Page 53 of Shield and Savior

“One of the guys didn’t get you a Valorpoon? Surely someone on your staff could have picked one up for you.”

She sighs, pushing her hair over her shoulders. “It’s not the same.”

I know.

It sucks she couldn’t do the one thing she enjoys—well, besides meeting fans, performing, and the applause. She really does love touring.

This is the first time I’m seeing her since Alana had me watching the house, rereading protocol manuals, and doing sexual harassment training before I could be with a client.

My phone buzzes against my chest. It’s not my work phone, it’s a burner Specs slipped me so I could talk with Izzy and Drew. It’s only been a few days, but it feels like ten years. Ian and Drew had a math test today, and it’s time for pick up.

Honey Badger curls her lip as her eyes narrow with every buzz of the phone. “Go on, you can answer it.”

I shouldn’t. I am aware of how unprofessional this is. I can’t.

“I won’t tell Alana,” Honey Badger says as she turns her back.

I’m already reaching for the phone and saying, “Thank you,” but she’s half way to the kitchen.

On the fourth vibration I finally pick up, “You wanna talk to the kids?” Specs asks, and it’s exactly what I need.

“Absolutely.”

Four voices chatter at once and yell, “HI, LANCE.”

“How are my favorite monsters doing?”

Maria’s sweet, high-pitched voice cuts through the noise. “Shae has a boyfriend!”

Shae responds with, “No, I have a boy who is a friend and who talks to me. But he isnotmy boyfriend.” There’s a long pause before, “Please don’t tell my dad.”

I laugh. “And what’s in it for me?”

“Ten billion Glitter Bucks. That’s the currency for the fictional country Maria’s the dictator of.”

Maria squawks at the perceived injustice. “No…I am a queen, and everyone loves me.”

The two girls go back and forth about the definition of a dictator. I smile so much my facial muscles strain under the sudden use. Drew yells over them, “Lance, the worst thing happened!”

My heart stops. If something truly bad happened, someone would have told me, right? Right? “What’s wrong?”

“Ian and I have to perform our wax museum on Family Day. In front of everyone!”

Oh, okay. Oh, no. There’s torture, and there’s this fresh hell. “I’m so sorry, Champ.”

The next voice sounds strained. “Will you be there?” Ian. That’s the longest sentence I’ve heard from him in English.

My heart shatters into ten billion pieces all over the imported tile floor.

Maria pipes in. “Where did you go? Are you mad at us?” Her voice cracks.

I drag my hand down my face. This is the worst. “No, I’m not mad at you. I had to switch jobs.”

Shae answers with more confidence than she should. “He got in trouble for kissing Drew’s mom. But my sister says Aunt Izzy is hot, and he should go for it.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Lance has got to go, bye.” Thank you, Specs. Sliding my phone back into my inner pocket, I head into Honey Badger’s kitchen.

Where I find her spider-monkey crawling on the counter to get to the top shelf of the cabinets. A fucking heart attack, that’s what she’s going to give me. And she’s still in the damn heels. I grab her by the waist with one arm, but she fights me, “I can get it!” There’s a blue bowl just out of her grasp.

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