Page 27 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

“Thanks.” Taking a long draw from the beer, Sedrick sighed in appreciation. “That hits the spot. It’s been a week at the mine.” Sedrick shifted his head back and forth, cracking his neck before looking down at Dillon and Ruthie. “You two want something to drink?”

Dillon eyed Sedrick’s beer.

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Sedrick said. “You’ve got another ten years before I wanna hear about your lips touching the edge of a glass of ale. You can have something nonalcoholic.”

Arms crossed over his chest, Dillon half-ass pouted. It wasn’t like he really thought his uncle would cave. “You got soda?”

“Do we have soda?” Johnny splayed his hand across his chest. “What kind a foolish question is that? Of course we’ve got soda.

” Hopping off the riser, Johnny nearly disappeared behind the bar.

Dillon and Ruthie heard the clopping of his hooves as he headed to the refrigerated section.

When he came back, Johnny’s arms were laden with seven different types of soda. “Take your pick.”

Sedrick pinched the bridge of his nose. “Moon Goddess save us from the caffeine and sugar high.”

Johnny threw his head back and cackled. “I just sugar ’em up and send ’em home.”

Sedrick blew out an exasperated breath. “I’m well aware.” Turning to Ruthie and Dillon, Sedrick crouched down, so he was on their eye level. “You guys wanna come to the table with me, or do you wanna hang around bugging Johnny and Lizabeth?”

“We’ll stay,” Dillon and Ruthie said in unison.

Rising to his impressively broad height, Sedrick glanced Johnny’s way, a single eyebrow cocked. “You okay with that? They can be a bit of a handful sometimes.”

“We’re not that bad,” Dillon protested.

“I’m happy to have ’em. Might even put them to work doin’ dishes if they step out of line.” Johnny sent a wink Sedrick’s way before waving the kids around the bar. “Come on then. Let’s see what mischief the three of us can get into.”

“Lord save us,” Lizabeth muttered as she walked by with two glasses of warmed blood for the vampires at the end of the bar.

Dillon and Ruthie didn’t waste time. Scampering around the bar, they headed behind it.

Johnny greeted them and waved them deeper into the back.

“Come on. While you’re waiting for Trinket to show up, you can help me sort through some boxes of inventory.

Your feet are much more suited to climbing up those damn ladders than my hooves.

” Johnny stomped one of his hoofs, sending his kilt shifting and exposing his furry, faun legs.

“We can help,” Dillon answered. “You’re pack, and we take care of pack,” he proudly said, missing the bemused smile tilting Johnny’s lips.

“That’s comforting,” Johnny answered.

“It should be,” Dillon shot back.

Clearing his throat, Johnny led Ruthie and Dillon to the storage room. Once the door was closed, Johnny went to a nearby crate and sat down. “Now that we’re alone, tell me the real reason you’re here.”

Ruthie shot Dillon a nervous glance. “What makes you think there’s another reason?” Dillon asked. There totally was another reason, but he couldn’t figure out how Johnny knew.

“Pfft.” Johnny waved a hand in the air. “I’m an old faun, and I’ve been around the block a time or two. Dusk is fun for adults. Children, not so much. I believe the part about wanting to see Trinket, but not the other BS. Now, out with it.”

Dillon looked to Ruthie, but she simply shrugged. While it still irked Dillon that Johnny saw through them, he did want the faun’s opinion. “Phil’s birthday’s in six days.”

Johnny’s eyes widened. “No shit?”

“No shit,” Ruthie parroted.

“You shouldn’t say shit ,” Johnny half-ass scolded.

“But you said it,” Ruthie argued.

“We’ve already established I’m an old-ass faun, so I can say what I want.” Johnny thought a moment and added, “Don’t say ass either. Unless you’re talking about a donkey or a donkey shifter.”

“Okay.” Ruthie solemnly nodded.

Cradling his chin between his fingers, Johnny contemplated what he’d just learned. “So, Phil’s birthday is coming up. That still doesn’t explain what the two of you are doing here.”

“Phil doesn’t know we know,” Dillon answered, “and Ruthie and I want to get him a present.”

“The best present,” Ruthie added.

Johnny twirled his finger in the air. “And that involves coming to Dusk…how?” Johnny’s eyebrows rose. “You want to get Phil some alcohol?”

Dillon shook his head. “No, although Burt and Ollie thought that might be a good idea.”

Johnny scoffed. “Burt and Ollie think a good spirit is the answer to any celebratory occasion. So, if not honeysuckle mead, then what? ”

Dillon’s lips twisted. “That’s just it. We don’t know what to get Phil. Ruthie and I are asking around to get ideas.”

“Oh.” Johnny’s eyes narrowed. “What to get Phil…what to get Phil… Hmm, that’s a tricky one. On the surface, I’d say you could get him anything and he’d like it as long as it came from you two.” Johnny shrugged. “Phil is probably the easiest guy to shop for.”

