Chapter 16 Daphne
Chapter sixteen
Daphne
My head pounds and feels like it might actually split in half. I groan and attempt to push myself up. A cool cloth on my head slips down to the bridge of my nose before I fling it away and open my eyes.
Andri stands there, two small white pills in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He winces at the sight of me.
“Fairy wine has a hell of a hangover.”
“Oh my god, I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus,” I groan before grabbing what he offers. I down the pills and almost the whole glass of water in one gulp. “I didn’t embarrass you last night, did I?” I brace myself for a scolding.
“Embarrass me? Hell no. I’ve been known to rage a time or two,” he laughs before looking suddenly worried. “Do you not remember last night?”
I scrub a hand over my face before freezing. “Did we—?” I pull the blanket up, making sure my clothes are still on. Everything looks as it should, so I delve deep into my memories to get a clear picture of last night.
“Things are a blur. I remember drinking something super fruity with Briarlee, then stuff gets kind of fuzzy.” I frown as I work through the series of events.
“We didn’t,” he says softly. “God, this is gonna be hard if you can’t remember anything.” He drops his gaze.
That’s when I remember that he professed his undying love for me last night, and I tried to jump his bones.
“Oh god.” I cover my eyes with my hands.
“Only some things are fuzzy, but not what you told me. I could never forget that. And shit, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t in my right mind.
I didn’t mean to take advantage of you like that!
” I remember now, the yeti loves me. And like a horny teenager, I tried to jump his bones.
His face flashes with relief, and he clasps a big blue hand over his heart.
“You didn’t take advantage of me,” he laughs with his full body. “Rest assured the body, was willing, but the mind knew you were drunk. I never want to be someone that takes advantage of you.”
God, he’s so earnest and handsome. My heart swells knowing he’s got my best interests in mind.
“Well, maybe I’ll have to give you permission to take advantage of drunk me in the future,” I say coyly before my head throbs again and I groan. “I mean, unless I feel like this, right?”
A deep blush spreads over his cheeks, but he plays it cool.
“I’ll take you up on that offer, but maybe we'll stay away from Briarlee and her damned fairy wine for a while? She’s the classic trickster fairy archetype. I would say you can only trust her as far as you can throw her, but she’s small, and I could throw her pretty damn far.”
“Bet you could,” I huff as I admire his fur-covered muscles. My fawning is only broken by the loud rumble in my stomach. Andri raises a brow.
“How does something greasy sound? Maybe some smothered and covered hash browns over at Ted’s?”
“Fucking perfect.”
One of my favorite parts about spending the night at a man’s house in winter is there’s no walk of shame. You can put a coat on over anything and it’s like you’re dressed and ready to go. It’s not until I’m tucked away, mostly hidden by the booth, that I take off the puffy jacket.
While we wait for Lerana to come grab our order, I check my reflection on the back of a silver spoon. I’ve looked worse, but all the same I dip my napkin in my ice water and swipe it under my eyes, picking up the flakes of mascara that settled there while I slept in Andri’s bed last night.
“I think that Advil is finally kicking in, thanks for that.” The pressure in my head is gratefully subsiding.
“Imagine how good you’ll feel once we get some food in you,” he says, pulling a slightly sticky breakfast menu out from behind the napkin holder.
“Like heaven, I’m sure.” My stomach roars from below the table. But who needs heaven when across from me is my angel from last night?
We both prop our elbows up on the table and lean in close, just smiling at each other.
The glitter of affection between us makes me feel like I’m glowing.
I want to reach out to him, take his hand, and give it a smooch.
I’m not sure if we’re far enough into whatever this is for casual kisses.
Everything feels urgent and important. I want every kiss to feel like it did last night.
I’ll forever curse the fairy wine for leaving us both with blue balls, but I’ll never regret how bold it made me. Just the taste of me being the dominant one for once in my life is exhilarating, and I make a silent promise to myself that I’ll keep trying to push myself out of my shell with him.
It’s easy to be who you want with someone as supportive as Andri.
“Well, look what the snow panther dragged in.” Lerana knowingly beams at us, pen at her notepad. “Did you two have a good night?”
“Lerana, it’s not what you think—” A blush spreads across his cheeks as he looks down at the table.
“Yeah, great night, the best actually.”
Lerana’s mouth drops open in delight. “I never thought I’d see the day that Andri of all people would find someone. I like you two together, for the record.” She smiles.
“A yeti never crossed my mind, but Andri seems like a real catch.”
“Wait, what’s happening here?” He seems ecstatic, but confused.
“I mean, play your cards right and we’ll see,” I tease.
“Human or not, I think it’ll work out, you’ve got a type,” She slaps her thigh. “What can I get you two?”
My stomach drops. Is she really comparing Andri to Gerald? They’re worlds apart.
“What do you mean? What’s my type?” I tense, waiting for some clarification.
Lerana’s mouth goes taut.
“I didn’t mean anything by it.” She stumbles over her words a bit. “It’s just you seem to like a man in authority, is all. You know, with the professor and now your boss.”
I know she meant it to be harmless, but the realization hits me like a sucker punch to the gut.
“Lerana…” Andri groans.
“That’s not great,” I mutter through gritted teeth.
“God, ugh, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. Andri is nothing like that jerk you were with before!” Lerana keeps looking at Andri and panicking.
“You’re right though, I don’t want to start another relationship with that kind of gap in the power dynamic.”
“What?” Andri blanches.
“Oh faunus!” Lerana curses.
“So I’m gonna quit, before we go any further.” I let the seriousness fade from my face. “Problem solved…well, I mean, besides me being a jobless drifter.” I wink at the worried yeti.
“You scared the shit out of me.” He grips the edge of the table and attempts to slow down his breathing.
“You and me both.” Lerana fans her notepad in front of her face. “But hell, I can solve at least one of your problems!” She perks up.
“Yeah?” I ask hopefully.
“Work here! I’ve been begging Ted for another waitress to spread my shifts around with. Between Ted’s and the resort, I’m really striking out on family time.”
“Are you sure? I’ve never even waitressed before.” I don’t hate the idea, though.
“Honey, if you can put up with that fuckwad you used to call your fiance, you’re already miles more prepared than you think you are.
Just smile, bring hungry people their food, and make sure to talk shit about the mean ones in the back.
My only tip is to pick up smoking so you get more breaks, but don’t tell Ted I said that. ” She winks.
“How about I buy a pack and we just tell Ted I do?” I grin.
“Whatever works, he’s an easy boss—just don’t shack up with him, he’s off the market.” Her face turns serious at the warning.
“I didn’t realize you two were a thing?” I say, a little shocked. The grumpy chef doesn’t seem the type to be sweet on someone.
“Well, we’re not—but it doesn’t mean we need to close any doors to what might happen, right? Also, keep that to yourself,” she smiles. “Come by tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll be here, and I promise not to have sex with Ted.”
At that very moment, Ted walks by, and the confusion that blooms across the bigfoot’s face is palpable.
“What in the world?” He looks like a disappointed dad—that is, if your dad was a cryptid.