Page 21 of Cosplay & Consequences

Now that thought filled me with fear.

I bit my lip, trying to formulate a plan. “Okay. First things first. We hit Kao’s. It’s around the corner from here, and we’ll get some soup dumplings.”

“You can’t buy her off with food,” Paige warned me. Her phone pinged, and she frowned at the text.

I made my way to the exit. “No, but it’ll make the conversation easier. Trust me. I need you to be on Team Danny. We need to have a united front.”

I suddenly realized that my united front wasn’t next to me. I turned around and found Paige still frowning at her phone. “Everything okay?”

“It’s nothing. The usual crap with Alfie. Don’t worry about it. I’m with you. Team Danny,” Paige assured me, pocketing her phone. “United front.”

The Boss was waiting for us as soon as we walked into the hotel suite. My niece Faye, having turned fourteen a few months ago, had learned to glare at people ruthlessly. She was doing this now over the frames of her glasses, which made it worse.

“You’re pathetic,” she declared.

I’m not going to lie. That hurt.

“I brought you some soup dumplings,” I offered, holding up the bag like it was a prize.

“I’m not ten years old, Uncle Danny!” She snarled, ripping the bag from my hand. “You can’t buy me off with food!”

“Told you,” Paige muttered under her breath.

Faye scowled at us and marched over to the kitchenette where she unpacked the bag. “I can’t believe you didn’t read the books! You told me you would read the books! The only way you can portray Tyrst’an is if you know the story!”

“Faye, I know Uncle Danny promised, but sometimes things happen in life-” Paige stopped as Faye gave her the evil eye. Paige turned to me and patted me on my shoulder. “Sorry, dude. You’re on your own.”

“Chicken,” I shot back at her.

“And to top it all off,” Faye growled. “You didn’t even invite me to the interview.”

Paige and I shared a confused moment together. “You wanted to go see Uncle Danny get neutered?” Paige asked.

Faye huffed. “Jess Richards is my favorite influencer. I tried to get tickets when she first announced she’d be at the convention, but I couldn’t afford it,” she snarled at us.

“How are we supposed to know that?” I asked.

“I’ve been on her Patreon for a year!” Faye shouted.

“Sweetie, you’re on multiple Patreons and follow multiple influencers,” Paige said using her calming tones. “We can’t keep track of it all.”

“Well, maybe if you told me where you were going and who was interviewing you, I could have told you,” she scolded.

“Okay, fair,” Paige relented. “But are you angry about not getting invited or Uncle Danny breaking his promise to you?”

In response, Faye turned her head to scowl at me.

“Thank you for putting it back on me,” I growled at Paige.

“I’m not going down for your bullshit.”

“I can hear you!” Faye shouted. Despite the fact that I was told I could not buy her off, she shoved a small dumpling into her mouth.

Paige gave her a saccharine smile. “Adults are talking, sweetie. Just remember everything is Uncle Danny’s fault.”

I let out a very long sigh. “Don’t we have a call?”

“You think it’s going to be any better than this?” Paige taunted as she pulled out her laptop.