In each hand, I carry a bag. One is full of books and reference materials that Betsy was positive Ash would need when I return home. The other is overflowing with baked goods that she packed up, certain that every one of us would starve if left to our own devices. I tried to remind her that I’m actually a very good cook when given the time and the effort, but she just swatted my arm and told me to hand her the bags on the top shelf.
I’m still baffled that they put anything on the top shelf. None of the shop employees are over 5’5”.
Before leaving, I was able to… persuade… Betsy to make me Wanderlust’s newest employee. Not only that, but she provided the keys to an apartment across the hall from Ash’s. When I left, she winked at me.
So, now I have bags of goods for the woman I’m supposed to be living with, keys to the apartment across the hall so I don’t have to live with her, a pocket full of cash for my immediate needs, and a very full dragon, who is sleeping off a multitude of rats on a very large floor pillow at the book shop.
Betsy seemed delighted at the prospect of “baby sitting”. I don’t even know if Calida is going to be willing to remain that far away from Ash for that long. Then again, Betsy apparently has a surplus of mice and rats for her to snack on, so she might be willing to hang out there indefinitely. I wonder if Betsy will order her pizza.
I should probably be more worried about Calida being let loose in this land, but I have bigger things to worry about. Besides, if I know anything about humans, it’s that they will never accept the correct explanation —either because it’s too fantastical or it’s too simple. You’ll also never make all humans happy because there are too many asshats in this realm.
Not my problem, I decide.
Right now, my problem is the 5’3”, rainbow-haired beauty waiting for me in a cramped apartment and she is completely clueless of what’s to come.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Imade it through my shower, managed to get some laundry done (okay — it’s only going but stop judging me), and I made it to the store. I stocked up on the things I usually get and then spent a ridiculous amount of time scanning shelves for things I thought either Flint or Calida would eat. I ended up with a variety of things and if they hate all of it, I can drag Flint back here with me tomorrow. Hopefully, there’s something in my cart that will get us through thenight.
A bored teen rings up my purchases and I’m watching the total rise with anxiety. I’m only used to funding my own lifestyle, but my family size just increased by two — a fucking warrior and a godsdamn dragon. I don’t even know what that does to a grocery bill. I’ve heard customers complain about their teenage boys but I feel like my current situation is substantially worse.
She gives me the total and I manage to control my wince. I can feel her studying my hair and clothing choices as I swipe my card, choosing to ignore the short scream it gives out as the charge hits my account.
It’s fine, I tell myself. I can always start selling feet pics on the internet. I see social media. I know there’s a market for damn near everything.
I grab my bags, hefting them in both arms. Thankfully, the supermarket isn’t super far from the apartment since I don’t currently have a car. I lug my spoils toward the building, wishing I at least had a wagon or something to help haul all of this home. It’s not usually a concern.
My phone dings in my back pocket and I know, without bothering to look, that it’s the super determined creep. I’d change my number, but I’ve already tried that and it doesn’t help.
I’m trying to re-arrange the bags on my left arm when someone jostles me from the right. I almost eat pavement in my haste to get away, thinking of the stalker, when a hand grabs the back of my hoodie and helps me gain my balance. Shuffling bags around, I turn to my would-be-destruction-turn-hero and…
Fuck, it’s Flint. And he looks pissed. His brows are drawn low over those amazing eyes, his jaw is set and his face looks… murderous.
He meets my eyes and all of that menace falls away.He reaches out with his other hand, so both are on my shoulders, as he makes sure I have my balance. He smiles, warmly.
“Shopping?”
I jostle everything back into position and eye him. “I mean, yeah. I — we — didn’t have a lot to eat at home, so I stopped to get some stuff. I figured that way I can offer you and Calida more than just leftover pizza and coffee.”
“Here, let me.” He reaches for my bags.
As he’s arranging mine on his own wrists and arms, I see that he has bags of his own.
“You shopping too or did you get lucky?”
He bobbles a bag, almost dropping it.
“Shit. Careful. That one has eggs.”
He recovers the bag and places it gently around his left wrist. “Got lucky?” he asks.
I gesture with my hand, realizing that both are now light. Of course — he’s taken every bag I had.
“Oh. Yes — yeah. I found a job. Should we start heading back? We wouldn’t want anything to spoil.”
Given the amount of money I just dropped on meat, I’m totally fine with this plan. “Sure.” I say.
To my amusement, he offers me one of his elbows. Smirking, I wrap my now empty hand around it and allow him to lead me to the corner to wait for the light.
