Chapter 21 #2
I’d had a mini meltdown once but, sure, let’s go with grace. I could roll with that.
“And I have foot-in-mouth-itis,” Kelly bemoaned. “I can’t seem to say the right thing on dates. Sometimes when I talk, I physically feel myself choose the wrong dialogue option.”
Tiffany groaned, then hung off Kelly’s arm, fake crying. “I hate my mouth for doing that.”
“We’ve all had that happen at least once.” I looked at Kelly, wheels spinning. “Kelly, correct me if I’m wrong, but is Jasha your type?”
I’d seen her check him out a few times tonight.
I’d meant to ask the girls if they’d be interested in a blind date with Jasha, but there didn’t seem to be any point with Kelly so obviously interested.
He’d come by to check on everyone, see for himself we were alright, and then stayed for the party.
Gramps was also trying to figure out what kind of mage type he was.
Which we’d all love the answer to. Plus, he’d brought his ocelot, which had been a showstopper.
The familiar had loved my huodou on sight for some reason and even now romped around the house in some kind of game of chase.
Kelly lit up. “Riiiiight! That’s what I came in here to ask!”
She was officially Very Drunk.
“So, Jasha’s single?” Kelly asked hopefully.
“Jasha is so single he’s trying dating sites. Again. Despite it crashing and burning for him the past two times.”
A slow grin took over her face. “I can help with that.” Then she faltered, a shy expression taking over. “Unless…I’m not his type?”
“You have a good shot. He dated a bodybuilder once before, so I know he’d be attracted, if you’re worried about that.
If the girl had even tried to make an effort, the relationship could have gone somewhere, but she only wanted to do gym dates, make out, and go home.
Three dates in, Jasha got frustrated and called it quits. ”
I eyed her, thinking hard, and decided to push this budding attraction along.
Jasha had already expressed interest in Kelly, so I knew he wouldn’t say no.
I think having someone approach him for once would delight him to no end.
Also, like me, he’d been able to take all this otherworldly stuff in stride, so who knew, maybe these two could make a go at it.
“Kelly, you okay with a long-distance relationship?”
“Kinda have to be,” she pointed out.
Yeah, true. “Let’s focus on first date, then.
We can at least plan for that, and hopefully things go well enough to roll from there.
First, a quick 101 on how to approach Jasha.
To start, he’s ask culture, not guess culture.
Do not hint with that man. Walk up, tell him you think he’s hotter than a pair of newlyweds on the Fourth of July, and ask him out.
He’ll be delighted and instantly say yes. ”
Kelly’s hazel eyes lit up with this fierce determination. “Got it. What else?”
“He loooves food. That man talks about food the way others talk about a sexy car. So a restaurant with large portions, okay? I don’t know what your interests are, but he loves history, art, cats, and listening to podcasts while lifting weights. Any of that appeal to you?”
“Sure, I listen to history podcasts while working out.”
“Perfect, you’ve got something in common.”
Kelly took Tiffany’s glass, downed the rest of it, then handed it back. “Ladies. I’m going in.”
“Go get ’em,” Tiffany and I both cheered.
I stood in the kitchen doorway so I could watch.
Tiffany leaned her head on my bicep, also watching.
Jasha was crossing from the library into the living room when Kelly caught him, and while her back was to me, I could see Jasha clearly.
He looked surprised, then delight lit up his face and he said something back that made her hug him.
“She got him!” Tiffany crowed.
“That’s his agreeing face, she got him for sure. Aww, I hope it goes well for them.”
“I hate bein’ single.” Tiffany let out a sigh. “I’ll find someone eventually, I ’spose. Kris, ya got any brothers?”
“Just Charlotte, sorry.”
“Dammit.”
“Want to fill up your glass and snag a plate before I put this on the coffee table?”
“M’hmm. Gluttons in there.”
She was not wrong.
Tiffany loaded up on cheese and crackers, and I took the rest into the living room, my offering well received.
Then I went to check on the library snacks and found about half gone, which was fine.
I was running out of food and it was getting later in the night.
Boss had given me tomorrow off, since it had been a long day and a hard-won battle.
She also knew we’d be celebrating tonight.
Such a good boss. She’d mentioned trying to reach our disappearing groom today and having no success, but that was a later me’s problem.
Today’s me had no more bandwidth. Anyway, I had a house full of slayers high on success and sleep.
How that turned into a drinking party, I’d leave the heavens to answer.
Gramps sat in the EasyChair near the door and waved me down. “Kris, a moment.”
I slung myself onto the couch next to him, tucking one leg under another so I could easily orient to him. “Sure, what is it?”
“Zhen showed me some of your social media account and, I must say, I like the idea. You have pulled together some very good interviews and tutorials on what to do and what not to do, which is helpful to the general public. I would like to join in.”
Excuse me while I booty dance. “We’d be thrilled if you did. Can I interview you on different topics before you leave?”
“Of course. I have a few topics I think would be good, as they are the ones most often asked of me.”
“Perfect. Just so you know, our segments are generally one minute long, as that’s the best way for short form content to be consumed. Our Facebook group videos are five minutes, a more thorough explanation.”
“Ah, I will plan accordingly.” He regarded me thoughtfully, almost as if weighing what to say and how to say it. “I understand you are training to be a sniper?”
“Yeah. I’m far more comfortable being support on the back lines.”
“That is fine. We all need proper support in the field. Zhen works better charging ahead, but not all of us are like that. How about I also give you a crash course on how to lay down a defensive shield against Christian demons? They are a bit different than other mythologies.”
“You are incredibly sweet to offer, and I’m taking you up on that.” Could my brain handle more information? Probably not, but I’d certainly not turn him down.
“Then I will jot some things down for you.” He sighed.
“I forget, sometimes, to pass along what I know to the next generation. I am so busy fixing the problem, I forget to stop and explain. The situation with Annabelle is one such example. I would like to do a behind-the-scenes of what I did and why, so my actions make more sense to those who watched the battle. But I also want to prepare people better, so they do not flounder in case something like this happens again. I am getting too old to go into the field.”
I appreciated his sentiments. He wasn’t wrong. “I hope you can come out with us more times, though, because you’re such a morale booster. Zhen was so happy when he heard you were coming.”
Gramps chuckled a little. “Morale booster, I see. A great compliment from him. For now, unless you need to continue playing hostess, how about we come up with a short list of things you want to learn?”
“Gramps, I have to tell you, there’s not going to be anything short about that list.”
He chuckled some more. “We will start with what I can teach you quickly. I cannot linger more than three days here anyway.”
“Fair enough.”
If I had a chance to pick this man’s brain, you could bet your britches I was going to. I’d film it, too, because he was right—the more information I could get from him, the better we’d all be in the future.