12. Talon #2
There’s nothing really to say about that.
I pull him closer and press his head to my shoulder.
He snorts, but obliges, and the tension drains from him.
The next several songs are slow as well and we don’t move from our position.
He’s so perfect in my arms, I don’t want to let him go, but when Sparkle kills the music Wren stiffens again.
“I forgot this whole party was for me,” Wren says quietly before standing on his own. “Thank you for the dance.”
Before I can say anything, he stands next to Sparkle.
Sparkle waves and turns on a microphone. “Hello everyone and thank you for coming out for Wren’s apartment warming party. If you haven’t ventured upstairs, there are some yummy desserts made by none other than Talon.”
My face heats and I turn my shoulders in, trying to look smaller. The smile and thumbs up from Wren gives me confidence, though.
“Don’t forget the rest of the treats down here.” He swipes his hand to the table against the building. “We’ll do presents shortly, but first enjoy the food and drink.” He turns off the microphone and starts the music again.
Now that we’ve been interrupted, Wren mingles like he had before my little mini freakout by the stairs. He smiles and shakes hands with everyone. I tamp down any jealousy, there’s no reason to be jealous. I got to dance with him.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. This hasn’t been so scary, but Wren’s kept me calm. Can I mingle with others and keep my cool? My griffin’s going to make me find out.
I sway to the music on my own for a bit and just observe everyone. I have to talk myself into chatting. Piece of cake, let’s do this.
I walk up to Mrs. Boots, Sparkle’s mom. “Glad we’re having nice weather and it’s so good it’s cooled down a bit.”
“Ah Talon! How lovely to see you here and not at the bakery. How are you dear?”
We chat for a few minutes until Ferris, the youngest of the Boots’s, tugs on his mom’s sleeve. “Mama, can we get dessert?” He points up to the apartment door.
“Of course, sweetie.” Mrs. Boots smiles at me. “Ferris loves your treats. He’d eat them every day if I let him.”
“We aim to have the best treats around.”
Ferris waves as they walk up the step. That wasn’t so bad. I need to work on my conversation starters, but not a bad start.
Wick and Ethan walk up to me together. They’re hand in hand and Wick’s tail is wrapped around Ethan’s waist as if he’s afraid Ethan might run away. It’s cute I wish I could do that with my tail, but I don’t usually partial shift and if I did, my tail isn’t that dexterous.
“How are you doing?” Ethan asks as he hands me a cold water bottle from one of the many coolers around the parking lot.
“Ah, thank you for this.” I lift the offering and twist off the lid before taking a long drink.
I hadn’t realized I was so damn thirsty.
“Better than I anticipated I’d be. But Wren helped.
” I look over to him and he’s laughing with his friends.
He’s in the middle of everyone, and I want to know what they’re talking about.
What would it be like to have a group of friends like that? They always have each other’s backs.
“Wren’s pretty great,” Wick says.
“Alright, everyone!” Sparkle says. “Gift time!”
Wren shakes his head and starts to the gift table.
Sparkle brings out a ridiculous glittered lawn chair that makes Wren laugh.
The friend group stands along the gift table while Sparkle pushes Wren into the chair.
Then it’s one after the other bringing Wren gifts as he opens them.
It’s obvious most of the gifts are from Sparkle, Beau, Lark, and Gabe.
A lot of them are to help decorate his walls.
Then there are a few gifts from other people.
Coffee table books, wine, cheese, that kind of thing.
Then Gabe hands over my gift and Wren’s eyes light up.
“I’ve really been meaning to go out and get cleaning supplies.” Wren finds me in the crowd. “Thank you, Talon.”
“Oh!” Sparkle says. “That’s a homemade broom!”
I lift my hands. “I did not make it, but yes.”
Wick winks because he knows I got it from the Speller Coven witches. I asked for a functional yet pretty broom and they delivered.
Sparkle goes through the rest of the gifts, but none brings such a smile as my silly bucket of cleaning supplies. For some reason it warms my heart to know he thinks my gift is good. My griffin preens and I can’t help shimmying my shoulders. I did damn good.
Wren takes the microphone and thanks everyone for coming.
“Don’t forget to grab some tasty Talon treats before you go.
We didn’t want them to melt in the heat, so they’re upstairs.
Go snoop if you haven’t.” He waves his hand to the door and a few people decide to do as he says while everyone else continues dancing.
One by one the guest start to leave, why I haven’t yet, is still a mystery, but I enjoyed myself people watching. And the company wasn’t bad at all. I chatted with more people tonight than I have in a long, long time. But now it’s just the friend group and me and I feel weird about it.
“Thank you for inviting me,” I say.
“Wait, don’t go yet,” Wren says and my heart flutters. He tips his head toward the drink table and I follow him. “You don’t have to leave yet if you don’t want to. We’re gonna clean up and watch a movie. You’re welcome to stay.”
“I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?”
I can’t find a reason. We’re closed on Sundays and I can stay. There’s no real excuse other than nerves and anxiety.
“Okay, I’ll stay.”
My skies. The smile. It’ll fuel me for days.
“Thank you.” He bounces and turns on his heel. “It won’t take long to clean up with all of us helping.”
And he’s right. With the six of us, the parking lot is clean in no time.
We pile into the living room. I don’t want to break the couch, adding my weight with two of the others and sit on the floor, on the same side as Wren sits on the couch.
His leg touches my shoulder for a second before he moves it and apologizes.
How do I tell him I don’t mind his touch?
I think about it the entire time the movie plays.