Page 44 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
Dillon and Ruthie’s cheeks heated. “We did,” Dillon answered.
“He told us to get Phil pajamas.” Ruthie considered her words and amended, “But that wasn’t the word he used.”
“Sexy pajamas,” Dillon clarified.
With a bark of laughter, Johnny nearly fell off his crate. “Mother Earth, that’s funny. I’ll bet Sedrick would appreciate that type of present.” Johnny waggled his eyebrows.
“We’re not getting Phil sexy pajamas.” Dillon crossed his arms over his chest and stood tall.
“No. I can see that. Good call. I think Phil would be more embarrassed opening something like that than pleased. Especially considering who the gift came from. Best leave the sexy PJs up to Sedrick.”
“Can we stop talking about fancy underwear for Phil?” Dillon said.
“Why are we talking about Phil and underwear?” Wendall asked as he poked his head inside the storage room. “Sorry, Ididn’t mean to intrude but Lizabeth said you were here and wanted to see Trinket, so I thought…”
Finishing the thought for Wendall, Trinket unwrapped her tail from around his neck and jumped from his shoulder. Trinket moved exceedingly quickly given her diminutive feet.
“Trinket!” Dillon and Ruthie shouted in unison as the scuttlebutt ran for them, scurrying up Dillon’s outstretched arm before hopping over to Ruthie. Opening her mouth wide, Trinket’s double row of razor-sharp teeth gleamed in her gapping maw. A happy rumbly sound erupted from her chest as she rubbed her furry body against Ruthie’s giggling cheek. Tail wound around Ruthie’s arm, Trinket danced on her shoulder as she patted her feet back and forth.
“Well, I’d say the wee little miss is just as happy to see them as Dillon and Ruthie are to see her,” Johnny warmly said.
“She is very pleased.” Ray gave Wendall a gentle nudge, pushing him farther into the storage room, crowding into the room and filling the space. “I assume what I heard earlier was incorrect.” Ray arched a single crimson eyebrow.
Wendall shifted to the side, attempting to make a little more room. “I’m not sure.”
Rocking back and forth on his crate, Johnny shook his head while his mouth quirked into an amused grin. “If you heard us talkin’ about Phil’s knickers, then your ears aren’t deceivin’ ya.”
Dillon huffed. “We are not buying Phil sexy underwear.”
“Oh my.” Wendall’s head tilted toward Ray. “I missed thesexypart.”
“I believe that is to our benefit,” Ray calmly replied. “I am relieved to hear that you will not be purchasing such an intimate gift, Dillon. However, I am curious as to how this topic began.”
With a put-upon huff, Dillon relayed their earlier conversation with bothPeaches and Johnny.
“Phil’s birthday is coming up?” Wendall asked. “Why didn’t someone tell me? I’d at least like to wish him a happy birthday.”
“No one knows,” Johnny clarified before Dillon could.
“Oh. I see.” Wendall’s lips thinned. “I don’t understand Phil’s reasons for keeping quiet regarding his birthday. I’ve been struggling about my own. Do I celebrate my human birthday or when Aurelia saved me and enhanced my fairy DNA? I’m not the same individual now as I was when I was born the first time.”
“Why not celebrate both?” Ruthie innocently asked. “Two birthdays sound better than one.”
“She’s got a good point,” Dillon readily agreed.
Ray stared at Ruthie. “A very wise answer from a dire wolf.”
Dillon puffed up with pride, as if Ray had complimented him instead of Ruthie.
“The kids want to get Phil a present,” Johnny said. “They’ve been askin’ around for ideas. Gotta say, I’m fresh out. Anything from you two? What about you, Trinket?”
Trinket slid from Ruthie to Dillon, tapping her feet and rumbling something none of them understood.
“Yeah, that’s about all I’ve got too,” Johnny said, scratching the back of Trinket’s body.
Wendall wrung his hands before pushing a wayward strand of blond hair behind his slightly tipped ear. “I’m afraid I don’t know Phil well enough to answer. I’m sorry. What about you, Ray?”
Ray’s fingers clasped Wendall’s shoulders, applying the slightest pressure. “I am uncertain. Fairies do not provide gifts to each other simply for being born.”
