Page 82 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
Clarity leaned forward, as much as the safety harness allowed. “Merry-gold. That does not sound like a human name.”
“It’s a type of flower,” Mari said.
Her ears perked up. “Oh! My mother’s name means flower. It is Kalini. Humans must be fond of flowers.”
“Clarity’s mother is also a human,” Zero said. Color rose on his cheeks. Mari took a second to puzzle out that his phrasing implied that he had a mother too.
Mari grinned, pleased. That was the nicest thing anyone sort-of ever implied about her.
Clarity lived in a modest house in Drac. On the way there, she pointed out the best places to shop and eat. One café in particular was nice, but her brother worked there and all the girls from school seemed to think he wascute. “Which I do not understand,” she added.
Mari completely understood. Brothers.
Once they dropped off Clarity, Zero sat quietly in the front of the vehicle. He sighed. Unable to slump down, his head lolled backward like his neck could not support his noggin’s weight.
“Do you think it will snow soon? I’ve only seen snow once and—”
Zero cut her off with a grumbled, “I dunno, don’t care.”
“Wow, you sound like your father.”
That earned her a groan.
“Clarity seems nice,” she said.
“I want to learn how to talk to females,” Zero blurted. His pale face went vividly pink and his ears were pressed forward.
“You’re talking to one now,” Mari said, turning her head slightly to look at Zero yet keep her eyes on the road.
“You don’t count. You’re Merry-gold and old, not that being old is bad, because of wisdom and stuff, but you know.”
“And stuff.” She snorted. She was twice Zero’s age so she must be ancient from his vantage. “Why not ask your dad? He’s talked to a girl or two.”
“Have you met my father? No.”
“He talked to me.”
Zero huffed, sounding amused. “After he called you a corporate spy and threatened to have you arrested.”
“He did not threaten to have me arrested.” The rest, however, was true. “You seemed to do just fine talking to her.”
His ears went forward. “No. I need practice. I need a list of appropriate topics, and I should make cards and rehearse.”
“Okay, let’s just say that since you’re on the same team, you have a mutual interest to discuss.”
“Sports. Yes, that is safe.” He dug into his bag and retrieved a tablet, as if to make notes. He paused, looking up from the screen. “But boring.”
“You want her to be your friend or…” She trailed off, absolutely at a loss about how to ask her fourteen-year-old stepson if he wanted to kiss a girl. He needed to talk to his father. Also, it was so weird to think of Zero as her stepson. She obviously knew of his existence and relationship to Winter, and knew she’d have to fit into their family, not the other way around, but still, a stepson. She was astepmom. Weird.
“A friend. My friend. She’s really clever and when she gets irritated, she gnashes her teeth like she’s envisioning biting your ears.” He mimed the teeth gnashing. “And I think it’s cute.” The blush returned to his face. “It’s dumb. Forget it.”
“Sounds like a great reason to want someone to be your friend. I met my friend Sandria at a thrift store because we wanted the same pair of shoes.” She swallowed, remembering how much fun it had been to have the stranger load her arms up with clothes she just had to try. Sandria had been the one to talk Mari into signing up for Celestial Mates.
Mari didn’t miss Tomas one bit, but she missed Sandria.
She cleared her throat. “Maybe an activity you can do together that’s not school-related?”
“That sounds like a date.”
