Page 44 of The Baker and the Kraken

“We can’t accept this!” Adam yelped.

Simon rolled his eyes. “I didn’t mortgage the house I don’t own. Ever’s a friend.”

Adam spluttered. “But it’s too much!”

Simon’s expression softened and went stern at the same time. Adam wasn’t sure that anyone but his best friend could manage it. “It’s to keep you and your shifter familiar safe. Of course it’s not too much. Now say, ‘Thank you, Simon,’ and promise me you’ll show me how awesome the spell is once you can cast it.”

“Thank you, Simon,” Adam parroted, still kind of stunned. “That’s so wonderful of you.”

He’d have to talk to Calder about telling Simon the truth, but regardless, he felt so much better having this spell in case there was a circumstance where Calder needed to be in his little squid form on land.

Calder engulfed Simon in a hug, which made Adam realize he was a fool, and as soon as Calder drew back, he flung himself at Simon and knocked his chin into Simon’s skull. They both exclaimed and laughed, and Simon wrapped his arms around him tight.

“You’re the best,” Adam told him.

“I am, aren’t I?” Simon sounded very satisfied.

Adam laughed.

Then Simon pushed Adam back into Calder’s arms. “Dance with your boo, boo!”

Adam rolled his eyes, but he was already reaching for Calder. Simon headed towards the bar.

“We have the best friends,” Adam said happily, still sort of amazed.

“We really do,” Calder agreed. “You’ve found a wonderful group of people.”

He had, hadn’t he? Adam had mostly thought of himself as not really having anyone, but as he looked around his bonding ceremony, he realized that was incorrect. There might not be a lot of people, but they mattered. His relationship might not be perfect with his parents, but that mattered, too. They were all trying.

He looked back at Calder, who mattered most of all.

“I love you,” Adam whispered. “So much.”

“I love you, too,” Calder told him. “More than anything.”

It might involve falling into cakes and stepping on toes and squirting ketchup where it didn’t belong, but Adam didn’t doubt for a moment that life would be an adventure they went on together. Calder would always be there to catch him.