Page 18 of Treasure and Tarot

“Yeah, you had to pick a hotel with stairs. You had to pick a house to investigate that has three stories and no elevator. That sucks for you.”

Colton closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. Then he gave Sebastian a strained smile. “I’ll live. You sleep well?”

They sat after Xavi handed over Colton’s coffee. “I did. No ghosts dropping things on my head.”

“Yeah. I can imagine that leads to bad nights.”

“It can be challenging, yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have good nights, but yeah. Xavi’s is a good place.”

Abby wiggled down out of her booster seat and came over, arms up. “I sit with you, Daddy?”

“Sure, baby.” He lifted her up, set her on his lap. “This here is Mr. Colton.”

“Him’s nice?”

The temptation to tell her he was the antichrist was huge. “Yeah, he’s a nice guy.”

She pointed to the cane. “What’s that?”

Colton’s eyes crinkled up. “That’s my cane. It helps me balance when I walk. I have one leg that doesn’t work so well.”

Abby frowned mightily. “Gots an owie?”

“I do. A bunch of rocks fell on me.”

“Oh no! Daddy kiss it? Make it better?”

He was going to die.

“Oh, thank you, honey,” Colton murmured. “Maybe later, huh? It would make people stare if Daddy did that here.”

“Or at all.” Xavi plunked a plate of cookies and pastries down on the table, glaring at Colton. “Enjoy.”

Colton waited until he walked off. “He is hostile.”

“He and Xander are my best friends. He was in the room when Abby was born.” Sebastian shrugged. “He’s had to listen to a lot of crying.”

“I’m sure.” Colton’s fingers skated over the table, just making random patterns. “And I’m trying hard not to snap back because of it.”

“I appreciate it. Xander’s coming to pick Abby up and keep her ’til lunchtime.”

“Unca Xan!”

Colton chuckled. “He adores me so much too.”

“Well, yeah.” He had to grin. “Uncle Xan is your bestie, huh, girlfriend.”

“Wuvs.”

“It’s good to have friends,” Colton told her very seriously.

As if Colton saying the words had conjured them up, the door opened and the ghost-hunting crew blew in.

Abby tilted her head, blinking at the crew. “Daddy, who dat?”

“Some of Mister Colton’s friends. They’re staying at the hotel.”

“That’s Iago, there, with the blue in his hair, Mason with the rainbow-colored shirt, and Law is the one with the hair the same color as yours.” Colton pointed them out as they pushed and shoved to the counter.

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