Stranger Magics by Ash Fitzsimmons

Author:Ash Fitzsimmons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-11-21T05:00:00+00:00

“Maybe he needs some pointers,” Toula said, sipping on the dregs of the third margarita Vinnie had poured her since our return. “Performance anxiety, you know? I’ve had to walk virgins through it, and trust me, that’s no fun for either party . . .”

“Who said he’s a virgin?” I replied, knocking back a beer.

Robin chuckled. “If he’s not, then surely he’s out of practice.”

“Well, I’m not about to explain anything to him.” I glanced around the bar, which had emptied right on schedule. Oberon had driven his regulars away on some pretense, and even the lovely Vinnie had been relieved of duty for the night. “Maybe we should make sure he’s not having second thoughts,” I began, but then Ilunna appeared in the shallows.

The lights of the bar gave just enough illumination for me to make out a thin, pale face and long, dark hair. Joey stopped pacing a trench into the sand and stared as she swam closer, then began tottering her way up the slope. He ran into the water to help her, and with slow steps, they made their way onto land, Joey sodden, Ilunna naked and clinging to him as she tested her balance on unsteady feet. She turned her eyes up to him and smiled, and the kid smiled back. It was too dark to see whether he was blushing, but I had my suspicions.

Robin whistled beside me. “Not bad.”

“Not bad indeed,” Toula replied, stretching out her glass. They clinked around me and drank, and I shook my head.

By then, Joey was pointing toward a secluded stretch of beach, and Ilunna nodded. Neither could understand the other, but gesturing seemed to be working for the moment. I watched them stagger off together, pleased with myself for forcing shots upon Joey to build his confidence, then toasted the black horizon. “So, what do we do until they finish?” I asked the others.

“You can start by paying me for the booze,” said Oberon, appearing from the storeroom. “After that, I don’t care. Watch and learn, if you like.” He shrugged. “This might be amusing.”

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