Ruthie stomped her foot. “We don’t just want to get him any old present. We want to get him the best one.”

Dillon agreed. “Ruthie’s right. We want to get Phil something to show how much he means to us and our pack.”

“Huh.” Johnny leaned back on his crate. “I’m not sure I’ll be much help there. I’m about as far from a home-and-hearth pixie as you’re gonna get. Did you ask Peaches? He’s known Phil the longest.”

Dillon and Ruthie’s cheeks heated. “We did,” Dillon answered.

“He told us to get Phil pajamas.” Ruthie considered her words and amended, “But that wasn’t the word he used.”

“Sexy pajamas,” Dillon clarified.

With a bark of laughter, Johnny nearly fell off his crate. “Mother Earth, that’s funny. I’ll bet Sedrick would appreciate that type of present.” Johnny waggled his eyebrows.

“We’re not getting Phil sexy pajamas.” Dillon crossed his arms over his chest and stood tall.

“No. I can see that. Good call. I think Phil would be more embarrassed opening something like that than pleased. Especially considering who the gift came from. Best leave the sexy PJs up to Sedrick.”

“Can we stop talking about fancy underwear for Phil?” Dillon said.

“Why are we talking about Phil and underwear?” Wendall asked as he poked his head inside the storage room. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude but Lizabeth said you were here and wanted to see Trinket, so I thought…”

Finishing the thought for Wendall, Trinket unwrapped her tail from around his neck and jumped from his shoulder. Trinket moved exceedingly quickly given her diminutive feet.

“Trinket!” Dillon and Ruthie shouted in unison as the scuttlebutt ran for them, scurrying up Dillon’s outstretched arm before hopping over to Ruthie.

Opening her mouth wide, Trinket’s double row of razor-sharp teeth gleamed in her gapping maw.

A happy rumbly sound erupted from her chest as she rubbed her furry body against Ruthie’s giggling cheek.

Tail wound around Ruthie’s arm, Trinket danced on her shoulder as she patted her feet back and forth.

“Well, I’d say the wee little miss is just as happy to see them as Dillon and Ruthie are to see her,” Johnny warmly said.

“She is very pleased.” Ray gave Wendall a gentle nudge, pushing him farther into the storage room, crowding into the room and filling the space. “I assume what I heard earlier was incorrect.” Ray arched a single crimson eyebrow.

Wendall shifted to the side, attempting to make a little more room. “I’m not sure.”

Rocking back and forth on his crate, Johnny shook his head while his mouth quirked into an amused grin. “If you heard us talkin’ about Phil’s knickers, then your ears aren’t deceivin’ ya.”

Dillon huffed. “We are not buying Phil sexy underwear.”

“Oh my.” Wendall’s head tilted toward Ray. “I missed the sexy part.”

“I believe that is to our benefit,” Ray calmly replied. “I am relieved to hear that you will not be purchasing such an intimate gift, Dillon. However, I am curious as to how this topic began.”

With a put-upon huff, Dillon relayed their earlier conversation with both Peaches and Johnny.

“Phil’s birthday is coming up?” Wendall asked. “Why didn’t someone tell me? I’d at least like to wish him a happy birthday.”

“No one knows,” Johnny clarified before Dillon could.

“Oh. I see.” Wendall’s lips thinned. “I don’t understand Phil’s reasons for keeping quiet regarding his birthday.

I’ve been struggling about my own. Do I celebrate my human birthday or when Aurelia saved me and enhanced my fairy DNA?

I’m not the same individual now as I was when I was born the first time. ”

“Why not celebrate both?” Ruthie innocently asked. “Two birthdays sound better than one.”

“She’s got a good point,” Dillon readily agreed.

Ray stared at Ruthie. “A very wise answer from a dire wolf.”

Dillon puffed up with pride, as if Ray had complimented him instead of Ruthie.

“The kids want to get Phil a present,” Johnny said. “They’ve been askin’ around for ideas. Gotta say, I’m fresh out. Anything from you two? What about you, Trinket?”

Trinket slid from Ruthie to Dillon, tapping her feet and rumbling something none of them understood.

“Yeah, that’s about all I’ve got too,” Johnny said, scratching the back of Trinket’s body.

Wendall wrung his hands before pushing a wayward strand of blond hair behind his slightly tipped ear. “I’m afraid I don’t know Phil well enough to answer. I’m sorry. What about you, Ray?”

Ray’s fingers clasped Wendall’s shoulders, applying the slightest pressure. “I am uncertain. Fairies do not provide gifts to each other simply for being born.”

“They don’t?” Wendall asked in surprise. “You don’t celebrate your birthdays? ”

“Fairies deem such celebrations pointless. One must accomplish something to earn a reward.”

“Like what?” Dillon asked.

Ray shrugged. “Typically, it is combat-related. When Queen Silvidia tasks me with dispatching another, should she deem the task worthy, she may offer a boon.”

“What does dispatch mean?” Ruthie questioned.