Page 79 of Treasure and Tarot

“What’s for lunch, Daddy?” Abby asked.

“Xander is making us some soup and he brought some bread.” All Xander had to do was heat everything up.

“I like soups.”

“I know.” Xander came to lift her up to rub noses with her. “Brrrr.”

“I know!” She reached up to touch her nose. “So cold.”

“But we had fun.” Colton took the heat wrap from him with a grateful expression, then put it on his leg when he sat. “I appreciate lunch, Xander.”

“You’re welcome. Is Gent home? He’s welcome to come.”

“I’ll text him.” Colton raised an eyebrow at Sebastian, and he shrugged. Xander had never gone for other alphas, but he had a feeling he and Gent were becoming friends. They had a lot of common personality traits, honestly.

Xavi snickered, and Sebastian squinted at him. He just rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Christmas.”

Ah, so Gent and Xander were working on some kind of project together? Interesting.

Colton pulled out his phone, and Xavi settled with Abby after she ran to the bathroom and washed up. It was like he’d always wanted his house to be, and he hoped he got to be the hub for all the kids when Abby was a teenager too…

“So, did you get anything good at the Merchante building the other day?” Xavi asked Colton. “I know they always talk about the ghost there being a champion of omegas.”

“I think we did, yeah. I’ll run it past all you guys when Gent is done editing the footage.” They were Colton’s test market these days, which was wicked cool.

“Sounds good to me. Hank’s made an entire career out of Secret Springs.”

“They’re doing way more than that now. Although he doesn’t want to be on camera very much, he likes doing the podcasts. That seems to be his jam.” Sebastian was happy to have stopped fighting with Hank. It was the last thing he needed.

“Unlike Mr. Famous here, the guy in front of the camera,” Xavi teased, and Abby giggled and mimicked.

“Camera! Papa, am I going to be on the camera?”

Sebastian shot Colton a look. His little girl was not going to be on the ghost-hunting show. Maybe when she was old enough to make informed decisions, but not now. No one should have to grow up on camera.

“Maybe we’ll get you a camera of your own, and you can practice being on camera. But when you’re a grown-up, you and Papa can be on cameras together. Okay?”

“Okay, Papa!” That seemed to work for her, and even better, it did work for him.

“Gent’s coming over for lunch, and, well, the other three are over there with him, so is there enough for everybody?” Colton had the grace to look a little apologetic.

Xander cracked up. “I brought two loaves of bread. We’re golden.”

“Good deal. I appreciate it, man. You know how the guys are.” Colton, obviously, liked to foster a family situation, and that worked just fine for Sebastian. This was how small-town life was supposed to be.

“Did you get all the work done that you wanted to get done today?” Colton asked him. “Your podcasts?”

He nodded. “I had three clients this morning.”

“So, were you doing readings or were you teaching them how to read?” Xavi asked.

“Some of each. Two readings, one student.” He didn’t promise anything with his readings, but, so far, he seemed to have a knack for it. And the clients that he kept tended to be long term and happy with their results. So, he wasn’t going to be worried about it.

“Cool. I think that’s the neatest thing.” Xavi waved a hand. “I mean, I have my crystals, and I charge them and stuff, but I’m not good with the cards or anything.”

Sebastian snorted. “Anything being what?”

“Like the Ouija.”

---