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Shit! He pulled at the bow tie around his throat. Fuck, he had to think of a name and quick.
He opened his mouth, and his tiger surged forward and said, “Hedra.”
Asshole! Boone snapped.
His tiger chuffed happily and retreated.
“Hedra,” Camilla repeated. “A human named Hedra.”
“That’s right,” he said.
Camilla studied him. He could smell her skepticism as she said. “Boone, you don’t have to lie about a girlfriend. I know you’re feeling a little nervous, but we were really good together before… everything happened. I’ve truly forgiven you for it, and I’d love to see what could happen between us now.”
“I’m not lying,” he said. “I’m dating a human named Hedra.”
Could you sound less convincing if you tried? His tiger grumped.
“Boone,” Camilla said again, her condescending tone making his tiger growl angrily. “You don’t -”
“What are you two talking so intensely about?” Abena joined them, her mega-watt smile beaming.
“Are you okay?” Boone asked, cursing himself inwardly for letting his concentration lapse. “Did something happen? I apologize, I shouldn’t have -”
“It’s fine, darling. Perfectly fine,” Abena said, squeezing his arm gently. “Nothing bad has happened. I’m just intrigued by what the two of you might be discussing.”
“Boone’s girlfriend,” Camilla said, accenting the girlfriend part lightly. “He’s dating a human named Hedra.”
“Your grandmother’s nurse?” Abena said as Camilla made a surprised chuff.
“Uh, that’s right,” Boone said. Shit, did it make him a bad person to wish that Abena’s memory wasn’t quite so sharp?
“How nice,” Abena said. “How long have you and Hedra been dating?”
“A while,” he hedged.
“Did you meet her before she started caring for your nan?” Camilla asked.
“No,” he said, grimacing inwardly at his mistake as Camilla’s grin turned predatory.
“So, you haven’t been dating all that long then,” she said.
“No, but, uh, Hedra and I are pretty serious.”
“Is that right?” Camilla didn’t believe him one bit.
“Yes,” he said.
“You should bring her to Abena’s party this weekend,” Camilla said suddenly. “I’d love to meet her.”
Abena was throwing her own private party to celebrate the upcoming release of her movie. Boone wasn’t required to work as it was in her home, with only friends and family, but she had invited him to join them and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Although Hedra had agreed to watch his nan that night, he planned to make an appearance for an hour or so before leaving.
“What a marvelous idea, Camilla,” Abena said. “Bring her, Mr. Jameson.”
“I would, but she’ll be watching my nan while I’m at the party,” Boone said.
Abena frowned. “Surely, you have family who could watch your nan for an evening?”
“Unfortunately, no,” he said.
