cheeks flushed, and he slid his abruptly sweaty palms over his back pockets. “What? Ah, no, we’re um, just—”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, I don’t care,” she said, going into the kitchen where her schoolwork was spread out on the table.
Right. Liam ducked into the living room.
Aside from the cozy leather couch in front of the widescreen TV, Felix’s apartment was bizarrely utilitarian.
He’d done zero decorating for the holiday, and there wasn’t a speck of clutter.
Most of the furniture was black laminate particle board.
Instead of bookcases along the wall, he had file cabinets, probably for his comic book collection.
The cabinets were also black. Superhero movie posters crowded the walls, providing the only pops of color in the room.
The other two kids were at opposite ends of the couch watching cartoons. Myx crouched on the glass coffee table in front of them, eyeing Axle and Sway like mice. The cat glanced over at Liam and huffed, apparently unimpressed with what he saw.
“Liam!” Sway jumped up and the cat hissed. Her eyes went wide, and she scrambled back to her seat.
Liam bit back a smile. “You guys almost ready?”
Axle flopped his head against the back of the couch and looked up at him.
“I’m more than ready. It’s boring here. Uncle Felix doesn’t have anything to do, and his cat hates us.
It won’t listen to me, then bit me when I tried to pet him.
” He thrust out his arm as evidence and Sway nodded solemnly from the other end of the couch. There were definite fang marks.
Myx huffed and gave the feline equivalent of an eye roll, raising his paw to lick.
“Serves you right. I told you to leave him alone,” Felix said, coming up behind Liam.
Damn. Felix was in a fitted pair of herringbone slacks and one of those ugly Christmas sweaters.
It said “Merry and Gay” in big block letters across his chest. Two reindeer struck poses beneath it with ornaments hanging from their antlers and martini glasses in their hands, er, hooves—whatever they had going on, it was adorable on him.
“Nice sweater.” Liam said.
Felix flicked a curl from his eyes. “Tis the season. You urchins ready? Your sister’s already packed up.”
They both glanced at the cat.
Liam switched off the TV and hoisted Myx into his arms. “Go ahead, I got him.”
They scrambled off the couch, past Felix who was just staring at Liam holding the cat. Myx nuzzled up under his jaw, purring, and Liam laughed as Felix’s brows about shot up to his hairline.
“I can’t figure out if he’s doing that solely to annoy me, or if he’s softening you up before he goes in for the kill,” Felix muttered.
“Either way, I hope you know it’s only a matter of time before he lunges for your jugular.
Consider this his disclaimer. My renters insurance is high enough without a personal injury claim against it. ”
Liam grinned, setting the cat onto the vacant couch with one last scratch behind his ears. Myx huffed and curled up with his back to them. “Noted. How did you get him to watch the kids like that? He’s your familiar, right?” he asked, following Felix to the front door.
He shrugged into his parka, the kids lined up, more than ready to leave. “He is, but being on urchin duty was all him. I don’t get Myx to do anything.”
“What’s a familiar?” Sway asked, grabbing Felix’s hand after he was all zipped up.
“They help with spells, dummy.” Axle scowled, scooting out into the hall as soon as the door was open.
Felix frowned, locking up behind everyone. “In theory. In practice, Myx hasn’t shown much interest in anything outside of his kibble and terrorizing small children—though I will admit, getting you two to behave was certainly magical.”
“We’re always good, Uncle Felix.” Sway batted her lashes up at him.
His brow rose. “You know Santa’s watching you right now, right?”
She swallowed and looked away.
“How was rehearsal today?” Liam asked Cruze as they descended the stairs.
“Painful,” Felix said before she’d opened her mouth.
Cruze rounded on him indignantly. “Hey!”
“Oh, not you. I was pleasantly surprised by your performance, but the kid playing Bob Cratchit needs to learn how to enunciate. I couldn’t understand half of what he was saying.”
