Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(101)

Kincaid stated, “We know we’re risking overdoing a good thing too soon, but the Kings and Elders make us spend the weekends together.”

Nelson smiled, a little nervous. “And…it was better with you around, so…”

Fergus bounced the bag in his arms. “We brought breakfast to bribe you to spend the day with us.”

I eyed the bags. “Do I have to cook it?” We might all be ill if I did.

Fergus smirked. “We didn’t bring food over for you to cook it for us. I’m going to cook.”

“Oh, by all means.” I gestured grandly to my small kitchen, shutting the apartment door and locking it. “Consider me bribed for a day of fun. But I need to brush my teeth first.” I waggled a finger at the kitchen again. “You can start unloading in there.”

“Will do,” Venclaire murmured, his and Fergus’s backs to me, both already walking into kitchen. “You might want to put some pants on, too.”

I blinked, jerking my head down to my attire. “Shit.” I hadn’t even seen him check me out, but he sure as hell noticed more than I had. I was wearing only a tank top and a pair of panties. I was thrilled I had taken off the Prodigy Elemental ring from my toe last night while putting lotion on my feet. “Pants coming right up.” I hurried into the bathroom, taking care of business there before finding a pair of cotton shorts and a bra. I walked into the kitchen, eyeing the goods they had spread out on the short countertop. “You got a lot.”

Fergus nodded once, also eyeing the choices. “We didn’t know what you liked, so we got a bit of everything.” A point at a tub. “Including oatmeal.”

I stared at the eggs, ham, and cheese. “At the risk of sounding greedy…do you know how to make an omelet?”

“I can do that.”

I clasped my hands in front of me, trying to keep from waving them everywhere in giddy delight. “I also want you to show me how to do it, so I can do it on my own.”

“I can do that, too.” He rummaged through the pots and pans I had bought not too long ago in my attempt to learn to cook better. “You’ve got a decent selection here.”

“Thanks.” I carefully watched which skillet he pulled out. “The salesperson was very helpful.”

My phone rang, startling me. I had forgotten I had the dang thing since I never used the bulky contraption. No one ever called me. I instantly grabbed it, continuing to watch what bowl Fergus was pulling down from a cupboard. “Hello?”

All I heard was static.

“Hello?”

More static.

I hung up. “Someone’s connection sucks.” Then I snapped my fingers and pointed at Fergus when he glanced at me. He was cracking an egg. “Give me a second. I want to get a pad of paper and pen to write what you’re doing.”

His lips quirked. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, quickly turning and racing back to my bedroom. Digging through my dresser, I heard the phone ring again. I called loudly, “Can you get that?”

The phone quit ringing, and I heard Fergus’s soft tone as he answered, the sound muffled. I grabbed a pad of paper and dug through another drawer for a pen, finding one relatively quickly. I made my way back to the kitchen. Fergus was resting with his back against the wall, giving me wide, crazy eyes, pointing at the phone. But he continued speaking calmly. “No, sir, I did not spend the night.” A pause, his eyes glancing toward me. He appeared put out, even if his words were exceptionally collected. “Yes, sir, I just came over a few minutes ago to make breakfast for her.” He fumbled over his words. “Yes, I was out with her last night. We went out to eat with the other Prodigies.”

Snapping my mouth shut from its gaping state, I asked incredulously, “Who is that?”

Fergus put his hand over the receiver, lifting his brows and staring. “Elder Farrar.”

Yep, that look told me I had some explaining to do. Wonderful.

I moved forward and held my free hand out.

Fergus diplomatically said his goodbye, then he handed me the phone.

I grumbled, “Hello?”

He was chuckling over the line. “God, you should have heard his voice when I told him who I was.” A pause. “I probably had the same reaction when he told me who he was.”

I ignored that. “Did you try to call a few minutes ago, too?”

“Yep.” I could practically see him grinning through the phone. “I was actually trying to call you on my new,” throat clearing, “cell phone.”

I blinked. “Well, your reception’s terrible. You should think about switching carriers.”

There was a long pause. “I don’t think you heard me correctly, because you’re not reacting appropriately…and I didn’t understand half of what you just said. A cell phone, Sadie. As in, a small device that’s portable.”

“Oh.” I nodded my head, then I stated with false cheer, “That’s unbelievable! You got a cell phone. Congratulations.”

Instant reaction from Fergus. “He did?” He pointed a whisk at me. “Ask him where he got it. They’re sold out everywhere I’ve looked.”

I asked into the receiver, “Did you get that?”

“Now that was the proper response.” A cocky snort. “I got the last one.”