He nodded. “All things do.”
“I came to find out when you’re leaving. Have you made arrangements yet?”
“I’ve arranged a flight to South Africa, as you suggested. I’m taking steps to secure a legal identity.”
I grinned. “As your own son. How very Connor MacLeod of you.”
“In my case, there can be only one as well, I think. It’s best for the world.”
“So you don’t plan to get married and settle down?” I teased.
“Not for years, if ever. I was forcibly tied to one spot for so long that I can’t imagine anything more heavenly than being a nomad.”
“For eleven months. Then you have to come back to work for Twila.” I wondered if I should give him a heads-up about her romantic inclinations, but no. She wouldn’t thank me for it, and I was sure she would take no for an answer, should Booke be disinclined to her pursuit. Personally, I thought they would make an awesome couple, once he got done sowing his wild oats.
“Don’t fret. It won’t be as onerous as you seem to fear.”
That wasn’t my concern at all. I’d seen the library and it would be a good fit for his abilities and interests. “So when are you leaving?”
“On the red-eye.”
“We’ll take you to the airport.” This was kind of a delicate question, but . . . “How are you fixed for money?”
“I have an account that’s been untouched, earning interest, for some years. If I can get them to release the funds, I’ll be set. That will probably require a forged will.”
“But until then . . . ?” I didn’t know how he’d afforded the fare to South Africa.
“I crafted some spells and sold them. Apparently hermetic tradition is rather rare here in the Southwest. They fetched an excellent price. I expect I shall have no trouble moving more arcane accoutrements to fund my travels.” He patted the smart phone in his pocket. “I can always ask on Area 51 for prospective buyers if there are no shops handy.”
“I had no idea there was so much money in what you do.”
“Nor did I, but it stands to reason. The spells can be used by anyone, which makes them invaluable, once I imbue a focus object with the power.”
“Oh, wow.” Such things would be priceless to the right parties.
“I can take things from here, my darling girl. Don’t trouble yourself further.”
“By which you mean, leave me alone already.” I smiled to show I was joking.
“Never that,” he said soberly. “I’ve been alone far too long ever to take good friends for granted. I’ll email when I can, but don’t look for me on chat.”
“Duh. I expect you to have awesome adventures. I’ll tell the baby all about you.” Unable to believe I’d spoken those words in that context, I pressed a palm against my belly, but I wasn’t showing yet. In three months or so, I’d have a bump, and a bit after that, I should be able to feel movement.
Silently, I worried; I mean, this kid had been conceived in Sheol while his father was a demon queen’s consort, and I wrestled with Ninlil, trying to keep her from doing crazy evil shit twenty-four seven. Moreover, my full-on Solomon Binder heritage had been in play, and Chance had still been a godling. There was no telling what I was incubating, though all early tests showed a healthy pregnancy against all odds. Which meant this peanut was a fighter. With Chance and me as parents, he or she would need to be.
“I’ll come when the baby’s born. Promise.”
“Twila might not let you. You’ll be starting your indenture around that time.”
“I’ll find a way. I know you said emergencies only, but . . . could we dream walk under those circumstances?”
I smiled up at him. “Absolutely.”
“What can you absolutely do?” Chance joined us in the bedroom, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
In the past day, I hadn’t gotten many moments alone. He was a bit reluctant to let me out of his sight and I didn’t blame him. Things still felt fragile, like we needed to touch each other to remain grounded. No matter what, I’d never accepted that his last words to me in Sheol weren’t the literal truth. Even death can’t keep me from you. And here he was; he’d given up godhood for my sake. I nestled against him, marveling that he was here; he’d chosen me against his father’s wishes.
“Meet Booke in a dream to show off the baby.”
His arm tightened on me, a reflexive reaction to the crazy fact that we’d made a new life in hell. “That presumes he can’t come in person? I’m inviting everyone we know when the little guy is born.”
“You know something I don’t?” I raised a brow.
Chance shook his head. “I couldn’t see the future, even from the other side. And now . . . I’m just an average guy.”
My gaze swept him from head to toe, then I laughed. “You’ll never be that.”
He kissed me as if he couldn’t help himself and didn’t stop until Booke cleared his throat. “Far be it for me to stop a PDA, but I need to finish packing.”
“Sorry,” I said, but I was too happy to be embarrassed.
Chance accompanied me to the living room, where Chuch was holding Cami. Eva was in the kitchen, putting the final touches on dinner. Jesse and Shannon would be here soon; this was a farewell party for Booke, but unlike the other one, it would be small and intimate. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be crashed by demons either.
We’d all gone through so many changes over the years. I was no longer a solitary creature, desperately longing for acceptance and a sense of belonging. Instead, I had friends, a man who loved me, and a family on the way. The latter sent a pang of pure visceral terror through me, but I reined it in with the surety that I had a great example of how to love a kid from my own parents. And our little one would have Min as a loving grandma. Not to mention we had the entire Ortiz clan at our backs; Chuch had claimed me long ago as an honorary cousin, which meant I had an extended family the like of which I’d never known.
“We’ll figure it out,” Chance whispered as he drew me down beside him on the couch.
I believed him.
Dinner was a lively affair. For old times’ sake, Eva made her famous tamales. I served them up with green sauce, cream, and grated cheese. That night, we talked and laughed with our friends, knowing it was the last time for a while. After this, there would be no more insane adventures. When you had a kid to protect, you got serious about staying out of trouble. I planned to post charms all over our residence in Mexico, paying Tia handsomely for protection. No matter what, our child would be safe. I could tell Chance felt the same way; his expression revealed the awareness that our lives were about to change irrevocably.
After the meal, we sat in groups of two. Chance kept me close while Jesse snuggled with Shannon. By the time Eva got Cami down for the night, nobody really felt like playing party games. I just wanted to chill and enjoy their company. I listened to the guys talking about sports for a little while, until Shannon pulled away from Jesse, beckoning me into the other room.
Butch followed us, so I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone. I said, “Let’s take him out.”
I had the feeling she wanted to talk about something, but I hoped it wasn’t more guilt over hooking up with Jesse. I was having another guy’s baby, for fuck’s sake; if that wasn’t the definition of I’ve moved on, then I had no idea what would convince her. Over the past months, I’d done my best to convey that I was cool with the way things went down. Plus, I was totally, absurdly in love with Chance—to the point that Jesse had thought, at one point, that I was in serious denial and in danger of needing mental health care.
She read my look as Butch trotted into the grass, and laughed. “It’s not what you think.”