Page 4 of Daddy's Little Chaos Gremlin

“I’ve never been able to eat a lot,” I explained as I added a thin slice of succulent looking meat before happily digging into the first bite and sighing at the burst of bright flavors that danced across my tongue. “And it’s a good thing, too, or I’d never be able to pull off a snatchcannon.”

Everyone looked my way, and it took a moment to realize that no one had any idea what I was talking about. Alisha’s face had pinked up a little as she pressed her hands to her mouth, the light dancing in her eyes as she held back her giggles.

“I don’t even want to know where you mind went with that,” Josh said, chuckling as he slipped an arm around her, hugged her close and pressed a kiss to the side of her head.

“He-he said snatchcannon,” she blurted, giggling more. “Now all I can see in my head is one massive rocket launcher aimed at some jerk putting his hands where they don’t belong.”

She didn’t have to be any more explicit for the image to pop into my head, too. Snorting, I doubled over, giggling as the ends of my hair narrowly avoided a collision course with my carrots. Around me, I could hear Brenner and Bruce join in the laughter, and of course, little Grayson couldn’t resist pointing and babblingMama funnybefore laughing right along with the rest of us.

“So, what is it really?” Bruce asked once we’d all settled down.

“It might be easier to show you, if you’re not busy later,” I offered. “I was planning to practice in the yard once my food settled, since I’ve got an audition tomorrow.”

“Outstanding, is it anyplace we know?”

“His name is Rowan Williams and he’s looking for a muse for his partner, Tristan, or at least, that’s what he said. His friend, Mr. Hanson, is going to be there, too, he was one of the men who hired my troupe to perform at the charity event.”

“Oh, we know Ro and Tristan,” Brenner said, his eyes having lit up before he tsked and glanced over at Bruce. “I don’t know why we didn’t think about them when you first mentioned looking for work. Tristan is a sculptor. He works primarily with metal and ropes, playing off the hard and soft and well, rather than telling you about his work, how about we show you one of his pieces after dinner?”

Bruce clapped his hands as he danced in his seat. “I love the way this evening is headed. Why, we’ve got a regular show and tellall lined up between Grayson’s artwork, your acrobatics and the eclectic collection of sculptures we’ve amassed.”

“The only thing that could possibly make it any better is if we’d remembered to make dessert,” Brenner pointed out.

“Then it’s a good thing there’s a bakery across the street,” Josh said. “Why don’t I pick up a cheesecake to go with that delicious ice coffee blend you’ve been spoiling us with?”

“We never say no to cheesecake in this house,” Bruce declared.

“Then it’s settled.”

As I dug back into my meal, I was thankful not only for the food but for the company and the feeling of home and family that sparkled in the air like fairy dust. Knowing that Bruce and Brenner knew the pair I’d be meeting and clearly approved enough of them that they’d have suggested it themselves if the idea had come to them, went a long way toward making me feel comfortable about tomorrow’s audition. For the first time since agreeing to the meeting, I was able to relax completely knowing that whatever else happened, I’d be coming back here with the ability to pay for two more weeks in this magical place. That alone was worth the world to me.

3

TRISTAN

“Daddy, he’s magnificent,” I murmured as I watched Zephyr whirl into a sort of sideways cartwheel before propelling himself into the air to rotate three times before touching down on the grass of the courtyard again.

I was glad Daddy had held the auditions here, at his friend’s apartment complex, rather than at home. I’d grown tired of failed possibilities flittering through, leaving the echoes of themselves in rooms I’d hoped they’d occupy forever. While it would suck to spend a week away from my playroom and all the tools in my workshop, I’d rather miss them than add another ghost to our home.

“He is, isn’t he? But let’s see how well he can hold a position before we get too far ahead of ourselves.”

“You’re right, Daddy,” I whispered as I held his hand, enthralled as Zephyr’s body corkscrewed through the air before he landed in a superhero-esque crouch, a bright, triumphant smile on his face as he stared at us.

I love how he paid attention to both of us, making eye contact occasionally, but mostly just acknowledging that we were both there by the way he aimed smiles in each of our directions. I’d lost count of how many times someone had tried to curry favor with Daddy because he was the one in charge, ignoring me except when trying to follow the instructions I gave, their eyes relaying the truth. They cared nothing for what I was trying to create. They were only interested in the security of being cared for by Daddy.

Silly fools.

Daddy and I were a package deal and anyone who couldn’t see that was someone neither of us had the time, nor the patience to deal with.

“Could you pick a pose you are comfortable holding for longer than a minute or two?” Daddy requested. “Something that shows off your grace and flexibility, while allowing you to remain absolutely still.”

“I-I’ve played the part of a human table at several events,” Zephyr stammered, a delicate pink blush spreading across his cheeks and nose before he ducked his head.

“That is nothing to be ashamed of,” Daddy told him, smiling when Zephyr raised his chin and met his eyes again. “In fact, it is a beautiful gift of service to be able to provide such a thing. To us, you would be a living sculpture, there to be appreciated and admired, never ignored like you were merely window dressing for the room.”

His eyes widened at that, but his pleased grin showed just how much he appreciated Daddy’s words. I watched as he rolled his shoulders and let his head fall back, before he gracefully tippedover backwards, until his feet touched the ground behind his head, and he settled in. I saw Daddy hit the button on his phone to start the timer, then I turned my focus back to the serine look on Zephyr’s face as he exhaled and seemed to drift off into another world right before my eyes.

I could tell Daddy noticed, too, with the way his breath sucked in over his teeth, making a rough hissing sound as he cocked his head.

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