Chapter 4
FOUR
Penny
This has been the longest I’ve spoken to Asher since he moved in across the street.
Sure, I was nervous at first, but the conversation has been easy, like we’re old friends. Okay, so maybe we haven’t really cracked the surface. It’s not like I know his life story or even what kind of shifter he is, other than a scaled one.
Gods, his scales. I can only imagine how he looks covered in them, gold and gleaming under the sun. I wonder if they’re soft or would feel rougher against my skin. Oh, great now I’m blushing.
“What about you?” Asher asks.
“What?” Quick, what were we talking about? First it was the traffic, then the smell of cookies. The Moon Sugar Bakery! “Oh, no, I haven’t been yet, but I’ve been dying to go. They have cute little Christmas cookies, but they always sell out by the time I get off of work.”
I rush ahead of him and climb the steps to my building.
When I look back, he has his eyes cast towards the top of the condo, his jaw flexing as he carefully follows me.
Suddenly, I’m nervous again. Part of my brain latches on to the fact this is the end of the line and he has fulfilled his obligation to walk me home like my Prince Charming.
I reach back and grab the doorknob, hovering.
“Well, here we are.” I smile, biting my lip.
“Right.” He nods. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was disappointed.
“Unless you want to come in for a bit. The least I could do is make you some tea as a thank you for saving my life. It might not be as good as what you’d get from Moon Sugar, but I’m sure it’ll warm you up a little.”
Asher’s smile could light a room, “I would love some.”
I shrug off my purse and toss it onto the couch as he enters the apartment like he’s entering a dungeon, cautious of everything he touches. Suddenly, I remember I left a couple of my fancy fantasy dildos out to dry in the bathroom and say a silent prayer to the gods when I find the door closed.
When I walk back out into the living room, he’s standing by the bookshelf with a picture frame in hand. I know the exact photo he’s looking at. It’s a photo of me and my siblings at Violet’s college graduation. Her two boys stood at the front of the group looking like tiny sentries.
He glances over at me, “How many of there are you?”
“Four.” I cross the room and point to the photo, “Violet, in the middle, is the oldest with her kids Micah and Riley, then on her left is Marigold, who is the baby of the group. And on the right is my twin Hazel.”
“And Penny.” He nods, “Is it short for anything? Penelope?”
“I wish,” I shrug. “Most of my siblings are named after plants, but according to my birth certificate, I’m plain old Penny.” When I turn, Asher is right there, close enough I can make out tiny specks of green in his blue eyes.
He tilts his head, “I’m sure there’s nothing plain about you.”
I notice a wistful look in his gaze as he regards the picture before carefully replacing it on the shelf.
“What about you?” I ask over my shoulder before walking into the kitchen and grabbing down a couple of mugs, “Any siblings?”
He crosses the living room and leans against the bar.
At his height, I’m sure he can see most of the countertop, including the collection of decorative tea tins Shae and I have amassed while living together.
“My parents moved out of the country a few years back. Now, it’s just me and my cat, Mango. Dragons rarely have large families.”
Oh, so he’s a demon and not a shifter like me.
From what I’ve heard, dragons are descended from the old gods who walked the earth long before the war between the witches and the demons. The two powerful sides fought for dominance over the world for centuries. Witches clearly won and chased most of the demons into their own realm.
“Don’t worry, you can share mine.” I say with a laugh, clearing my throat as I realize what I insinuated.
Asher’s watching me again, his features soft yet unreadable, though as soon as our eyes meet, he glances away with a smile playing at his lips.
“So, dragon. Does that mean you can,” I make an exploding gesture with my hands, “get really big?”
He shakes his head, “No, we lost the ability to transform into our true form hundreds of years ago during the great divide. The partial shift is all I have.”
I shrug. “It must be nice. I just go from zero to bunny.”
He chuckles, the sound low and addictive. I need to hear more of it.
The Imperial March drones through the room, which can mean only one thing.
“Here.” I slam a couple of tea tins onto the countertop, “Take your pick. I need to get this.”
“Okay.”
The song continues to play, like a death knell, my phone vibrating in my purse. When I fish it out, I see my mother’s lovely face and the dreaded words, “Video Call.” If I miss her call, she will never let me live it down, so I answer.
“Hey, Mom.” I glance back to see Asher sitting at the bar pouring over the little tea packets. He’s already arranged a few of them by color while a couple are away from the pack, those must be the ones he’s deciding on.
“Penny, what is this about Marigold telling me you have a boyfriend?” she asks, looking down at the screen from above like a benevolent god, her readers perched on the edge of her nose.
Behind me, a metal lid clatters against the bar.
“Who is this Anakin? Are you going to be bringing him home for Christmas?” The speaker rumbles as her voice peaks, “Is he there with you now?”
Asher’s eyes find mine, and I’m drowning without a lifejacket, the sea tossing be around like a rag doll. My crush isn’t supposed to know how pathetic I am, and while I doubt he knows Anakin is his code name, if I’ve learned anything from today, it’s the universe is a petty bitch.
“Mm-hmm.” I hum under my breath, trying my best not to flail as I return to the phone. In moments, there’s a warmth at the small of my back and he comes into frame.
“It’s Asher, actually. Hi,” he says, his bright wide smile shining in the little window at the corner of my screen, “I was leaving.”
“No, no.” My mom grins, taking her glasses off, “I’ll go. I need to check on dinner. You kids have fun. Call me, sweetheart. Love you.”
“Love—” I say, as the video drops.
What just happened? I must be in shock. Am I even still in my body? I press my phone to my chest and turn to Asher.
“I know I was completely out of line, but you looked like you were asking for my help. It all sort of slipped out.” He furrows his brow, nearly folding over me as his hand rests on my shoulder.
“You would seriously come home with me for Christmas to get my mother off my back?”
He tilts his head, “ Of course, unless there is an Anakin, then I am sorry I was presumptive, and I’d really like to meet him.”
I shake my head, “No, there’s no Anakin.” Just you.
“If it makes you feel better, you could come over for a holiday game night to prove to my friends I don’t need help getting a date. They’ve been trying to set me up for ages and can’t take a hint.”
Keep calm. He’s suggesting we fake date. Nothing big. In my head, I am flailing like the Kermit the Frog GIF.
I fold my arms across my chest to feign composure. “Sounds pretty reasonable. I can pretend to be your girlfriend around your friends, and you can pretend to be my boyfriend for the holidays.” When I say it out loud, I’m getting the better end of the deal.
He gestures to my phone, “Yeah, kind of like role-play.”
I hand it over and watch as he taps his fingers across the screen, then an answering vibration sounds in his pocket.
When he returns it to me, there is a new message from a contact named ‘Anakin’.
Anakin
Hey baby.
“I should get going. It’s almost time for me to feed Mango. Text me and we can figure things out.” He touches my shoulder and lets his hand run down my arm as he passes.
The gesture finally cuts through the static in my brain, and I turn in time to see him opening my front door, “What about your tea?”
“Rain check?” He smiles, “I’ll talk to you later, Penny.”