Free Magic and Mayhem: When You Witch Upon A Star (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Melanie James Page B

the last drop?”
    “Yup.”
    Gina laughed so hard she forgot about her stings. “I want a complete detailed report later. I deserve it. By the way, since the goggles were messed up, I got zero data. And speaking of them, how do we explain them to Rollan? He’s going to ask what I was doing.”
    “I’ll improvise. Just go along with whatever I come up with.”
    “Are you all right, Gina?” Rollan asked.
    “Nothing that a little baking soda won’t cure. Now that you and Jessica are hooking up, I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Don’t play any games with her. You hurt her, I hurt you. Got it?”
    “Got it.” Rollan was either a very good actor or he was genuinely intimidated by her.
    I covered my mouth, holding back a laugh attack. Gina was so tiny, but she sure had a big brave heart.
    Rollan picked up the goggles, studying them. I wanted to pre-empt any of his thoughts on the matter with a plausible explanation.
    “Those are mine, actually. They’re a special infrared vision system for birdwatching. I let Gina borrow them.”
    “Ah, I think I’ve heard of something about these. Thermal imaging. Infrared sensors. It has a powerful computer with a visual display.” Rollan’s lips tightened, his eyes squinting as if he thought of something but didn’t want to say it. “Pretty high-tech equipment for birdwatching. Must be looking for some very special birds.”
    “Yes. The rare ivory-billed woodpecker lives deep in the forest and nests inside trees. Of course, you can’t see them without special equipment. We better walk Gina home.”
    He took my hand and the three of us headed back to the house. I couldn’t tell if he bought my explanation. It seemed he did, or else he was hiding his skepticism well.
    Tiago greeted us at the door with a bag of moldy grapes in his grip. “Fresh grapes.”
    “Rollan, meet Tiago, my Amazonian parrot. Be warned, he’s a filthy-beaked bird.”
    “Hello, Tiago. How are you doing?” Rollan held out his index finger, patiently waiting for a response.
    Tiago left the grapes, hopping out of the room as he squawked a warning. “There are two kinds of grapes in the world, my friend: grapes that are fresh and grapes that aren’t. Squawk ! Whoever double-crosses me and leaves moldy grapes, she understands nothing about Tiago. Nothing!”
    “Jessica, I think your parrot is upset. Is he always this grouchy?”
    “He’s moody. You never know with him.”
    “That warning was meant for me. I promised him fresh grapes and I forgot they were spoiled. That was straight up creepy.” Gina was genuinely worried. I’d never heard her voice sound so shaky.
    “Please. You know Tiago. He mimics. In fact, I’m sure he picked up that kind of talk from an old Western he watched with my grandma. Now, get your little butt in the bath. You should wash those stings. I don’t know if baking soda will do much at this point, but we have some cream in the first aid kit. I’ll bring it in.”
    “I have fresh grapes at home for Tiago. Which gives me an idea. Ladies, if you will allow me, I will cook for you tonight. I’ll bring some things to make a nice country-style French meal, and grapes for poor Tiago.”
    Gina and I looked at each other with what I call the “Wow. Really? Sure” face, complete with arched eyebrows, nearly-frowning closed lips, and head pulled back just a little.
    “Gina and I are both from good Italian stock. It’s against our nature to refuse an offer of food.”
    “Yes, you may cook for us, Rollan. Consider it a tribute payment for being Jessica’s lover boy.” Gina pointed her little nose in the air and strutted off to take her bath.
    I watched Rollan walk to his slightly beat-up old Saab, thinking what a breath of fresh air he was in my life.
    Gina kept the first aid kit in the kitchen. According to her, that’s where most injuries occur. Tiago sat on top of the fridge, pouting and plotting.
    Ointment in hand, I knocked on the bathroom door. “Can I come