Page 51 of What the Hex

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” He looked up when the front doors opened, and people began filing into the lobby. “I guess I better go register. Forgive me if I don’t shake hands.”

Probably for the best, but King didn’t want to rub salt into an open wound. “I’ll see you around.”

“I feel bad for him,” Storm said once he was out of earshot.

“Me, too. Isn’t there anything we can do for him?”

“He’ll figure it out,” Arlo said. “You can’t fix the world.”

“I know that, but he seems to really be struggling.”

“Captain Save a Beau, listen to me. You.” Clap. “Can’t.” Clap. “Fix.” Clap. “The.” Clap. “World.”

King chuckled at his antics, though he knew better than to encourage him. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it.”

Besides, he had bigger problems at the moment. Like the fact that he had just spotted a pair of identical blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls walk through the huge double doors. Right behind them was a man who looked exactly like his mate, holding hands with a beautiful woman who could have been another sister instead of Storm’s mom.

Good genes clearly ran in the family.

“I thought you said I had half an hour!”

“That was at least fifteen minutes ago,” Storm responded calmly. “They made good time.”

“Good time? Good time!”

“Let’s go say hello.”

Thankfully, training and common sense overrode whatever malfunction he was currently having. “Are you crazy? You’ll get mobbed before you make it halfway across the room.”

“Yeah, but—”

“No. Come on, we need to get you out of here.” They were still partially hidden in the alcove by the stairs, but they definitely needed to move. “Arlo, can you send them to the piano lounge?”

“I’m on it.” He didn’t move, though. “Uh, which ones belong to him?”

“The ones that look just like him!”

“Oh, right. Yep, I see it now.”

“And don’t tell them he was cursed!”

“Damn, there goes my opening line.” The sarcasm was thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Fine. Go.”

Leaving Arlo to deal with the Blackburns, he rushed Storm around the corner and down the wide corridor. With the only guests being those associated in some way with the film, the typically noisy establishments were blessedly quiet and unassuming.

They passed a couple of restaurants and a small shop that sold travel essentials like toothbrushes and deodorant. Toward the end of the hallway, they finally came to All That Jazz, a dimly lit lounge filled with the sound of soft piano music.

Inside, he waved to the bartender, a pretty fae with ruby-red hair, then headed straight to the sitting area in the back corner. With two leather loveseats and matching armchairs, it was cozy, but with enough room so they wouldn’t be right on top of each other.

“It’s going to be okay,” Storm said again, still trying to calm him. Grabbing him by the shoulders, he twisted him around and planted a searing kiss on his lips. “I love you, yeah?”

King sighed. “I love you, too, but I’m still nervous.”

“Come on. Let’s sit while we wait.”

A good idea in theory, but his butt had barely touched the cushion of the loveseat when Storm’s family filed into the lounge.

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