Page 7 of Locking Down Qetesh

"But you want people to know you're ace?"

"Tonight is about dating," I said. "So it seemed like the right thing to let people know."

A thoughtful expression crossed her face. "So would you only want to be set up with other aces?"

"No. I'm okay with anyone allo too, so long as they respect my boundaries."

"Fair. I guess this is why I should have had you fill in a questionnaire."

I laughed. "It's fine. I'm not really looking for anyone. I'm open to dating the right person if I happened to meet them, but I'm not actively looking."

"Those are famous last words, Jacob," she joked. "I hope you find your match here."

"Thanks."

"But don't forget your lock."

We reached for it at the same time and my fingers bumped against hers. She pulled back and gave me an apologetic smile, letting me pick up the lock for myself.

I headed towards the bar and ordered myself a drink, not able to help it when my gaze strayed back to the goddess welcoming guests. Someone new had already arrived, and she was talking them through the event, or at least, that was what I assumed she was doing. There was something charming about her, but I knew it wasn't anything I should think for longer than a moment about. Even if she said that it was more complicated than being a goddess of one particular thing, I should stay away from getting involved with a goddess of sex.

That was just a mess I didn't need to invite into my life.

Chapter 4

QETESH

I shifted my present under my arm as I made my way up the steps to my best friend's house. Though technically, I think the house belonged to her fiancée, not that Ella hadn't made it her own.

The door swung open before I could even reach the top, revealing Nadia in a dazzling pink and green headscarf and a glass of something sparkling in her hand. Knowing her, it was probably elderflower pressé or something like that. I wouldn't mind a glass myself.

"Hey, Tesha," she said brightly, pulling me into a hug.

"Hi, Nadia, how are you doing?"

"I'm good. Can you believe the wedding is nearly here?" There was no stopping the excitement pouring off her, even if she was more restrained than her fiancée about it.

I laughed. "I'm surprised it wasn't last year considering how the two of you were chatting after you met."

"Mmm, true." She looked over to where my best friend was talking with a man whose back was turned to me. "And here we are, joint brides at our shower."

"Aren't you supposed to have that separately?" I wasn't sure what the current tradition was. Sometimes, these things moved too quickly for me to properly keep track of.

"Why would I want to have a Bridal Shower without my best friend at it?" she asked.

"You're not going to convince me otherwise," I said. "Marrying your best friend is the right way to go."

"Well, hands off yours," she joked.

I chuckled a little uncomfortably. Not because I'd ever been into Ella, but because if I said I never had been, then I'd have to explain to Nadia why I was sure that I didn't want to sleep with her future wife. "I brought you a present," I said in order to deflect.

"You really didn't have to," she said, taking it from me anyway. "You got us together, we're going to owe you for the rest of our lives."

"You don't," I promised. "I enjoy seeing other people fall in love."

"And when is it going to be your turn? You can't always be the bridesmaid?"

"I'm perfectly fine on my own," I promised. Though it was a lie. I think I would like to find someone, it would just need to be someone who understood my specific needs, and that just didn't come easily.

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