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“I’ll be home in about an hour or so."
"We'll take care of it, sir," said Oswald, his voice somber and heavy with the new responsibilities put on all of them.
By the time Zhi hung up, he’d reached Parker, Spin, and Lark. Lark was being enveloped in a tight hug by Parker.
“I’m so glad you two made it,” Parker was saying. “Next time I’m in Nice, I’m definitely stopping by your show.”
“Oh, please don’t,” Lark insisted. “You’ll be bored to tears.”
“More likely, she’ll laugh at the bumbling magician as he tries to pull a rabbit out of his hat,” said Spin.
The two friends giggled as though they’d shared a private joke. Spin turned to Parker. The two women executed a complicated handshake before embracing.
“Hey there, Your Grace,” said Parker after she released Spin.
Zhi knew his fair share of handshakes. He was sure he could repeat the two women’s maneuverings if he concentrated. He held out his fist, but Parker laughed and brushed it away. She reached open her arms for a hug.
"It was so awesome to meet you, Zhi,” Parker said as she squeezed tight.
She smelled of something sugary sweet and tartly herbal. It wrinkled Zhi’s nose, and he held his breath so he didn’t sneeze in her hair. She was mostly skin and bones, but there were a few womanly curves beneath her sparse layers of clothing.
"We should get together while you're in my lands," he said when they pulled apart. "I can show you around the nightlife if you’d like.”
"That would be awesome. I'd love to see your crib.”
Zhi held onto his tight smile while he slid his gaze over to DJ Spin. He worried for a second that she wouldn’t help him out. But she rolled her eyes and sighed out a bored response.
"Yeah," Spin said. "I'll bet his grace’s house is pretty awesome."
"My house?" parroted Zhi. Crib meant house? Was Parker asking to be invited over? "Yes, I'd love to have you over. There are parts that are currently under renovations, though. It’s an old house. Maybe we can do dinner instead?”
“That’d be dope,” Parker said. “Shoot me a DM on Insta or hit me up on Snap.”
Spin opened her mouth to translate, but Zhi wasn't that out of touch. He had both Instagram and Snapchat on his cell.
"I'll do that," he said. "Or I could just get your number."
Spin cringed. Lark chewed at her lower lip and turned away.
“My phone number?” Parker cocked her head to the side and frowned. "What for?"
“Well … I …” Zhi looked to Spin, but she was shaking her head. He knew she wanted him to shut his mouth, but he had no clue where he’d just gone wrong? Why use the texting features of social media when they could just talk directly over the phone?
As though she saw the trajectory of his thoughts, Spin looped her arm through his and steered him toward the gangway. “We should probably get going, Your Grace."
“Oh.” Parker’s brows rose with interest. “Are you two together?"
"No," Zhi said hastily. “I’m just giving Spin and Lark a ride into town."
"Oh, cool." Parker turned to Spin. "You're staying. We definitely need to hang out again, DJ Spin d’Elle.”
“Bet,” said Spin. “Be easy, Parker.”
“Be PLUR, Parker,” said Zhi. And then he felt a yank on his arm.
“Stop talking,” Spin growled under her breath.
“What did I say wrong? I read up on PLUR. Peace Love Unity and Respect. Did I use it wrong?”
