“Another day, I’ll tell you the story. Let’s focus on happy things today.”
”Here you go, Hun,” the waitress said as she set my food on the table.
“Thank you,” I said before shoveling the food in my mouth. Today I was abnormally hungry. I wasn’t really sure why. I flagged down the waitress. “Can I order a stack of pancakes please?”
She smiled. “No problem, dearie.”
“You feeling okay?” Mason asked, looking at me with a worried expression.
“Just hungry,” I said as I sipped on my hot chocolate again.
He watched me for an entire minute before smiling. “So, are you going to accept my wager?”
“You promise not to tell anyone that we made the wager?” I asked. I didn’t want to hurt Gary’s feelings, but if dating him would hurt Nick, then I wouldn’t do it. I’d go tonight, but that was it.
Mason made an “x” over his heart. “Cross my heart.”
“Fine. I accept.”
Mason smiled. “Awesome. I’ll get you your evidence tomorrow.”
“Pictures would be best so I can use them to blackmail Nick.”
Mason laughed and wiped at his eyes. “I’ve trained you well.”
I ate the pancakes as fast as I’d eaten the eggs, and Mason paid for the food. We walked down the sidewalk, past the shops, in search of somewhere to find a present for Nick. I hadn’t the slightest idea what to get him since he never talked about wanting anything. Dad bought the boys pretty much anything they wanted thanks to his lucrative wolf photographs and documentaries on wolves and their habits. Coach Tanner used to complain for hours about dad making them play for the camera, but they couldn’t argue with the results. That was how Dad had purchased the mansion we called home.
We walked around various stores, but nothing called out to me. I had all but lost hope when we walked into a keepsake store. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but when I got to a display rack, I stopped in front of it and a smile lit my face. It wasn’t a manly gift, but I’d hardly ever gotten him manly gifts. I picked up a silver keepsake box with an oval on the top for a picture. “This is it,” I whispered.
Mason arched an eyebrow at me. “A box? You’re getting him a shiny box?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know as well as I do that he’s incredibly sentimental and keeps anything that reminds him of happy days. He makes me keep every movie ticket, concert ticket, and photo booth picture that we take. I’m going to find a picture of the two of us for the top and put the mementos I have inside and then he can put his in here instead of the cardboard box he has in his closet.”
Mason’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. “You know about the box?”
I chuckled. “You two did teach me to be super sneaky. I found it one day when I was looking for something to embarrass him with, but after seeing it, I only felt special. So, you think the shiny box is a bad idea now?”
Mason shook his head. “He’ll love it. He loves any way to keep something of you.”
“Do you think it’s because he’s worried he’ll stop being my Guardian or I’ll stop being his friend after the shift?” I asked as I walked towards the registers.
“Those are both possible, but I think it’s more likely that you’re the only important person in his life, and he knows that you’re much more fragile than us. I think he wants to be able to have these things of you in case you are no longer with us,” he said softly.
I froze and looked at him and blinked. “He’s told you that?”
Mason fidgeted. “He’s told me that he’s worried that he isn’t strong enough to protect you. He’s worried because of you being the last of your kind that people will come after you just for your magic and he won’t be able to hold them all off on his own, but if you get more Guardians and he becomes different after the Change, he’s not sure if you’ll keep him around.”
I exhaled. “Wow.” I set the box on the counter and paid for it.
Mason led the way towards a sporting goods store and he bought a pair of hiking boots for Nick. “He’s been complaining that his shoes are too crappy for hiking,” he explained.
I linked arms with Mason and enjoyed the beautiful blue sky and quiet day as we strolled down the street.
“Sarah?” asked a voice from behind us.
I turned and smiled at Tom. “Hey, Tom.”
He smiled back and bent down to kiss my cheek. “What are you two doing out here?”
I held up my shopping bag. “Birthday shopping.”
He held up a bag he had in his hand. “I got Nick something, too.”
Mason stayed silent as he stood beside me, never taking his eyes off of Tom.
“I’d better get back before Nick flips out and thinks I was kidnapped,” I said with a lighthearted smile. “I’ll see you at school.”
He nodded his head. “Bye, Sarah. Bye, Mason.”
Mason nodded once and then turned us around, heading towards Nick’s truck.
“You okay?” I asked softly.
“I just don’t like Dhampirs. You never really know what side they’re on.”
“I thought you were friends with Tom?”
He shook his head. “Nick is friends with him. I just tolerate him. I don’t trust him completely. Just be careful around him, okay?”
I patted his arm. “You’ve always been a worrier, but it’s probably a good thing. And I’ll be careful. I promise.”
He opened my door and bowed. “Madam.”
I laughed and curtsied before climbing inside. “Thank you, sir.”
We drove in comfortable silence as we listened to the radio. Was Mason right not to trust Tom? I had a hard time believing that Tom would betray his friends, but being cautious was probably the smartest thing to do.
As we approached the house, I saw Nick pacing across the front yard. Mason shook his head and sighed. “He didn’t trust me to take care of you.”
I laid a hand on his forearm. “Don’t be mad at him. We’ve had a rough week.”
Mason stopped the truck, and Nick jogged over to my door, opening it. “Hey.”
I smiled and stepped out of the truck to hug him. “Hello.” I pulled away from him and walked towards the house. “I’ll be outside in a minute. I need to change to play.” I jogged up the stairs and hid the present in my underwear drawer, knowing it was the one place that no one would look. I changed into workout shorts and a tank top before jogging out to the edge of the woods where Nick and six kids, ranging from five to twelve, stood waiting for me. I stretched out my legs and smiled at them. “So, what are we playing today?”
“Tag,” Nick said with a mischievous smile.
“Great,” I muttered as I walked toward him. “Then I guess that means, you’re it!” I yelled as I smacked his arm and then darted into the forest. The kids ran after me and then past me. I ducked around a tree, barely dodging Nick’s outstretched hand. “Missed me!” I yelled back to him as I dodged as close to the trees as I could.
I caught up to Dylan and raced by him.
I heard Nick yell, “You’re it!” behind me.