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“Ah. Well, I suppose you could say we are talking.” Ormenus smirked. “Isn’t that what the kids say these days?”
“Does that mean you’re his boyfriend?”
“If I say yes, are you going to let me in?” Ormenus smiled sweetly. “You can continue questioning me if you’d like.”
Bonnie frowned. “Is that your jacket he’s wearing?”
“If I say yes, will you let me in?”
“I’m not sure I should.”
“Come on, darling. I want to help Ryan. I’ve been very worried about him. And look, I brought snacks.”
Bonnie wrinkled her nose at the bouquet. “Those are gross.”
“All right. A woman with discerning taste.” Ormenus kneeled so he was on Bonnie’s level, smiling kindly. “What do you like then, hmm? Candy? Sweets?”
Bonnie’s eyes widened. “Can I have nachos with marshmallows?” She frowned. “And you’ll help Ryan?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Ormenus promised. “And hmm, it’s funny you mention the nachos.” He reached behind his back. “I just so happen to have that bizarre combination of food right here!”
Bonnie gasped when Ormenus presented her with a plate of nachos with roasted gooey marshmallows on top. She was too excited to care where they’d come from or what had happened to the wine and beef jerky. “That’s, that’s for me?”
“Of course, sweetie.” Ormenus smiled. “All you have to do is let me in and you get to enjoy your weird treat and I can help Ryan. He’s so very good at helping me, and I would love to return the favor. Deal?”
Bonnie shut the door so she could drag the chair back over. She had to climb up to unhook the chain, hop back down, and move the chair again. She opened the door and snatched the plate. “I see why he likes you.”
Ormenus bowed. “Why, thank you.”
Bonnie grabbed Ormenus’s sleeve and dragged him inside the room. “He’s still sleeping.”
Ormenus shut the door behind them, following Bonnie over to the beds.
Bonnie hopped up on the other bed to dive into the food, shoving a big handful into her mouth. She watched curiously as Ormenus sat down next to Ryan, not sure she understood why he looked so upset.
Ormenus reached out as if to touch Ryan’s bruised face but pulled his hand back. “What happened?”
“He got into a fight,” Bonnie said automatically, a lie she and Ryan had practiced often.
“A fight?” Ormenus frowned. “And with whom did this fight occur?”
Bonnie fidgeted and nibbled on another gooey nacho.
“You can tell me, sweetie,” Ormenus urged. “I’m very concerned about Ryan.”
“Did you give him kitty pajamas?” Bonnie asked. “He said someone got him kitty pajamas.”
Ormenus could tell that Bonnie was deflecting, but he still replied, “I did. I can get you a pair if you’d like.” He nodded to the end of the bed, where a small set of bright pink pajamas with kitty cats appeared.
Bonnie gasped, nearly dropping the plate. “How did you…?” She laughed. “Are you a magician?”
“I’ll never tell,” Ormenus teased with a wink. “Why don’t you go put those on and let me wake up Ryan, hmm? I promise I’ll be very gentle.”
Bonnie clutched the pajamas to her chest. “Oh… Okay.” She turned up her nose as she strolled to the bathroom. “You’d better be nice or, or I’ll call the police. I know the number.”
“I absolutely believe that you do.” Ormenus snorted out a small laugh as Bonnie headed off to get changed, and he turned his attention back to Ryan. Only when they were alone did he finally pet Ryan’s hair. “Wakey wakey, darling.”
Six
