“Yeah, everything’s cool,” Dex said as he quickly introduced everyone to his sister. “Jasmyn and I were just talking about how she can’t touch anything inside. Museum rules.”
“Right,” Glyma said as she ushered her pregnant wife through the front doors.
Dex waited until everyone had gone inside before he turned back to Jasmyn.“Be cool.”
Rolling her eyes, she nodded and trudged past him. He scrubbed a hand between his ears before sitting his cap backwards on his head. He followed his sister back inside, stopping when he found Cya still at the entrance, as if they were waiting for him.
They were signing haltingly with Jasmyn, their hands slow and awkward.“Still learning,”they were saying.“Slow. Sorry.”
“That’s okay,”Jasmyn replied, signing slower herself so Cya could keep up.“You should come over more so we can practice.”
When it was clear Cya didn’t understand, Dex translated, and they briefly met his gaze before they spelled out,“O.K.”
With a happy rumble, Jasmyn threw her arms around Cya’s middle, cheek pressed to their chest. The Sypent froze at the embrace, eyes wide, mouth parted in a soft, “Oh.” Slowly, hesitantly, they hugged Jasmyn back, panicked gaze turning to Dex, as if seeking permission or approval.
He smiled softly at them, offering a thumbs-up, and their shoulders slumped in relief. They patted Jasmyn’s back, and her tail wagged in response.
“Pool?”Cya signed, then pointed down a hallway leading to the back of the house, and Jasmyn nodded.
She took Cya’s hand, bringing another surprised, “Oh,” from the Sypent, then she held out her other to Dex. When he took the offered hand, Jasmyn led them both down the hall, like she’d been in this house a thousand times before.
The back of the house was just as fancy as the front. Pink-marbled stones paved the patio and lined the edges of the long, rectangular pool. Gem, Oliver, Liel, and Toni were already in the water. Rusty sat on the edge, feet dangling as he reclined back on his hands. Enfys lay on her back with her head on Rusty’s thigh, saying something that was making Rusty laugh.
Glyma was helping Quin into the pool, even as the Daemon complained, “I’m not that big, yet, Glym. I can still walk!”
Krul and Willow were chatting with Dex’s mom as Hemersyn flitted about in full hosting mode, fetching people drinks. Yve had already claimed a lounge chair, big sunglasses perched on her beaked nose, and Abi stood in the shade of the overhead balcony, still wearing long sleeves and pants, even with the summer heat.
With a squeal of excitement, Jasmyn dragged Cya toward the pool, ignoring their protests of, “Oh, Sypents aren’t strong swimmers, and I just washed my hair. I should probably—okay, fine, just in the shallow end, then.”
Drink in hand, Toni’s human boyfriend, Jude, sidled up next to Dex. “Hey, Dex.”
“Jude the Dude,” Dex said,flashing finger-guns.
Jude chuckled, flat teeth stark against his brown complexion. His dark curls were windswept and messy, and he was so small, even shorter than Rusty. Perfect height for Dex to prop his arm on his head.
He didn’t though, because Rusty had told him that most people of the short variety didn’t appreciate it.
“You don’t wanna swim?” Dex asked, and Jude shrugged.
“Maybe later. Still getting over a stomach bug, so I don’t want to tempt fate.”
“That sucks. I hate throwing up.”
“Same,” Jude said as he took a sip of bubbly water.
Dex inhaled deeply, smelling pool chemicals, freshly cut grass, and whatever meat was slow-cooking on the grill. He smelled his mom and sister, of course, their scents so familiar he could pick them up anywhere, and the weird combination of his coworkers and their partners.
Jude smelled the way he had when they’d first met, like sandalwood and something Dex didn’t know the name for, a bit citrusy, a bit floral, but with a sharp bite of earthiness. But woven through it was a different scent. It made Dex’s nose twitch in curiosity.
As subtly as he could, he leaned in closer and sniffed at him again, and Jude shot him a suspicious frown. “Uh, what’cha doing, Dex?”
“Nothing,” Dex lied as he sniffed a third time.
“Dude, are you sniffing me?”
“No,” he lied again, then he nodded. “Actually, yes. You smell different.”
“Uh, okay? I borrowed Toni’s deodorant this morning.”
