Page 67 of Moody as a Minotaur

Before he could start second-guessing everything and over-thinking, I leaned forward and brushed a quick kiss to his lips. I wanted to do so much more, but if I pressed too quickly, he’d probably panic. I needed to take my time with him. Now that I knew his big secret, I figured the chance of having a real relationship with Levi was looking up. I wasn’t going to blow things now.

Patience was one of the lessons I’d learned from Nana. After playing round after round of intense hide and seek games during her summer bootcamps, it was a lesson that had stuck. And now that I knew Levi was somewhat interested in me, I’d use every bit of patience I had to get what I wanted. What webothwanted.

24

ORACLES AND PLAYING POOL

LEVI

As soon as Finley’s van carried Kyle and Tammy out of Willow Lake, damn near every supe in town descended upon the Willow Lake Pub. There were even a few human faces in the crowd, like Parker and Edith.

Everyone was ready to relax and rejoice that we’d come through okay.

“You should have left with Fin,” Parker was telling his grandmother.

She waved her hand in the air, dismissing him. “I haven’t had this much fun since the Berlin Wall came down. Go, have fun with your guy. Don’t worry about me.”

Parker frowned and returned to the pool table.

“I don’t know why she is still here,” he muttered as he scooped up his pool cue and chalked the tip. “Her questions have been answered. She should be on her way home.”

Seeing the way Davina was licking the salted rim on her margarita glass while batting her eyes at Edith, I didn’t think those two were ready to part ways yet. But I wasn’t going to say that to Parker. Talking about his grandmother’s burgeoning relationship with our local medium made him squirm.

Paws jumped onto the pool table in front of us. He pushed his tri-colored face right in Parker’s. The cat narrowed his eyes at him.

“So, you know about supes now, hey?” Paws said. “You gonna screw us over?”

Parker gaped for a minute before snapping his mouth shut and flicking his gaze to me. “Okay. That’s bizarre. Van said he was a supernatural cat, but I hadn’t really thought about it since. Jesus, how many magical cats are there in town?”

“Don’t talk to Levi about me like I’m not sitting right in front of you.” Paws lifted his head at an imperious tilt. “Now answer my question.”

Parker crossed his arms. “No. I’m not going to do anything to endanger anyone.”

Paws stared at him without blinking for a long beat, then he nodded. The tip of his tail flicked back and forth. “Good.”

“You shouldn’t sit on the pool table,” Parker said. “You’ll get kitty litter on it and that’s gross.”

Paws’ tail ticked back and forth at a faster tempo. “Do I look like I use a damn kitty litter box? For fuck’s sake.” Paws glared at me and plopped his furry ass on the green felt as if to defy Parker’s suggestion. “What the fuck does he think I am?”

I didn’t point out that none of us knew what he was. That wasn’t the point Paws was trying to make. Instead, I opted to make introductions.

“Parker, this is Pawington the Third. He goes by Paws.”

“Are you a cat shifter?”

“I’m none of your business, that’s what I am,” Paws said. “And my pronouns are he and him. I might not wear pants, but that doesn’t mean you should ogle my junk.”

Parker’s eyebrows rose on his forehead, and he glanced at me. “Is this for real?”

“Just go with it.” I nodded. That was the best advice I could offer on how to deal with the cantankerous cat.

Paws licked his paw and swiped it over his face. “So, Parker, whenexactlydid you find out about supernatural beings? And whenexactlydid you kiss Levi?”

I rolled my eyes. “This is about the bet, isn’t it?”

Paws lowered his paw. “Of course it is. We couldn’t settle things while the hunters were poking their round little noses into our business, could we? Now we’re overdue. And it’s time to settle up.”

Across the room, Clive groaned. “Don’t tell me Paws won again.”