“Willow?” Zach asked, as unsure as his father. “Does that sound good?”
Staring at Zach, I knew he wanted to accept, but wanted me to go first. Not happening. I winked at him and let him swim in the deep end on his own. “Your choice.”
He eyed me askance for a second and then smiled. He had my number and I had his.
“Yes, Fabio,” he said. “We will take you up on the offer.”
“I’ll let Zelda know!” Fabio shouted with such an overabundance of joy it made me giggle.
It was perfect. Sassy was bringing Zorro to her place, and we would stay with Fabio. Mac and Zelda would have an evening with no company present. They could have a nookie night all over the house.
“Shall we?” Zach asked his father, his eyes glittering with excitement and his fists raised.
“Yes,” Fabio replied, getting into an attack position and grinning back at his son. “We shall.”
The fight would be seared into my brain for eternity. As the two warlocks beat the living crap out of each other, they laughed like children having the time of their lives. Even the trees enjoyed the show. They swayed and rustled their leaves with glee. Of course, it was clear that the brawl was all in good violent fun…
The joy and excitement the men shared as they traded blows was strangely beautiful—albeit in a bloody and profanity-filled way. But their bond strengthened with each powerful punch. In the end, the two battered warriors held each other, laughed like idiots, and healed each other’s broken bones and bruises.
All in all, it was a successful visit. We didn’t have the name of the investor, but we knew we had the money to pay him back if push came to shove. I felt calmer than I had earlier. Hopefully, the cats were on their way home and Mae Blockinschlokinberg would accept her firing without a countersuit or counterattack.
And of course, until that was a go, we’d go on with rehearsals.
Let the shitshow continue.
Chapter Eleven
The day dawned bright and sunny and my mood matched. Fabio’s home was as magical as Zelda’s. I was pretty sure I never wanted to leaf Assjacket. With so much love and so many wonderful people, it was perfect. Even the crazy was wonderful and glorious.
“Oh my Goddess,” I said with a mouthful as I stacked two more pancakes on my plate. “These are delicious.”
“Thank you,” Fabio said, taking a small bow. “I can make more. And I must say, it’s a real pleasure to watch you two enjoy my pancakes without a vat of syrup on them. Zelda’s palate is just horrid.”
Patting my full stomach, I laughed. “I’m good with these. I’m about to pop.”
“I’ll take a few more,” Zach said much to Fabio’s delight.
We’d stayed up talking till the early morning hours. It had been a wonderful night mixed with laughter and tears. Zach had spoken more candidly about his past. I learned things that made me feel ill. I didn’t think my hatred of Henrietta Smith could eclipse what it already was, but I was wrong. Fabio looked as if he'd been shredded from the inside out as he'd listened to his son recount his tortured past, but it was healing for Zach. Both Fabio and I would have listened to the very same stories over and over for the man we loved.
However, not all of it was serious. Zach and I learned how to cheat at cards, and Fabio made me laugh till I almost cried while telling stories about his great love, Baba Yaga.
Of course, I knew who she was, but had never met her. Baba Yaga, the leader of the witches and warlocks, instilled a healthy fear in everyone, but Fabio’s adoration of the most powerful witch in the Universe made her seem so normal—in an abnormal way. I couldn’t wait to meet her.
“So, Willow,” Fabio said, sitting down at the table after heaping Zach’s plate with enough pancakes for a small army. “Have you located your nards yet?”
I was glad I didn’t have food in my mouth since I choked on my reply. “Umm… no, but I’ll find them,” I assured him.
“I don’t think you ever lost them,” Zach said, looking at me with so much love in his expression, I blushed. “You have enormous magical hairy beans.”
We’d run into a conundrum last night at bedtime. As much as we’d wanted to share a room, the time wasn’t right yet—there was still more work to do and we had our sessions with Roger soon. Instead, we’d made out in the hallway like teenagers until we were busted by a delighted Fabio. Going to sleep knowing Zach was across the hall was incredibly difficult, but in the end, I’d slept… and dreamed of my handsome warlock.
When the time did arrive, it was going to rock our world.
“You know,” Fabio pointed out thoughtfully. “Not sure why anyone would want testicles when a vagina is so much stronger.”
“Umm… Fabio,” Zach said with a wince. “Not really breakfast table talk.”
Fabio raised his hand and grinned. “Hear me out. The slightest flick to the nards can send even the strongest man to his knees. Whereas a vagina can push out an entire small human. In my book, balls are much weaker than the bits you were born with, Willow.”
My mouth hung open and my eyes grew wide. Yes, it was seriously embarrassing to have a conversation about vaginas and testicles with the father of the man I was in love with, but he’d made a shockingly good point.
Did I even need balls?
“Wow,” I muttered when I could find my voice. “That was profound—a little graphic, but profound.”
Fabio laughed. “I’m good like that—very dangerous at parties, though.”
“Maybe your umm… parts are your lady balls,” Zach said, as his cheeks reddened a bit. “I’d have to agree with
