Page 20 of Treasure and Tarot

“Yep. Maybe find out why he’s so mad. That helps, right? When you know what makes you so upset?”

He was not going to melt at this. Not.

She nodded. “When I want to go outside, and it is yucky! So mad!”

“See? So I’ll try my best to help. But for now, you keep that rock close. Pink quartz is very good for protection.”

“’Kay.” She showed Sebastian the rock. “For tec-on. Kiss it.”

He smooched the rock. “Yes, ma’am.”

Colton made a little snuffling sound that he thought was a suppressed laugh. Thank God it looked like Iago had washed the rock…

“Uncle Xan! I has rock!”

“Go team rock!” Xander gave him a curious little look, and he shrugged. He didn’t know. “I’m getting a smoothie. Be right back.”

“Uncle Xan is going to watch Abby while we do your interview.”

“Okay, cool.” Colton smiled a little, his lips curving so nicely. “We can do it in the same dining room as last night. We’ve kind of taken it over.”

“That’s fine.”

“We go to park?”

“I think so, sweetie. Uncle Xan has you until lunchtime.” And he was going to then head up to Xavi’s and hide.

“We’ll totally go to the park!” Xander came back, sipping his smoothie. “You know it, girl.”

“Unca Xan!” She held up her arms.

“My baby girl!” Xan swooped at her, lifting her high.

She laughed, her curls bouncing, her eyes lit up.

“She’s beautiful.”

He nodded to Colton. “She is.”

She was beautiful and smart, funny and loving. She was perfect. And she definitely had both of them in her, which being around Colton was reminding him. It made his heart hurt.

He just needed Colton to do his thing and leave. His soul couldn’t handle it.

“Okay, Miss Thang. Let’s go let Daddy talk to the ghost man. Kisses.”

“Kisses!” She bent down when Xander lowered her, kissing his cheek. Then she leaned toward Colton, lips pursed. He offered his cheek, and she bussed it before Xander grabbed her wee backpack and headed off.

Colton looked stunned.

“Come on, big guy,” Sebastian said, resigned to his fate for now. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Sure.” Colton stood, holding out the hand not gripping the cane.

He took it, the touch making him tingle.

Yeah, he was not going to live through this.

Not even a little.

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