“Not yet, you’re not!”
“Your friend?”
“Yeeesssssss?”
“That’s a question?”
I flicked my eyes to his face, able to see his slight frown in the darkness. “Not that we aren’t friends!” I assured him. “Just, we’re sort of dating?”
“If you only think we’re ‘sort of’ dating, then I must be doing something very wrong.”
I darted my eyes to his again, ready to make all kinds of assurances, when I caught the slight quirk of his lips. I splashed him, growling. “Are you laughing at me?”
He laughed and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re adorable.”
“Adorable like yipping puppies?”
“Adorable like Mia.”
I smiled and closed my eyes.
There were only a few minutes of quiet before he asked, “So, what did you get me?”
I cracked up. “Dentures, hernia cream, and over-the-hill balloons in black.”
He tickled my side. “Very funny.”
I cackled. “It’s true! I also got black gauze streamers so we can celebrate your agedness in style. I also found someone to spell a band, so they look like skeletons as they play for the Christmas party.”
He chuckled and leaned his head back, looking up at the stars. “I’ll never be bored with you, will I?”
“Nope!”
“And all these decorations, are they going in the room being set up for the Christmas party?”
I gasped, scandalized. “No! They’re going in the office!”
He laughed and cuddled me closer. “Mia, Mia, you’re so good for me. I hope I’m equally good for you.”
I wanted to say something funny and blow off his statement/question, but I knew I shouldn’t. It felt like he was really searching for an honest answer, and I paused to think about it, and really give it the attention a serious question like that needed.
Was Draven good for me?
“Yes, Draven,” I assured him. “You’reverygood for me. But I’m not going to get sappy!” I warned him, shaking my finger at him.
He shrugged, and there was a twinkle in his brown eyes. “Mesmer tells me you got pretty sappy tonight. And what’s this about the ‘pucker pony’?”
“Messsmmmmerrrr!! That was a secret!”
A gargoyle chuckled from the shadows.
* * *
The nightof our Christmas party dawned cold and clear. The temperature was hovering in the 40s and enchanted snow continued falling on our beautiful seaside town.
I was standing at the door with Draven as we welcomed guests, but Rhys, like the little kid he was, kept flicking little paper wads at me. It looked like there was snow at my feet because he’d flicked so many.
I growled and swung around to slug him as the doorbell rang again. I gave him the dirtiest look I could manage and turned back around just in time for Aiwin to pull the door open with all of his stately aplomb and announce, “Mr. Tylen Evermore and Miss Reese Allais.” Aiwin moved his ear closer to Reece’s whispering mouth and then announced, “And Mr. Hugs.”
