Page 43 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
“We’ll stay,” Dillon and Ruthie said in unison.
Rising to his impressively broad height, Sedrick glanced Johnny’s way, a single eyebrow cocked. “You okay with that? They can be a bit of a handful sometimes.”
“We’re not that bad,” Dillon protested.
“I’m happy to have ’em. Might even put them to work doin’ dishes if they step out of line.” Johnny sent a wink Sedrick’s way before waving the kids around the bar. “Come on then. Let’s see what mischief the three of us can get into.”
“Lord save us,” Lizabeth muttered as she walked by with two glasses of warmed blood for the vampires at the end of the bar.
Dillon and Ruthie didn’t waste time. Scampering around the bar, they headed behind it. Johnny greeted them and waved them deeper into the back. “Come on. While you’re waiting for Trinket to show up, you can help me sort through some boxes of inventory. Your feet are much more suited to climbing up those damn ladders than my hooves.” Johnny stomped one of his hoofs, sending his kilt shifting and exposing his furry, faun legs.
“We can help,” Dillon answered. “You’re pack, and we take care of pack,” he proudly said, missing the bemused smile tilting Johnny’s lips.
“That’s comforting,” Johnny answered.
“It should be,” Dillon shot back.
Clearing his throat, Johnny led Ruthie and Dillon to the storage room. Once the door was closed, Johnny went to a nearby crate and sat down. “Now that we’re alone, tell me the real reason you’re here.”
Ruthie shot Dillon a nervous glance. “What makes youthink there’s another reason?” Dillon asked. There totallywasanother reason, but he couldn’t figure out how Johnny knew.
“Pfft.” Johnny waved a hand in the air. “I’m an old faun, and I’ve been around the block a time or two. Dusk is fun for adults. Children, not so much. I believe the part about wanting to see Trinket, but not the other BS. Now, out with it.”
Dillon looked to Ruthie, but she simply shrugged. While it still irked Dillon that Johnny saw through them, he did want the faun’s opinion. “Phil’s birthday’s in six days.”
Johnny’s eyes widened. “No shit?”
“No shit,” Ruthie parroted.
“You shouldn’t sayshit,” Johnny half-ass scolded.
“But you said it,” Ruthie argued.
“We’ve already established I’m an old-ass faun, so I can say what I want.” Johnny thought a moment and added, “Don’t sayasseither. Unless you’re talking about a donkey or a donkey shifter.”
“Okay.” Ruthie solemnly nodded.
Cradling his chin between his fingers, Johnny contemplated what he’d just learned. “So, Phil’s birthday is coming up. That still doesn’t explain what the two of you are doing here.”
“Phil doesn’t know we know,” Dillon answered, “and Ruthie and I want to get him a present.”
“The best present,” Ruthie added.
Johnny twirled his finger in the air. “And that involves coming to Dusk…how?” Johnny’s eyebrows rose. “You want to get Phil some alcohol?”
Dillon shook his head. “No, although Burt and Ollie thought that might be a good idea.”
Johnny scoffed. “Burt and Ollie think a good spirit is the answer to any celebratory occasion. So, if not honeysuckle mead, then what?”
Dillon’s lips twisted. “That’s just it. We don’t know what to get Phil. Ruthie and I are asking around to get ideas.”
“Oh.” Johnny’s eyes narrowed. “What to get Phil…what to get Phil… Hmm, that’s a tricky one. On the surface, I’d say you could get him anything and he’d like it as long as it came from you two.” Johnny shrugged. “Phil is probably the easiest guy to shop for.”
Ruthie stomped her foot. “We don’t just want to get him any old present. We want to get him thebestone.”
Dillon agreed. “Ruthie’s right. We want to get Phil something to show how much he means to us and our pack.”
“Huh.” Johnny leaned back on his crate. “I’m not sure I’ll be much help there. I’m about as far from a home-and-hearth pixie as you’re gonna get. Did you ask Peaches? He’s known Phil the longest.”
