Page 39 of Shadowing Bright
Emmers was looking at her with heat in his eyes.
“Dude, you are still firmly in the friendzone.”
He sighed.
“What?I am not going to get involved with you if you are forced to dump me because of family.”
He growled and leaned back.
“Don’t pout.It isn’t attractive in anyone over four.”Amy finished her food and sipped at her milkshake.“Eat your dinner.You have bad guys to catch.We don’t want you feeling delicate.”
He glared but bit into his meal, his fangs extended.
She looked at Kairek.“He looks perturbed.”
“Oh, he is.He’s waiting until you meet his grandmother.She has the right to approve you, and once that happens, buckle up.There won’t be much that can stop him.”
“Uh, why would that be?”
“Because you have told him that the only thing standing between you two being together is your banning from your society.So, he is single-minded, and he’s working to get you that acceptance.It won’t take much.He’s shown me the emails from his grandmother.She’s exceptionally keen to meet you.”
“How can you know that?”
Kairek grinned.“She sent me a text, and then we video chatted.”
“Oh.Wow.”
“Yeah.She’s really focused on finding Emmers a nice girl to settle down with, and barring that, a slightly less nice girl will do.She said if he keeps holding out, she will take anyone who can just get pregnant and prove it was him.That will be close enough.”
“Funny how that could happen.”She smirked.
“Yeah, hilarious.I regret nothing other than not making an effort to contact Iris right away.I guess I never thought a woman like her would fall for a headless asshole like me.”
“Many a woman has engaged in many a stupider choice.”She smiled.
He shrugged and smiled.“So, what do your people do for courtship?”
“Well, for starters, the young ladies stand up at her coming-of-age ceremony, and they let out their mating call.Any interested young men come forward.”
Kairek grinned.“How many lined up for you?”
“Oh, not one.I stood there, and everyone just stared.I was still only human at the time, and no one wanted to get near me.My mother told me to leave that afternoon.”
“Oh.Shit.”
“Yeah, no young woman in our community had ever called with no response.I set a record.”She sipped at the last of the milkshake.“So, that followed with years of blissful solitude until I offered to help Hannah out, and I met the fuzz for balls over there.”
Hannah’s voice was husky.“It was very much appreciated.”
Emmers finished his food and wiped his mouth.“You know very little about my anatomy.”
“I was just guessing.So, more tennis-ball variety?”
He glared at her.“One day, I am going to give you a detailed anatomy lesson.”
“Sure, buddy.You keep thinking that.”She got up and winked.“Thanks for the milkshake.”She walked around and kissed him on the cheek, licking at some of the hot sauce before he could grab her, and then she slipped away with her fox ears up and her tail swishing.Vaia was really good at making clothing that could shift with her.
She got into her car and glanced over to see Kairek holding Emmers by the arm.She gave a bright wave and drove off.She had to get up early to hit her desk and start preparing a contingency plan in case she actually hit it off with Emmers’ grandma.It was a slim chance, but she hated being unprepared.
