ickaboo? Hurry, child! You’re about to be late for school!”
Nick Gautier dropped the towel from the damp hair he was drying as he glanced to the clock on his nightstand to confirm the fact that his mother was still the most vigilant and accurate timekeeper in the history of all mankind. At least when it came to his home, school, and work schedules.
But how odd… he’d had almost forty minutes just a heartbeat ago when he’d left the bathroom.
How long did it take to pull on a pair of jeans and one really foully ugly Hawaiian shirt, anyway?
Apparently thirty-five minutes.
Dang, I do move slow in the morning. Good thing his mortal enemies didn’t know that. He’d be Cajun hashbrowns.
Tossing the towel into the bathroom, he rushed to the kitchen and almost tripped over their newest furry addition.
Xevikan, who let out a nasty hiss in protest before he scurried to the corner to arch his back against the wall.
Nick started to return the cat’s growl, but since his mom didn’t know their new pet was actually a shape-shifting ancient Nick and his friends had freed from a hell dimension and taken in, he refrained. His luck, she’d think he had distemper or something, and take him in for shots. “Sorry, Mr. Fuzzy Boots.”
Xev glared at him before he mentally projected his ire at him. I really hate that name you gave my feline incarnation, Gautier.
Nick flashed a grin at the large white Egyptian Mau staring up at him indignantly. Why you think I use it?
Xev spread his claws for cleaning, but Nick caught the one he aimed directly at him.
Laughing good-naturedly at the single-finger insult Xev had picked up from Caleb, Nick started to reach for the bacon only to realize his furry houseguest had beat him to it. Again. Yeah, it was a good thing he felt sorry for Xev.
And he did. For thousands of years, the ancient being had been imprisoned in a realm without friend or family. Now Xev was extremely gun-shy of a world he didn’t understand, nor did he play well with others, which was why they’d decided the best thing was to leave him here in Nick’s house to sleep while Nick went to school and work. All of them were much happier that way. And since Xev had severe PTSD mixed with extremely frightening powers and not a lot of patience or tolerance, the world was a lot less likely to end violently if Xev stayed out of events that elevated his stress levels, and tempted him to mass homicide.
“Really, Nick? Really?”
He turned to find his petite, blond mother glaring up at him. Man, he’d never understand how a woman as tiny as Cherise Gautier could be so terrifying when riled. But then, his girlfriend, Nekoda Kennedy, had those same testosterone-sucking powers, too.
And all Kody had to do to wield hers was pout in his general direction.
“What?”
Closing the fridge door, his mom wiggled the milk container at him. “First, why did you drink all the milk last night after I went to bed? Second, why did you put the empty container back in the fridge?”
He clamped his jaw shut and slid his gaze to the real culprit, who’d probably drunk out of the container without a glass on top of it all. But his mom would think him nuts if he blamed the empty milk jug on the cat lacking opposable thumbs. So he manned up and took the fall for his friend.
“Blatant stupidity? I find it to be responsible for the vast majority of evil I unintentionally do.”
She rolled her eyes and tossed the milk carton into the garbage. “Go on before you get another tardy. Love you, even when you make me crazy.”
“You, too.” He grabbed his backpack from the floor, kissed her cheek, and glared at the cat. “Later, Fuzzy Boots.” And don’t defile my bedsheets!
It was too late. Xev was already beelining to Nick’s room to take his shift in the bed.
Sighing at the uselessness of warning Xev off anything, Nick glanced back at his mom. “I’ll grab more milk on my way home from work.”
“Thank you, Boo. Have a good day.”
“You, too. Don’t work too hard.” Nick headed out the back door and crossed the condo parking lot to the brick wall that separated it from the school yard. Even though there were storm clouds gathering in the distance, and headed in from over the river, he took a moment to appreciate the day.
Zipping his jacket, he inhaled the familiar smell of beignets and coffee that wafted on the breeze, coming in from the Market and restaurants. Honestly, he was grateful to be home in the French Quarter, and among his friends and family.
To be standing here, in the most beautiful city in all the world.