Page 23 of Far From Center
“Of course.” Gabriel put a hand to her back and gently steered her to one of the chairs, waiting until she was seated before he sat down beside her. “What would you like?”
“Whatever you’re drinking.”
“I’m an angel. I don’t consume food or drink beverages.”
She sighed. “Gabe, you’re not an angel right now, and if you don’t drink, you’ll die. And if you don’t eat, you’ll be weak and unable to defend me from the Gormand. I need you to help protect me, and you can’t do that dehydrated and starved.”
It was the right thing to say. The angel blinked, a look of shock flitting across his face. “Truly? I mean, I guess you’re right. I just…I’ve never done such things. I never wanted to sully my purity by indulging in sensory pleasures. Even though I’m human right now, food and drink have always been a hard line for me to cross as an angel. It always seemed the easiest of sensory pleasures to fall into. So minor. So seemingly innocent, but coffee and pizza can quickly lead an angel down the path to Hel.”
Kissing her was fine, but coffee and pizza were the equivalent of gateway drugs. She’d never understand this angel. But if this was what she had to work with, she’d find a way around his objections.
“Then we just have to find food and drink that you hate, but that is healthy and will allow your body to thrive. You can eat lots of kale and beets and possibly other disgusting things. There’s no chance of kale and beets leading you down a path to sin. And that way you won’t be indulging, you’ll be suffering in order to stay alive. Beets and kale surely won’t damage your purity or vibration pattern, will they?”
His eyes narrowed. “But aren’t all food and drink, even kale and beets, pleasurable? Isn’t that the idea?”
“Trust me, kale and beets are about as far from pleasurable as you can get. The idea is to fuel your body so you don’t die. We humans find lots of food and drink pleasurable, but it’s an individual thing. I hate broccoli. Some humans love it, but I don’t. For me to eat broccoli would be very unpleasant. There would be no joy in that at all. It’s very healthy and good for me, but I would have to force myself to choke it down.”
“Then I should eat broccoli and kale and beets?”
Nyalla sighed. “Knowing you, you’ll probably love the stuff. Let’s start with drinks since we’re here at the bar, and we’ll tackle food back in the room. Okay?”
Gabriel straightened his shoulders, like a man about to face an army. “All right. I’ll do it. But I’ll only agree to drink more than a sip of something if I hate it.”
Success! Well, almost success. “Except water. You have to drink water. It’s kind of tasteless, and there’s no real enjoyment in drinking it unless you’re super thirsty, or really hot. And then, the enjoyment is more because your body needs it than because it provides any sort of sensual pleasure.”
He listened to her intently. “Understood. Water. And any other beverage I find repulsive.”
The bartender approached and Nyalla ordered them both a glass of water. Then she asked for a soda, an orange juice, a glass of red wine, and a margarita. When the bartender sat them down, she instructed the angel to drink the water first, relieved that he downed the whole glass.
“I think I needed that,” he confessed.
“Good. Now try this one.” She pushed the soda over to him. Gabriel eyed it nervously.
“It’s fizzy.”
“Yes, that’s carbonation. It’s supposed to be that way. If it’s not fizzy, then it’s flat and you send it back.”
He took a drink and Nyalla choked back a laugh at the expression on his face.
“I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. Does it have any nutritional value? Is it important for my continued existence as a human being? Because I don’t think I can manage to drink that on a regular basis.”
“No, it has no nutritional value. In fact, it’s probably bad for you.”
Gabriel glared at her. “You gave me something that’s bad for me? Why would you do that? It’s probably damaged my internal organs. Plus, I think it was dissolving my teeth.”
Oh Lady above, he was so funny. “Some humans enjoy it. Here. Try the juice. That’s healthy.”
Gabriel took a sip. “I could drink this if I had to. I’m not feeling particularly sinful about it, but it’s not repulsive.”
“Good. Water and juice, then. I’m not sure about the wine. It’s grape juice, but fermented so there’s alcohol. I guess it’s nutritious? I read a study a few months ago that said it was good for your heart.”
Gabriel stared at the wine. “Elves drink wine. Although after what I’ve discovered about elves recently, that isn’t exactly a recommendation. Do you like it?”
“Yes, although I’m more of a beer and mixed-drink girl myself. Try it. It can’t be as bad as the soda.”
“Nothing can be as bad as the soda.” Gabriel took a sip and swished it around like it was mouthwash before swallowing. “You said it’s good for my heart?”
“That’s what I read. The article sounded very scholarly. I think some doctor wrote it.” She blinked as Gabriel downed the remainder in the glass.
