Page 19 of Dryad, Try Again
“Friends?” The word aches, but I’m not sure why. Does he see me as more or not? Even if he liked me, I’ve made it clear that I’m too busy.
“Yeah, because?”
His words are cut off by a large monster with a bullhead bristling. When Kovi moves to his right, I can clearly see the student behind him. “Are you done ordering?” the minotaur asks.
“Uh, I was just…” Kovi tries to explain.
Seth approaches and waves us off. “Go chat, you two.”
“What? Why?” I ask.
“I got this. You two can go talk.” Seth grins and gently pushes me, and then takes over the register. He turns to the minotaur and asks, “What can I get for you?”
I blink at him, then walk around the counter. “Sorry about that,” Kovi says. “My best friend is…”
“He’s trying to help me out.” I lean on the counter. “But I can’t ask you for more time.”
“It’s fine. May I?” He points to my mock quiz, and I hand it over. After a few seconds, he smiles. “This is on forestry!”
I shrug and frown. “Yeah, not my strongest suit.”
“But it’s mine!” He beams at me and taps his chest. “I can teach you firsthand about the forest.”
My mouth opens but no words come out. On the one hand, Kovi is really smart with environmental sci. On the other, going into the woods sounds like a nightmare. On the third hand, Kovi is hot as hell, and I want to keep hanging out with him. I guess third hand is code for my libido.
I bite my lip and half-shrug. “If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all! When are you free?” He eagerly whips out his phone, and it’s crazy adorable.
“Um, as you know I work the weekends, but how about Friday again?”
“Friday it is,” he says as he types in his phone. “We can even make it a standing date…for studying,” he adds quickly.
“That would be very helpful.” We share a smile, and those butterflies in my stomach float in circles again. I’m starting to think Shonda was right, and that Kovi is interested in me. This beautiful monster is making it increasingly difficult to remember why I don’t have time to date. I have half a mind to hug him, when?
“Grr.” We break apart at the sound of the zombie busboy mopping the floor between us. I’ve learned that growl is his standard greeting, but it’s no less startling.Moment ruined.
“Um, I should go,” I mutter. “Grind some beans, or…”
“Yeah, I should, too. Maybe order from Seth.”
“Yeah, I’ll uh, text you though.”
“No doubt.” He quickly nods and looks at the ground as he power-walks away.
Before I make it inside the kitchen, I catch him talking to Seth. Seth whispers something and laughs out loud, but not before Kovi leers at him.Huh. I wonder what that’s all about.
9
KOVI
“Ooh,getting ready for another date with yourhumanboyfriend,” Seth says in a high-pitched, mocking tone. He claims he was a benevolent pharaoh in his past life, but right now, I’d like to mummify his tongue. I’m momentarily tempted to shift my arm and strangle him with vines.
But I’m busy scrubbing my face in the suite bathroom. I’m freshly showered, wearing only my tightest green boxer briefs, staring at the mirror above the sink. “It’s not a date,” I mutter. I rinse my cheeks then check my teeth. So I want to look good for my study sesh, so what?
“It looks like a date.” Seth smirks with his head through the open bathroom doorway.
“Leave Kovi alone,” Blake says, head popping up on the opposite side.
