With her horrifying refusal to be fired, Mae Blockinschlokinberg and her entourage waddled quickly out of the building.
“Can she do that?” Sassy asked, confused.
“She just did,” Zorro pointed out with a laugh of disbelief.
“That was total bullshit,” Zach said. “Is she correct about her contract? Is it iron-clad against her firing?”
Bob began to cry again. “I don’t know,” he blubbered. “She sent us a four hundred and forty-two-page contract and insisted we sign immediately.”
“Did you read it?” I asked as my stomach churned.
Bob and Roger both shook their heads no.
“I tried,” Bob admitted. “But it all looked like Latin to me. Besides, she's not the kind of woman you keep waiting.” Bob tooted then gasped in embarrassment. “So sorry,” he apologized sincerely. However, the smelly effect of his snack choice didn't stop him from cramming more berries into his mouth.
Crap. We couldn't fire her? This was an unexpected wrinkle.
“And you signed the contract?” I pressed.
Again, the boys nodded.
Double crap. They were already out two hundred thousand dollars to an investor who wanted a return on his money. If Mae Blockinschlokinberg sued over wrongful firing, there was no telling how much that would cost.
Roger hopped around the stage. Bob pulled out a second bag of berries and went to town on them.
“Here’s what we’ll do,” Roger said, mulling it aloud as he worked out the particulars. “Until we find the investor and cut a repayment deal, we pretend we’re still doing the show. We’ll show up at rehearsal tomorrow and act as if everything is normal—normal being a relative word. In the meantime, I’ll read the contract… which might have been helpful to do in the first place.”
“Is it in French?” Sassy asked. “Because if it is, I can help.”
Roger’s laughed. “No, but thank you for the offer, my dear. You’re a very good witch.”
Sassy was elated by the praise. She hopped back on her broom and whipped around the large hall. “No worries. If you get stuck, just let me know. I speak at least fifty-seven languages.”
“Will do,” Roger replied.
“Alrighty then,” I said, looking at each member of our little group. “Roger, read the contract. See if Mae Blockinschlokinberg is bluffing. Bob, cut back on the berries. The paint is starting to peel off the walls. I’m going to get the investor’s name from the cats then plead our case so no one has to wear cement shoes.”
“We are going to find the cats and have a chat with the investor. I’m your partner in this venture,” Zach said, taking my hand in his.
“And I’m your backup,” Zorro added, taking my other hand.
“And I will fly you guys on my broom back to Zelda’s place,” Sassy said.
“NO,” we all shouted in horror at the same time.
“We’ll walk,” I said quickly. “I need the exercise after living in a tree for a month.”
Sassy shrugged and saluted us. “Suit yourselves. I’ll meet you there.”
Chapter Eight
“Well, that was certainly a shitshow,” Zorro said, walking with Zach and me down the road that led to Zelda and Mac’s house.
“Understatement,” Zach said. “However, if we want to look at the bright side, we’re no longer living in the clutches of a voodoo witch who drank our blood and depleted our magic to stay young. I still say it’s a win.”
“While I’d definitely have to qualify the naked musical version of Jaws as a living nightmare, I’m going to agree with Zach,” I stated, walking between my two favorite men. “We’re in a much better place now. Period.”
“Guurrlfriend, ain’t that the truth,” Zorro concurred then observed us with amused and delighted curiosity. “Whoopsy-doodle, I left my man purse back at the community center. I’m just gonna zip back and grab it. Y’all go ahead and I’ll meet up with you back at the ranch.”
I eyed Zorro silently. He grinned, winked, and sprinted off in a flash.
Zach raised a brow. “He didn’t bring his man purse to the theatre.”
“Nope, he did not,” I said, feeling shy all of a sudden. “I think he noticed… umm… us.”
“Is there an us?” he asked hopefully, searching my eyes for an answer.
“There’s a beginning of an us,” I said with a smile. “We’re taking baby steps right now.”
“I know we have a lot on our plate at the moment,” Zach said. “But let’s start our baby steps on this walk—our unofficial first date. No talk of Mae Blockinschlokinberg, investors or grunting like a kidney while naked.”
“Works for me,” I told him with a thumbs up. “I’d be fine never saying the words naked, grunting, or kidney in the same sentence for the rest of my life.”
Zach chuckled and shortened his stride to match mine. “What’s your favorite color?” he asked.
“For real?” I shot back, wrinkling my nose at him.
“Yes, for real,” he said, grinning. “We’re starting from the beginning—baby steps.”
“And you don’t know my favorite color?” I pressed.
“I do,” he admitted sheepishly. “I’ve just never heard it from your mouth.”
I rolled my eyes and played along. “Green.”
“For the trees?” he asked.
“Yes, and your eyes,” I blabbed before I could stop the words from leaving my lips.
His grin grew wider. Mine did as well, along with my embarrassment. Whatever. I wasn’t about to lie now. It would be a ridiculous waste of time.
“And yours?” I asked.
His gaze locked with mine. “Same,” he replied.
“That’s cheating,” I told him.
“Not cheating if it’s true.”
Again, I rolled my eyes. “My turn. Umm… holiday. What’s your favorite holiday?” I asked and then wanted to punch myself in the head.
There had been no holidays in his life. No parties. No presents. No cakes. No mother or father who loved him… although, Zach did have a father who wanted to love him now, he just didn't want anything to do with Fabio.
But that was a discussion for another time.
Zach’s face fell
