Page 18 of Let Go My Gargoyle
Chapter Seven
Sofia found a Disney movie on television, and she and Penelope settled in to watch, snuggled together on the couch. It was such a heartwarming scene that Griffin stood in the middle of the room staring at them until Sofia snapped her fingers and arched her brow.
“Are you going to join us?”
He wanted to. He was surprised by his own craving for such a comfortable, normal afternoon activity. But first of all, he and Sofia were not a couple and he’d promised not to touch her, and second, once they went to the City of the Dead and spoke to Oliver, Griffin would be taken off this assignment and it was entirely possible that their paths would never cross again.
Which sucked, but hey, that was reality. Most things did.
He pointed at the door. “Will you be okay up here if I go downstairs and have a drink?”
She ruffled Penelope’s red hair. “Yep. We have Jasmine and Aladdin to keep us company.”
He needed to leave before he gave in to the temptation to drop onto the couch on her other side. He imagined propping his feet on the coffee table, his arm stretched across the back of the sofa while she rested her head on his chest, maybe trailing a finger across his pec. Or along his thigh. Or…
“Okay, I’ll be back in a little while.”
He bolted, missed the first step, and nearly tumbled the rest of the way down.
“Whoa, careful there.” A woman standing at the bottom of the stairs spread her arms like she was prepared to catch him. She had dark skin and curly hair and was tall and thin, and she was a dragon.
“Thank you. I’m good now,” Griffin said by way of greeting.
She canted her head. “You’re a gargoyle.” She glanced at the stairs. “Are you renting Mitch’s apartment?”
“Um, just staying here for a short while. Until I get everything sorted out.” Why was he telling this woman even that much? She would have no idea what “everything” was, and she probably didn’t care. She was just making polite conversation, and now Griffin had pulled her into his convoluted life far more than either of them probably wanted.
She nodded and thrust out her arm and then pulled it back again. “Sorry, gargoyles don’t shake. I keep forgetting.”
“You’re familiar with gargoyles?”
She pointed at a man who was standing at the bar. “That’s my mate, Ketu. He’s friends with Argyle, from the local gargoyle brethren.”
Griffin hadn’t met Argyle yet, but Oliver spoke highly of him.
“I’m Antoinette, by the way. I’m the reeve of the Rojo dragon colony.”
“Griffin.” He nodded once. How should he explain who he was? “I’m new in town. Recently joined Argyle’s—well, Oliver’s—brethren, actually.”
“Ah. Welcome. Where are you from? Somewhere north, I’m guessing from the accent.”
He chuckled. “Canada. So yes, pretty far north.”
“You probably have snow on the ground already back home. My son is obsessed with snow. He’s been bugging me to take him to Detroit so he can experience it firsthand. In truth, the reeve of the Detroit colony has a daughter my son’s age, and I think Henri has a little crush on her.” She rolled her eyes.
“Well, if it helps, we don’t have snow yet, and I’m sure Detroit doesn’t either. You probably have another two months for your son to work on you about going to visit.”
She laughed. “Good to know. Say, would you like to join us? We were out visiting some of our elderly colony members and stopped in for a drink. We’re going to sit outside since it’s so nice.” She waved at the man she’d indicated earlier. He was holding pint glasses in each hand and had just turned to head their way.
“Ketu, this is Griffin. Griffin, Ketu.”
The men nodded at each other.
“What would you like?” Antoinette asked Griffin while waving at Mitch, who was behind the bar. The owner lifted his chin, no doubt waiting on Griffin’s order.
“How about a pilsner. Something local?”
Mitch nodded, reached under the bar, and pulled a bottle out of the fridge. “It’s called The Boot. Made by Abita and sold only here in Louisiana.”
