Page 12 of Marcus-stiltskin

“You okay?” Marcus asks, noticing my discomfort, as Lugh sets the plates down on the table. Lugh does most of the cooking around the house, though it’s mostly simple straight-forward stuff–meats and a vegetable with an occasional starch. Tonight, it’s baked chicken breast with potatoes that he’s cubed and coated in herbs and oil.

“Yep, fine,” I manage to say.

“Marcus was telling me before you got here that y’all ran into each other last night at Soojin’s,” Lugh says as he sits down next to me to cut up Wendy’s food. Jack, the youngest, for now, is still on baby food. He sits in his high chair next to Jacqueline, drool dripping down his chubby little chin. He blows bubbles and giggles as Jacqueline tries to convince him to try something that looks like peas.

“Yeah. It was a crazy coincidence we ended up at Soojin’s at the same time. Too bad someone didn’t let me know Marcus was coming ahead of time.” I give Lugh a dark look meant only for him. “I could have helped him move in.”

“Don’t worry, there’s still time.” Marcus says, oblivious to my dirty looks at my big brother. He cuts into his chicken and takes a bite. “The movers will be here at the end of next week.”

“Good to know,” I say, looking at Lugh. He ignores me and exchanges a look with Jacqueline that I can’t read. He motions slightly toward Marcus with his head, and she nods. Married people are weird.

I take my first bite of the chicken, jealous of Lugh’s cooking abilities, and look over at Marcus. “Well, either way, we lucked out that you bought the place. We got a friend back and the entire county might have avoided a big pain in the ass. The guys that own the vape place keep talking up these big plans they have of starting an exotic petting zoo. They’ve even had a realtor take them out to the fire station a few times.”

Jacqueline snickers. “An exotic petting zoo?”

I sigh. “Yeah, that’s exactly what we need living next door to us. I don’t think those dudes can take care of themselves, let alone live animals.”

The vape guys, Austin and Hunter, aren’t really into strippers, but they’d taken to coming into the bar earlier in the day before the shows started and hanging out when they probably should have been running their shop. It’s where I’d first heard them talk about an exotic petting zoo idea.

“Looks like you’ve got some competition, Marcus,” Lugh says with mock seriousness.

Marcus does a fake stretch, then flexes his muscles. “Don’t worry, I’ve got a secret weapon. Watch these vape guys try to get past these guns if they show up with their capybaras and wallabies.”

Wendy ignores her own plate and begins to steal potatoes off of mine. I bat playfully at her hand with the back of my fork and she giggles before stealing another bite.

“What the hell is a wallaby?” Lugh asks.

Jacqueline scrunches up her nose. “It’s like a small kangaroo. God, I hate kangaroos.” She turns to Marcus. “Have you ever seen those videos from Australia of the kangaroos in ponds? Those creepy assholes try to lure people in so they can drown them. Diabolical jerks.”

Marcus chuckles. “I can’t say that I have.”

“There was one where this man had to fight a kangaroo just to save his dog from one. And their eyes,” she shutters dramatically, “they are completely soulless.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever really looked at the eyes of a kangaroo,” Marcus says.

“And at the same time,” Jacqueline continues, “they’re like the deer of Australia. Always causing problems, always on the road. Do you know how many car accidents are caused by kangaroos annually in Australia?”

“I imagine it’d be quite a bit,” Marcus answers. He’s stuck now.

“They are the leading cause of animal related crashes in the entire country of Australia. Can you imagine kangaroo roadkill? Those things are six feet tall. The trail of entrails and guts that would leave…” She scrunches up her face as if she’s truly picturing it. “Do you think anyone butchers and eats them like we do deer? Is it weird to eat something with a pouch? Or is it maybe a delicacy?”

Marcus looks both overwhelmed by Jacqueline’s vehemence and slightly nauseous. He starts to cough and then clears his throat. “Um, excuse me, could someone point me in the direction of the restroom?”

Jacqueline and Lugh exchange looks as I explain where the bathroom is to Marcus, Wendy humming to herself on my lap.

“It always impresses me how you can do that, love,” Lugh tells Jacqueline as soon as Marcus is gone.

“Do what?” She says with a grin. “Run people off when you need a minute?” She winks at me and goes back to feeding Jack.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to warn you that Marcus was coming,” he says quietly enough that Marcus won’t be able to hear.

I just shrug and pretend I’m completely unaffected. “This will be good for you both. You’ll have a friend around, and he’ll have you two to help him with the animals.”

Lugh looks at me. “Really? That’s all you’re going to say?”

I shrug. “What else do you want me to say?”

“You were practically in love with Marcus when you were a kid.”

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