She scoffed prettily.
I dropped my voice to Mervin-like levels and murmured, “My muffins were never dry, you abhorrent wench.”
I winked at her.
Her breath hitched.
Her eyes widened.
She hissed, “You.”
“You’ll never prove it,” I snapped quietly at her and continued on.
I felt better. Getting the last word to a sixteen-year-old girl can do that to you.
“Do I even want to know why a little teeny-bop looks like she wants to eat your flesh?” Gary asked when I reached the front.
“We’re enemies,” I said. “Mortal enemies.”
“Of course you are, kitten. Only you would be mortal enemies with a teenage girl.”
“Don’t let her looks fool you. Her countenance hides nothing but evil.”
“I wonder at you, sometimes.”
“You’re in so much shit,” I growled.
“Worth it.”
“What are you guys whispering about?” Kevin asked. “Is it secrets? I love secrets.” I looked over my shoulder to see his head shoved through the Great Door, chin resting on the floor.
“Tell you later,” I said.
“You better,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to have to spank you, son.”
“Boo,” Gary said. “Stop hitting on our baby boy.”
Everyone was staring again.
“Not my parents,” I said for all to hear. “My mom and dad are right there.”
Mom and Dad stood and waved.
“We’re the parents of his heart,” Kevin said.
“Shut up,” I said. “No, you’re not. And that doesn’t even make sense. Stop making it weird and gross.”
“Don’t talk to your father that way,” Gary said. “You’re grounded.”
“Can we please move this along?” I asked. “Seriously.”
“He’s got his serious face,” Mom called to the announcer. “He’s serious.”
Morgan and Randall were presented without fanfare, and then I pretty much forgot everything else that existed because Ryan entered the throne room.
To say he looked handsome would be an understatement.
It wasn’t as if I’d never seen him in his full knight gear before. I had. Several times. But maybe it was because today was important, that it was so monumental that it just felt different. Of course, since it was Ryan Foxheart, I wouldn’t be surprised if the gods themselves were shining down upon his broad shoulders because everything about him shone. His armor, his shield, the scabbard at his side, his skin, his hair (seriously, what the fuck? How did he have shiny hair?). Everything.