I shake their hands and try to sound as charismatic as possible as I think of the words I want to say. “L…L…Loxley.” Failure.
They gaze at me expectantly, but my mind goes blank. Taina looks between us, and fortunately, she breaks up the awkward silence. “How about we all get drinks?”
“Perfect, what you got?” Taz asks. Our little quartet walks to the table where a bucket of ice calls our name.
“Beer and soda,” Taina says. “You didn’t expect a witch’s house to have potions on hand all the time, did you?”
We all laugh. “No, but imagine drinking a love potion?” Taz asks playfully. When he says that, I catch the eye of the taller man in a hoodie approaching us. He’s bulky, and his Asian face makes me believe he’s my age.
“Ooh, or a virility potion!” Taz adds, and I turn to see the other chuckling.
“Like you need a love potion,” Luther says. He grins as he sips a beer.
“And you certainly don’t need a virility potion,” Taz adds, his blue eyes filling with heat.
“Keep it in your pants, boys. This is a family affair.” Taina rolls her eyes and picks up two sodas. “Anika!” She hollers and dashes to our other roommate.
That leaves me with the sexy gay couple. The way they stare at each other fills me with jealousy and more than a little arousal. Imagine having a man look at me like that…
Then they turn to me. “So, Lisbeth tells me you’re her nephew,” Luther says.
It takes me ten whole seconds to force out, “Y…yes.” All that for one word. What’s wrong with me? Seriously, I’ll never get a relationship the way I’m going. I can hardly talk to attractive strangers that I’m not flirting with; how much worse would it be with a guy I actually want?
With a lull in the conversation, Taz and Luther exchange quizzical looks. “Not much for talking. I can get behind that,” Taz remarks with an uncomfortable chuckle.
“Talking is overrated.” My head whips around at the deep voice behind me. The muscular dude in the hoodie seems surprised as he locks eyes with me. Maybe he meant to say that in his head? I wish I had that problem. With a pop of his soda can, he scurries off.
I turn back around to witness even more confused expressions on Taz and Luther’s faces. After a beat, Luther puts down his beer. “Hey, want to play that beanbag game with us?”
I prefer my games to be of the digital tactical variety. But they don’t need to know that, and with their friendly smiles, it’s obvious they’re trying to make me comfortable. So, after another long stretch of silence, I quietly reply, “Okay.”
After playing the beanbag toss game for a few, Auntie gathers us together for an early dinner. Barbecued meats of all kinds are being passed down the long plastic table. In the bustle of food being distributed, all the attention is off me. Today is supposed to be a gathering to introduce me to Cosmo, Virginia, but I’m happy to sit here quietly as others talk to each other.
Everyone has playful banter, and there’s plenty of food to go around. The gentlemen all appear to be coupled together except for the man in the gray tracksuit. I think I’m going to like living here for the time being.
When we’re mostly done eating, Auntie stands up and clinks together two beer bottles. “I’d like to raise a toast. Everyone, stand up.”
We all do as she says, and in moments, it’s quiet at the table. “Life is changing fast. Eight months ago, we didn’t even know any wizard friends, and now we’re tight-knit with Luther and Taz.” The happy couple cuddles closer together. So they’re wizards! Fascinating.
“And of course, we now know of mage supreme, Kai, the Jade Lion. And Seb is applying to culinary school.” Auntie turns to the Asian man and the shorter, Latino dude.
“Good things are happening here in Boysen House. Soon, hopefully, we’ll have my very own nephew joining the Union of Mages.” Everyone turns to me, and my face gets hot. “Loxley, we welcome you here in Cosmo.”
“And we thank you all for helping us with this fabulous backyard,” Anika remarks. “The trees are so high our mortal neighbors won’t be able to see us use our magic!”
“Which means we can be ourselves!” The guy, Seb, grins in delight at Kai. “You can let the lion out!”
Moments later, I’m stunned when the Asian guy morphs into a tall lion man with black-and-green fur. It’s a shocking sight, but no one else is reacting. Must be a wizard thing? The Jade Lion moniker makes a lot of sense now.
“You can too, Gordy!” Seb eagerly smiles at the tall man in sweats.
“It is important to show your true form,” Kai says in his British accent. “But only if you want.”
The dude, Gordy, looks around, then shrugs. “Since we’re all magical…I guess.” He slowly unzips his hoodie but keeps the hood on, then turns around before I can see any more of his body. His reluctance is obvious, and I sympathize, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see his tantalizing, almost goldenrod skin.
A moment later, Kai waves one hand at Gordy, and the image changes. I recognize that type of magic?it was a glamour! But Gordy still isn’t facing us.
“So, cheers! To our friends, the Jade Lion, the Ruby Turtle, and anyone else we might meet. To being ourselves, be they witch, wizard, or shifter!” Auntie raises her bottle, and we all do the same.
