Okay… that’s fair. We sit there on the edge of the bed, close yet separate, unsure of what comes next.
“So… how do you propose we go about spending six seconds together without wanting to strangle each other?” I wonder.
Harper thinks about it. “I know being in this hotel isn’t your first choice, so let’s just forget about the rest for a night and explore Concordia.”
“Like go outside?” I frown, searching for a trick. “Aren’t I supposed to stay out of sight?”
“For the most part, yes. But we’re far away from Brighton and anyone who could recognize you, and I’ll be with you. Plus, I’m pretty sure we could both use a break.”
“You have something in mind?”
He thinks it over and nods. “You know what? I think I do.”
“Then lead the way,” I say.
This “mates” thing isn’t something I’m interested in, and I’m not saying I believe him, but a chance to get out of the hotel? How could I refuse?
Harper seems more inclined to believe whatever he saw but that doesn’t mean he likes me any more than I like him. Eventually, his rational side will remind his wolfy instincts that I’m the last guy he could ever settle down with. Nothing has really changed. We were already stuck together; the ties binding us just got a little stickier.
A Not-Date with your Not-Mate
Dodger
After battling a tentacle monster and then being blindsided by the whole mates revelation, I’m not sure what to expect when Harper suggests we take a break. The carnival still takes me by surprise.
Enchanted lanterns bob and weave in the air above stalls like will-o’-the-wisps. Is that a goblin manning a fun house on the left?
“This really wasn’t what I expected when you suggested a break.”
“Supernatural carnival is in town. Be a shame to miss it,” he says. “Thought you might like it.”
We pass a petting zoo with little dragons and baby griffins. Another interesting sight is right next to me—Harper out of his usual detective attire, wearing dark jeans and a navy Henley that stretches across his shoulders in a way I’m pointedly not noticing.
The carnival centerpiece is a carousel that must’ve been created by someone with a serious imagination and a bucket of psychedelics. Unicorns and dragons whirl in and out of sight, their carved wooden bodies springing to life as they circle around the grounds. Kids shriek with glee, holding on to whatever enchanted beast rises from its post and carries them away.
Harper clears his throat after a while. “So, what do you do when you’re not summoning creatures or faking your death?”
“This an interrogation, Detective? Interesting tactic.” I nod to the stall ahead of us. “Are you gonna buy me a cotton candy if I tell you everything you want to know?”
Harper pulls out his wallet and gets me cotton candy. “How about a conversation instead?”
“A conversation?”
“You might have heard of it. People exchange information, learn about each other.”
“And why exactly do you want to learn about me?” I ask.
“Because we’re stuck with each other for the foreseeable future. And I know almost nothing about you except that you’re a necromancer with a talent for trouble.”
Fair point. But years of keeping to myself make sharing difficult. I busy myself with enjoying my cotton candy.
“Alright then,” Harper says after a moment. “I’ll start.”
No one asked him to start show-and-tell time, but I don’t point it out. Even if I don’t buy into the whole fated love thing, it’s natural to be curious about how this strait-laced detective was cosmically paired up with me.
