Page 17 of Nightmare For Hire
“Stay. Please. Don’t let him win. I don’t know what happened between you two, but I really like you.” I know Mick is a liar, though. And Ihateliars.
Cyrus sags in his seat. “I really do want to eat my waffles.” His eyes dart over to Mick. “But—”
I sweep my arm up then, over the table, bringing a cloud of shadows around us. The sounds of the diner fade away and it’s just Cyrus and me. “You don’t have to worry about him.”
Cyrus examines the shadows as they shimmer black, blue, and violet around us. “What is this?” He can’t see the full extent ofwhat I’ve done, but I gave it enough visual substance so he can see something.
“Me. I wrapped my shadows around the booth. Everyone outside will have an eerie feeling they can’t place, but they won’t be able to see us until I drop the shadows.”
He nods as he picks up his knife and fork. “Thank you, Nox. This is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.”
“I have a question, if you don’t mind? What does he mean he’ll see you at the hospital?”
Cyrus doesn’t look at me as he rubs his finger along his butter knife. “He’s a doctor. But we don’t work in the same department. He’s a neurosurgeon. I’m a NICU nurse. Our paths rarely cross. We met at my hospital back home. He was really nice in the beginning, and I really liked him. But I don’t know what I did wrong. He made me feel like shit. Like all I was… well, you heard what he said.” His eyes go sad again. “I can tell you pretty much all about him and what he likes. But he never asked about me. Never understood why I hesitate being intimate. Why—”
“We don’t have to talk about him anymore.Iwant to know all the things about you. Like what’s your favorite Indiana Jones movie? Or…” I look around the shadows, hoping to pluck a question from thin air. “Your favorite monster baby so far? Anything. Everything.” I cut off a huge bite of waffle and stuff it in my mouth. “Personally, I like most of the Indiana Jones movies, but what the hell was the Crystal Skull movie all about? Aliens? Ridiculous!” I wipe a bit of syrup from my chin while he laughs. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-eight. And Temple of Doom is my favorite Indy movie.” He’s smiling again. “And I don’t have a favorite monster baby yet. It’s too early to tell.”
“What do you do in your free time? Humans always have interesting things to do. I like floating around and watchingthem. Then I enjoy going shopping because I need cute clothes. Or boots. Oh, or makeup!”
Another snort and it’s so endearing. “I’m still getting my footing around Rivenfield. Before I moved, I volunteered at the library to read to kids a few weekends out of the month and ran craft workshops. It was just something silly and fun. Finger painting or something out of popsicle sticks. The kids loved it.”
“We have a library!”
“I’ve popped in, but I’ve been thinking about other hobbies I can do, too. Rivenfield is beautiful, so I plan to walk around with my camera sometime to get some shots. Though, I must admit, I enjoy editing photos more than taking them.”
“Oh! Do you have a portfolio? I love pictures. It’s so amazing humans have figured out a way to freeze time like that.”
“Never thought about it like that.” Cyrus gives me a crooked half-smile. “I love photography because it reminds me that life can be amazing no matter what I might be going through at the moment. Just one picture can remind me of a hundred happy moments.”
“That’s lovely.”
While we eat, we talk about our favorite pop stars and rock bands. His taste in music is eclectic, but not as much as mine.
“So you know every language?” he asks.
“Current and past, yes. I can talk with anyone, anywhere, at any time, fluently.”
“That is amazing.” He’s so at ease he probably doesn’t remember he’s dining with a Nightmare. He yawns and pulls out his phone. “I’m so sorry! I need to go. I need to get to bed so I can function tonight.” He grabs his wallet from one of his half a dozen pockets and pulls money out.
“Let me—”
He shakes his head. “I can pay for my part. I feel more comfortable. That way, we’re on even footing.”
“Okay.” Why does my nonexistent heart drop to my toes? I don’t want the date to end. “Can I see you again? Can I walk you out?” Can I kiss you? I don’t let that one slip out. Why the heck do I want to kiss him?
“I’d love to see you again.” Cyrus yawns once more.
I pull money out of my purse and lay it on the table. There’s plenty for my meal and tip. I drop the shadows and everything comes roaring back. When he holds out his hand, my stomach shadows flutter. Never in all my life have I felt this way. I’ve read some cringy insta-love romances and I don’t think that’s me. I don’tloveCyrus. I am truly fascinated by him and want to know everything I can about him. Why, oh why, did Mick send me after Cyrus? Just to be cruel? Luckily, the merman has already left.
The door chimes as we exit and we’re in blessed quiet again.
“I had an amazing time,” Cyrus says.
“Can I kiss you?” The words are past my lips before I can stop myself. I want to know what his plush mouth feels like against mine.
He swallows and nods. Instead of making him stoop down to accommodate my shorter stature—seriously, how freaking tall is he?!—I grab his hand and drag him to a bench. I climb up and the sweetest smile graces his lips.
