Page 38 of Myths and Shifts

With more reasonable options?

With less violence?

With more common sense?

I probably shouldn’t hold my breath on that last one, but I had a badass mate and had found at least two locals that didn’t make me want to whack them upside the head with a safeword.

A very firm safeword.

It was going to be a long day.

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“I still can’t believe that mage from Florida wanted to sell tickets.” Merritt was shaking his head like it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard, but I’d never moved past the woman who’d wanted to blow it up so we didn’t have to worry about it any longer.

The conversation had jumped from one extreme to the other all day long and I wasn’t sure we’d made much progress.

“At least he didn’t say he wanted to wrestle whatever he found on the other side.” Turning it into a theme park had not been on my top ten list when it came to figuring out what to do with the portal.

Nearly giggling, Merritt leaned into my side as we made our way to the car I’d rented. “I had a hard time staying grown-up and boring when he started talking so excitedly about all the dinosaurs he hoped were on the other side.”

Okay,thathad been hilarious.

“I don’t think anyone would’ve noticed. They were too busy trying to keep their eyes in their heads. His implication that we were some kind of dinosaur hadn’t gone over well.” He either couldn’t read the room or just hadn’t cared…maybe both.

“I think we should make sure he gets to hang out at the diner.” Merritt’s snicker was definitely sliding toward silly little territory. “I wonder if the men know that the Florida man might be a dinosaur?”

My groan pushed his little side closer to the surface because his smile widened and his arms started swinging at his sides. “They’d be very helpful, Daddy.”

“They’d certainly try to do something for him.” Or possibly to him. “Let’s not scare him, though.”

I wasn’t sure how that conversation would go, but I could easily picture chaos ensuing and someone getting offended.

“He’s from Florida, Daddy.” Merritt rolled his eyes and sighed. “We wouldn’t scare him.”

Hmm.

“Okay, you might have a point there.” But the whole thing made me wonder how he knew what alligators thought of dragons.

But before I could get trapped in that mental horror show, Merritt took my hands and started to swing them. “What do you want to do for dinner, Daddy?”

Not something overly adult, that was for sure.

“I do not have a plan, but now that I’m thinking about it, something relaxing.” And possibly something that would qualify as fun. “Do you have any ideas or is this aDaddy make a decisionthing?”

I was fairly certain I knew the answer to that question but I let him shrug and step from side to side like he wanted to bounce or dance. As we got close to the car, he finally peeked up at me, trying to look cute. “Can we go to my house this time and have mac and cheese and play toys?”

“I think that sounds like a very relaxing dinner.” Kissing his head, I led him around to the passenger side as we ignored everyone else. “What do you think about stopping by my room first so I can grab an outfit for tomorrow? That way we won’t have to do it in the morning.”

He might not want to stay little all night, but the chances of either of us wanting to go back out after dinner were slim to none. It’d been an incredibly long day and I was going to do my best to avoid everyone but Merritt.

“Yes.” Bouncing on his toes, he kissed my cheek and let me help him into the car. “I have a toothbrush for you, Daddy. I’ll share my shower stuff.”

Campground showers.

The things we did for our mates.

“Perfect. Thank you.” Kissing his forehead, I buckled him in and tried to think through the rest of our evening. “Do me a favor and help me decide if there’s anything else we need to do before we go back to your house.”

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