start up the steps to the porch.
“When this is over with, I get to carry you around so I feel better about myself.”
I nod as if I’m fond of the idea, even though I’m positive I’d crush him. “I would love that. You’d be like my mule, hauling me around, and I’d be like a king. I feel like this is an excellent idea.”
“Why do you make it sound like a good idea?” he grumbles.
“Because it is! Nothing sounds better than being a king!”
For some reason, he waves at me carrying him. “I sure don’t feel like a king.”
I’m very aware that Finn hates being unable to do something or seen as being incapable. No matter how many times I tell him that it doesn’t change the way I see him and I won’t treat him differently, he still insists that I’m going to. I wish he’d just give in at this point.
The door swings open, and instead of Watson, who I’d been expecting, a lady is standing there. She gives Finn a huge smile and says, “Finny!”
“Hey, Charlie! I haven’t seen you in forever,” he says as he squirms a bit which tells me he wants me to put him down, but if I do, I’ll just have to pick him back up again and it’ll have solved nothing.
“Ooh and you have a servant now, I see,” she teases.
She steps back to allow me to carry Finn inside.
Finn pats my arm. “Yes, this is my servant. Servant, this is Charlotte, or Charlie as I call her. She used to be an apprentice for Watson. He taught her the tricks of the trade,” Finn explains as I carry him into the room Watson uses as his workspace. Seeing the examination table in the middle, I carry him over to it before turning to Charlie who smiles at me.
I hold a hand out to her. “It’s Marcus, in case you’d like a name for Finn’s servant.”
Her smile widens as she reaches out and shakes my hand. “Marcus Church, right? I’ve heard of you. Although probably few vampires haven’t in this area.”
“Don’t be hitting on my man,” Finn threatens as he sits on the very edge of the examination table.
Her eyes get huge as she points at me. “You… and him? No… Oh, you poor thing,” she says to me. “Is he paying you? Tell me why, I need to know.”
I can’t help but grin as Finn turns to glare at her. “I see you’ve gotten no nicer since I saw you last,” he says sarcastically as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Why am I insanely nice to everyone and in return they’re evil to me?”
“I think… it’s just the look on your face, honestly,” she says with a grin.
I hear Watson as he heads toward the room and slips through the doorway. “Now there’s something wrong with his face? Do I need to make him a new face?” he jokes.
“No, you can’t change his cute little face. It’s the only thing cute about him!” Charlie teases as she reaches over and pinches his cheek. “I was just wondering how he could hook a man like Marcus.”
Watson turns and stares at me for a moment, like he’s scrutinizing me. “Very true.”
“Not you too!” Finn says.
“Marcus, life would be much easier for you if you just found someone else,” Watson jokes. “So much easier.”
“They could even get things off the top shelf for you,” Charlie adds.
Finn jabs a finger at them. “Both of y’all need to back off and stop trying to convince my man to leave me. He’s fragile enough as it is!”
I snort as I pat his head. “I’m not leaving you for anyone even if they’re taller than a fifth grader.”
“And you guys think I’m the bad one? See? See what I have to live with?”
“Looks like torture to be forced to live with a funny and charming man. Pure torture!” Charlie exclaims. “However will you survive with a handsome man who carries you around like you’re royalty!”
“You’d better get out now before it’s too late!” Watson adds.
“Alright, you don’t need to be adding sass to this!” Finn says as he jabs a finger at Watson who just gives a low chuckle.
“Now what’d you do this time?” Watson asks as he walks over to Finn to examine him.
“My leg stopped working.”
He sighs. “And what were you doing?”
“I was just going for a stroll.”
Watson raises an eyebrow. “Finnigan.”
Finn sighs. “Running to head off a vampire. I was being careful,