Page 91 of Outfoxed

“I think we both won, honestly. We didn’t get caught by any one of those twisters, and I found the company to be pleasant. I’m still wondering how the hell you got away from me.”

“I knew the terrain and you didn’t.” Plus I could shapeshift and hide, which helped a lot. “That’s how I got away from Anna, too.”

“You’re also fast, sneaky, and have a ridiculous endurance. I was tailing you outside of Tulsa when you decided to taunt that one hunter. I lost you for a while in the city, but I’d picked your trail back up right before you were shot.”

“Which was why you were close? Did you assume I was the one who’d been shot?”

“No, I just hate assholes who don’t fight fair, and considering almost nobody has ammunition in Tulsa, it wasn’t a fair fight. Then I figured somebody might go for your leg to drag you out East. Technically discouraged, but not explicitly barred.” Sandro abandoned sipping, picked up his bowl, and gulped it down in one breath, pausing only long enough to chew a larger piece of chicken. When he finished, he licked his lips and eyed the pot.

As he’d saved my ass, I got up, took his bowl, and brought him the rest, and I slid the jar of red salsa to him. “I’ll have trouble enough finishing the one bowl. I’m not that hungry.”

He saluted me with the bowl, thanked me, and made the second serving disappear as quickly as the first. Amazed at how much he could eat without any sign of the heat bothering him, I took the jar, added more salsa to my bowl, and gave that to him, too. “I’m really not that hungry, and you’re eating like nobody has fed you in a year.”

“A day, but close enough.” He made my share disappear, and he yawned. “I’m going to end up the one needing a nap.”

Sandro’s mother sighed and headed into the kitchen, digging through the refrigerator and pulling out lunchmeat and cheese. “I’ll make you a sandwich, and then it’ll be to bed with you until dinner. Do you want one, Jade?”

I shook my head. “No, but thank you.”

“You ate well yesterday, and you’ve got to be tired of soup now. Liam, go follow your father to the store and take your brothers with you. I did not plan for Sandro being half-starved on top of Jade being half-starved, and they’ll eat us out of house and home if we don’t get enough. You can help him with his comfort food adventures. The downstairs freezer is empty, so make sure we have enough containers. We may as well pack the freezer. Bring back some notebooks and pens. I want to brainstorm about that choir tonight and tomorrow, and we need to make a game plan. Get firewood and hot chocolate, too. If you want any games, grab some. That is not an invitation to get a console and rot Jade’s brain. Board games and cards.”

The exodus took less than five minutes, which amused me. “What made them go so fast?”

“They love board game nights, and I didn’t give them a budget. They’ll fill all of their cars with every board game they can find. They’ll go help their father with the grocery shopping, bring back everything for the fridge and freezer, and then drive to Albany and raid every store with board games until they’re satisfied. They’ll be back in time for dinner, and we’ll play games after dinner.”

“Is this normal?” I asked. “Is this what normal families do?”

“Well, it’s normal for our family. Honestly, I don’t give a shit what other families do. I just care about making mine happy. Have you played games before?”

I shook my head.

“If you don’t enjoy playing, just say so, pick your favorite chair, and read. Gaming is not mandatory, and watching can be just as fun as playing. If you are interested in trying a game, just say so, and we’ll play the same game again so you can try it.” Sandro’s mother retrieved the empty bowls, rinsed them in the sink, and put them in the dishwasher. “Baths and naps for both of you, and I don’t particularly care if you bathe together. You’re adults, just make sure one of you stays awake so nobody drowns. The hot tub is set up on the back porch if you’d prefer to soak. Your bandage has to be changed anyway, so don’t worry about getting it wet. Just don’t take it off while you’re soaking.”

“I don’t know about you, Jade, but I have a date with the hot tub,” Sandro announced, hopping to his feet. “Did you bring anything for me to wear, or am I going to have to go steal from Francis?”

“Liam brought clothes for you. Your room is next to Jade’s. She can show you where hers is at. As your room is not in the bathroom next to her room, I’m sure you can figure it out. The condoms are in the bathroom, birth control is in the medicine cabinet, and the massage oil and similar is in the basket on the bottom shelf of the vanity. If you want anything else, you’ll just have to go to Saratoga Springs tomorrow.”

“I thought we were cooking tomorrow.”

“I’m sure your father won’t miss you for the hour or two it’ll take you to head to Saratoga Springs and do some shopping if you need to go to the store. Just don’t go to the larger store in Albany. We would like you back in time for dinner at the absolute latest.”

I took that as my cue to escape. “Come on, Sandro. When you’re offered a chance to escape, you take it rather than talk about it. Are you sure I can get the bandage wet?”

“I’m sure. It’s supposed to be waterproof anyway, but even if it’s not, it’s a salt system, so it might sting but it should help with your healing. There are several bathing suits and bikinis in your dresser. I recommend the bikinis, as they won’t put any pressure on your ribs. Enjoy yourselves. I’ll bring you some drinks. No alcohol for you, Sandro. She can’t have any because of her medications. We can cook with it, but that’s it.”

“Drinking is for people who enjoy hangovers. I am not one of those people. Raspberry, please.”

“Raspberry?” I asked.

“For my soda. What flavor do you want?”

I stared at him. “You’re having raspberry soda?”

Sandro grinned. “Yes. Try it. It’s good, and you’ll want something cool to drink while relaxing in the hot tub.”

“I guess I’ll have a raspberry soda then, please?”

Sandro’s mother chuckled. “Raspberry it is! Go enjoy your soak, children. And if you decide to take a nap, I’ll keep an eye on you both and make sure you don’t soak too long.”