Chapter Fourteen
Saturday morning Bryn lounged on her couch in yoga pants and a tank top, drinking coffee and reading her book. So far, the boyfriend possessed by the demon was acting pretty much like Jaxon when he was in a pissy mood. Could the person who wrote this book have spent time around Blue males? It was an amusing thought.
Bryn’s phone rang. She picked it up and said, “Hello, Bryn is reading and lounging right now. She’s not doing anything that requires putting on real clothes.”
“That’s not how you’re supposed to answer the phone,” Jaxon said.
“Maybe I’m starting a new trend. Why are you interrupting my reading time?”
“We’ve been summoned to dinner at your grandparents’ house this evening.”
“Really?” That was weird. “My grandmother didn’t mention it last night.”
“Call her and see if you can figure out what’s going on.”
“Okay Mr. Crabby Pants. It’s just dinner. Why are you upset?”
“Honestly, I’ve had enough family bonding time and I wanted to spend the day reading.”
Huh. She hadn’t known Jaxon liked to read. “I don’t suppose we can claim that we have too much homework and then hide out, separately, in our own rooms, reading?”
“No.” Jaxon said. “But the next time my mother insinuates that you and I need to spend more time together I’m going to tell her we have plans. And the plans will be that we’re sitting in the same room, reading but not talking.”
“Now that’s a date I could enjoy,” Bryn said. “In the meantime, I’ll figure out what’s going on with dinner.”
She hung up and dialed Sinclair Estate. Once her grandmother was on the line, she said, “Jaxon said we’re invited to dinner tonight.”
“Yes, you are.” Her grandmother’s tone gave nothing away.
“Any particular reason?” Bryn asked. “Not that I don’t want to come but you didn’t mention anything yesterday.”
“Your grandfather wants to have a discussion about your future.”
“That doesn’t tell me much.”
“There’s not much to tell,” her grandmother said.
“You sound amused,” Bryn accused.
“I don’t know what you mean.” There was a touch of sarcasm to her grandmother’s tone.
“You’re up to something. Should I be worried?”
“You have nothing to worry about. I’ll see you at six on the dot. Don’t be late.”
That was weird. Bryn called Jaxon and explained the strange conversation.
“Oh no,” Jaxon said.
“What?” If he was worried it had to be bad.
“Since your parents aren’t included in our community, your grandfather is going to want to discuss our future plans.”
“Our plans for what?”
“Children,” Jaxon said.
“What about children?”
“It’s tradition,” Jaxon said. “Normally your father would pull me aside and talk to me about…family planning.”
That didn’t make sense. “You mean when we plan to have kids?”
“No.”
And that’s when she got it. “Are you kidding me? He’s going to talk to you about where baby dragons come from?”
“Unless I fake a violent illness after dinner, I’m fairly sure that’s what he plans to do.”
“That’s horrifying,” Bryn said. “Can’t you tell him that your dad already filled you in on that stuff? I mean he did…didn’t he?”
“Of course he did,” Jaxon sounded exasperated. “When I was ten.”
Bryn was caught between wanting to laugh and wanting to go hide under her bed. “Why? Why is this a tradition? It’s mortifying.”
“Maybe every generation wants to share the horrible awkwardness of the situation with their own children.”
“Is there any way we can get out of this?” Bryn asked.
“None that I’m aware of.” Jaxon sighed like he’d given up hope.
“I’d be happy to fake a kidnapping…maybe go trap myself under the library.” She was only partially joking.
“I’ll be by your room at five thirty,” he said and then he was gone.
Bryn stared at the phone for a moment before hanging up. What would her role be in this strange evening? If her grandfather was going to traumatize Jaxon, did that mean her grandmother was going to talk to her about sex?