I opened my mouth, though I had no idea what to say, and then snapped it shut. In truth, I’d always wanted to write a book. Sure, it was in the manner that most people thought they could write a great novel. It was one of those far-off ideas that held merit, but actually sitting down to do the work never came to fruition. Still, it was interesting ... and daunting.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I think I’m going to need something more hands-on.”
“How about a magic shop?” He was serious. “It would be basically the same thing you’re doing now, with a little retail added to the mix. And you could do it from a stationary location.”
Behind us, Luke cleared his throat and leaned forward as far as the safety belt would allow. Kade was a stickler for seatbelts and Luke no longer put up a fight about wearing his because he knew from experience that Kade was willing to sit in a parking lot for hours rather than drive with an unrestrained passenger.
“I don’t want to stick my nose into something that’s none of my business,” Luke started.
“But you will,” Kade muttered.
Luke ignored the dig. “May I ask what the two of you are talking about?”
“It’s nothing big,” I reassured him hurriedly. I didn’t want to have this discussion now. It wasn’t even that we had zombies bearing down on us, a potential enemy that could raise the dead, and curious writers on our doorstep. Luke would melt down when he heard our ultimate plans. I was going to have to ease him into the idea. “Let’s go back to talking about the zombies.”
Luke was shrewder than most people thought. He narrowed his eyes and immediately started shaking his head. “I think we should talk about this magic store.”
“There is no magic store,” I responded.
“But there might be a magic store. Eventually.” Luke shifted his attention to Kade. “What have you guys been talking about?”
I sent Kade a mental warning, hoping he would pick up on the panicked pulse I was projecting. His gaze remained on the road, and he answered honestly, which I should have expected. “Poet and I have been talking. There’s going to come a time when we’ll want to settle down. We’ll both need jobs when that happens. I think a magic shop would be perfect for her.”
Luke worked his jaw, his gaze speculative. “And where will you be settling? I’m assuming it’s somewhere I hate since I wasn’t included in this discussion.”
Kade obviously recognized his mistake too late. He balked. “I ... oh ... no. We haven’t discussed this in any depth.” He shot me an apologetic look. “It was just one of those things we talk about occasionally when taking romantic walks. You know, plans for the future.”
“The far, far future,” I added.
Luke rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t be ninnies.” His tone caught me off guard. “I’m well aware that the circus can’t serve as our livelihood forever. I’m not an idiot.”
I was flabbergasted. Not at the idiot part, of course, the other part. I wasn’t sure he was capable of leaving the circus. “You don’t think you’ll be with Mystic Caravan forever?” I asked, choosing my words carefully. “I mean ... a few years ago you told me you wanted to be stuffed and mounted in the big top after your death so you could stay with the circus forever.”
He chuckled, his eyes lighting with amusement. “I did say that,” he conceded, “but that was then. We were in our early twenties. We’d both just started with the circus, were still feeling our way around. We both found freedom with the traveling. But I know this life isn’t sustainable forever.”
That was news to me. “Yeah?” I studied his face. He didn’t look upset as much as resigned. “You know I love the circus, right?”
He nodded. “So do I.”
“Some people can make it a life forever,” I reminded him.
“They can, but if you want kids — and I’m assuming everybody here does — then forcing little ones on the road all the time isn’t the best option.”
“It’s not?” I kept waiting for a more typical Luke explosion. “Why?”
“You know why.” Luke pinned me with a dark look as he leaned back. “When we joined the circus, we were both searching for something. We wanted to escape from the lives we were living, and being on the road constantly held a lot of appeal.
“I’m not tired of it,” he continued. “Not yet. When I look down the road, though, I can see how the idea of packing and unpacking multiple times a week will be too much. Besides, we’re the types who want to give our children the lives we didn’t have. That means safety and stability, the sort of lives Kade and Cole had. It’s probably good they have experience, because you and I will be adrift when it comes to stuff like that.”
Honestly, the man always managed to surprise me. I was convinced I knew Luke better than anyone. He was more than one thing, though, something I constantly reminded myself of. “Nothing is set in stone,” I said finally. “We have plenty of time. It’s just, eventually ... .” I left it hanging.
“Eventually,” he agreed. He was silent for a beat and then cracked a wide grin. “We’ll have to pick a place where all four of us will be happy. That won’t be easy.”
And that right there was the most Luke thing to say. Ever.
“What makes you think we’re all settling together?” Kade challenged. “Maybe we’ll prefer a different part of the country.”
“Separating isn’t an option.” Luke was adamant as he faced forward. “Our kids will be best friends. It’s written in the stars. You can’t change it.”
Kade slowly slid his eyes toward me, but I expertly avoided his gaze. “Let’s talk about the zombies,” I suggested for a second time.
“That sounds fantastic,” Cole agreed. “Who doesn’t love a good zombie conversation?”
Who indeed?
THE GROCERY STORE WAS SMALLER than most and made shopping difficult.
“I say we embrace the seafood community and go for the crabs,” Luke announced, inclining his head toward the huge display of soft-shelled offerings. “We haven’t had good seafood in a long time. The only place for shellfish in Michigan is Red Lobster ... and that’s not real seafood.”
He had a point. I pursed my lips and studied the prices. They weren’t bad. “We can do crab for dinner tonight,” I offered, cringing as Luke pumped his fist and whooped in delight. “But you’ll have to settle for hot dogs for lunch tomorrow.”
Luke’s expression fell. “Ugh. I hate hotdogs.”
“That’s the trade-off.” I was firm. “It’s non-negotiable.”
Luke looked to Cole to see if he could find an ally, but the elemental didn’t seem moved by his boyfriend’s plight.
“You don’t like hotdogs, do you?” Luke prodded.
Cole smirked. “I really don’t think I can answer that question.” He pushed the cart closer to the crab display. “Come on. Let’s pick out enough for everybody. We’ll let Poet handle the hotdogs.”
I shot him a dirty look. “I know what you’re doing. I have every intention of paying you back later.”