Page 79 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

Her eyes go wide and fill with tears. “For real? You wished for me too?”

“Yeah,” I admit. “I didn’t know you’d be this cool though. I’m pretty glad about that.” For a long moment, I stare into purple eyes that mirror mine, shocked at how quickly I’ve acclimated to having this small person in my life.

“I’m pretty sure I love you,” I say with a soft laugh. “Even though you’ve only been here a short while. How crazy is that?”

She hops up into my arms, throwing hers around my shoulders. “I always loved you, even before I knew you. But thank you, brother.”

I wrap my arms around her and hug her close. Time slows as I infuse care and connection into the hug. When we break, she wipes a tear away as she slides back down to the ground.

“Well, should we start at the Welcome Inn, then?”

The Inn waves her shutters at us in a clear invitation. Laughing, I look down Main Street. Every building is welcoming, doors flung open wide. Happy creaks and groans ring out.

It’s almost like PG herself is in a better mood than usual, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Petra loops her hand back through my arm and pulls me toward the two-story hotel. The front entrance is wreathed in a short pumpkin tunnel covered in dozens of varieties of green and orange pumpkins. Long tables beneath the Welcome’s front windows are full of mead and fall-themed desserts. Helpers pass out drinks, and I guide Petra to the nearest table.

A minotaur male smiles at us. I recognize him from around town, although I don’t know his name. “Hi, little one,” he says kindly to Petra. “Pumpkin hot chocolate for you?”

A tiny gnome hops up onto the table and lifts a cinnamon roll toward her. “And don’t forget to try the pumpkin cinnamon rolls. They’re mini, like us, and it’s a gnome specialty!”

“Oh my gods,” Petra exclaims excitedly. “A gnome. I’ve never met a gnome! Thank you so much. I’d love to try the hot chocolate and the dessert.”

She takes them both with more effusive thanks. After that, we visit BrewHaHa Beans, Skylight Bakery, Whiskey Business and then hop back over to the Buxom Bodice. I’m disappointed not to find Bluebell there, but I knew she had a full day and a meeting with Lemon and some reps from Hearth HQ. How she continually lands herself on every committee and organizing group is a surprise to me, but somehow she does it.

It’s one of the many things I want to help guard her against. I want her spending her time precisely where she wants to, and not with her brothers or whoever else just because they expect her to. My woman has been running so hard for so long, and I didn’t realize just how much it drained her until I lived across the hallway.

“Hadrian?”

I spin in place to find a gargoyle male standing there with a younger gargoyle on his shoulder. The younger one hops up and down while holding on to the male’s horn.

The male smiles at me, reaching out with one hand. “You probably don’t remember me. I’m Alo, and this is my son, Iggy. We’re from Ever. You spent a little time with us during that exhibition game while we were convincing Manorin to stick around as our coach.”

Realization courses through me, and I grab his hand to shake it. “That’s right! And you did steal him. I came here hoping he’d be here, but Ever snatched him right out from under us.”

He chuckles, purple eyes dropping to Petra.

“Ah, this is my sister, Petra,” I offer.

“I’m nine,” Petra chirps, staring up at the younger gargoyle. “How old are you?”

“Seven.” He hops off his father’s shoulder to hover in the air with a big smile. “Do you want to go play somewhere? I don’t like pumpkin-flavored stuff, and Dad says everything is gonna taste like that, and also I’m already so bored.”

Petra laughs and looks up at me. “Is that alright with you? I can take him to the pumpkin maze. It’s super cool.” She winks at the younger male. “I also just got here, but I promise nothing tastes like pumpkin, it's just full of pumpkins. And gourds.”

I look between her and Alo. “If it’s okay with his father, it’s okay with me. Just keep in touch, okay?”

Petra lifts her arm, pointing to the comm watch. “Aye aye, Capitán.”

An aqua-winged pixie skips up to Alo and throws her arms around him, smiling up at him like he’s the best thing in the entire world. His eyes soften at the corners when he looks down at her.

She rests a hand on her swollen belly, rubbing it.

Pregnant, she’s pregnant.

“Actually I think I’ll follow them around for a minute, if you don’t mind.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I start but she waves me off and points to her belly. “This baby is growing so dang fast and the walking will do me wonders. I’ll keep an eye on your little one too, no worries!”