“Yeah,” Cruze grumbled, slightly mollified. “He just got a new retainer, and his mom won’t let him take it out for rehearsals after he lost the last one.”
“Well, hopefully she does for the show. It’s a musical right? There’s no way he’s singing with that thing in.”
“Trust me, I know.” She glowered. “And he needs all the help he can get. His voice keeps cracking on the high notes, and it’s awful.”
“Way to sell the show,” Felix said, holding the door to the parking lot open. “Can’t wait to sit through that, it sounds fantastic.”
Liam laughed. “Aw, come on. I think it sounds great.”
“Are you coming?” Cruze asked, glancing askance at Liam. “Sarah’s playing Emily.”
His stomach dropped. She was? No one had told him—no. Why would they? He breathed past his anger, not entirely sure how that would work, even if he’d wanted to. “Um…” He riffled in his pocket for his keys. His Jeep beeped as he unlocked it. “I mean, I hadn’t—”
“We got an extra ticket,” Axle said, throwing open the passenger side door. “You can sit in Gramp’s seat, next to me.”
“He’s not wrong, and if you don’t take it, it’ll just go to waste,” Felix said across the front seats, helping Sway into the Jeep. “Think about it.”
Liam climbed in. “Yeah. I will. Thanks.”
Once everyone was buckled, he pulled out of the parking lot and drove out to the compound. About halfway out there, Felix huffed.
“Are you purposefully hitting every rut and pothole on the road?” he bitched, clutching the “oh shit” handle as Sway and Axle squealed, bouncing on the back seat. Cruze had her arms stubbornly crossed over her chest between them, but there was a definite sparkle in her eye.
Maybe. “Of course not,” Liam scoffed, swerving to hit two more in quick succession. “See, I missed that one back there.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Felix muttered, clenching his teeth.
Liam grinned at him. “I try.”
They pulled up to his parents’ log cabin, and Felix got out of the Jeep with a dramatic sigh. “God, I still feel like I’m moving,” he said, steadying himself with one hand against the door. The kids streamed out after him. “I’m assuming the ride back will be smoother?”
“Guess you’re just gonna have to find out.” Liam grinned.
Felix glowered back. “Fabulous.”
“Oh, you’re here!” Liam’s mother cried from the doorway. “Come inside, come inside. You can leave that bag right by the door, honey,” she said to Cruze as the girl scooted past her.
“Get out of the snow and inside you two! It’s freezing out here,” Felix yelled to Sway and Axle. They stomped back from the edge of the woods and up the porch steps, bolting into the house after Cruze. Liam couldn’t blame them, he could smell the cocoa and cookies from the porch.
“Um, bye. I’ll miss you, too,” Felix called after them, shaking his head.
“Bye, Uncle Felix!” Sway screamed back at him.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Volume!”
“Thanks again for doing this.” Liam gave his mom a quick peck on the cheek, and she swatted him, chuckling.
“It’s no trouble. It’s been far too quiet around here lately.” A shadow passed over her face, and she blinked it away. “Anytime you need someone to lend a hand, you just call, Felix. We’re happy to help.”
“You say that now…” he muttered, then forced a smile. “But thank you.”
“Well, go on. You two boys have fun.” The way she smiled at them put a lump in Liam’s throat. She winked at him and went back inside the house.
Liam clasped his hands together and turned to Felix. “Ready for trivia?”
“Not even a little bit after having my brain scrambled by all those bumps.”
“I promise I’ll let you recover on the ride out.” Liam put a hand to the small of the warlock’s back as they went back to the Jeep. “But, did you see the kids’ faces? They loved it, even Cruze was smiling.”
“As shocking as that is, I can assure you the other two don’t exactly have discerning tastes,” Felix muttered.
“Maybe not, but their uncle does, and I want to make sure I get this right,” Liam grinned at Felix’s expression as he opened the warlock’s door for him. Rendered speechless, he flushed and got in.
Liam was gonna take that as a good sign.