and more on the shelves, and I think she misses shopping. She saw you two while she was out.”
“We’ll need to go check it out,” Emily said enthusiastically.
Just the thought of food made my stomach turn.
“We were out talking to the new girls,” I said, steering the conversation to a safer topic until my stomach settled.
Mary swept into the room from the kitchen. Her face lit up when she saw us.
“I’m so glad I made a double batch of macaroni and cheese,” she said, coming to hug us. “You’re staying for dinner, right?”
Emily looked at me. I smiled and nodded my head. Mary beamed with delight, and I could only hope the dinner would stay down long enough to get what I’d come for.
While Emily went to help Mary with the place settings, I followed James to the table. Easy conversation flowed during the meal, making it possible to eat less and talk more. Especially when Emily shared that we’d learned that most of the girls weren’t liking their fey roommates.
“That’s a shame,” Mary said. “Those fey are all so sweet and deserve a little bit of happiness in their lives.”
“What about happiness in our lives?” I asked. “Why do we have to give up everything for their little bit of happy?”
“Oh, I’m not saying you should,” Mary reassured me. “It’s just that some of those girls really seem like they could use a man in their lives. Someone to lean on in times of trouble. You two have each other. James and I aren’t judging.”
I almost spit out the small bite I’d reluctantly taken.
“Mary, we’re not lesbians,” Emily said.
“Of course you aren’t, dear.” Mary’s curious gaze settled on me, and I swallowed.
“You know what? If it gets me out of future talks about how I need a man in my life, yep, I’m gay.”
James made a choked sound that I was sure was a laugh.
“While I was on my way to the supply shed,” Mary said, “I saw one of those girls yelling at poor Sain to leave her the bleep alone.”
“Bleep?”
Emily and Mary ignored me as Emily made a sympathetic sound.
“Sain is such a teddy bear,” Emily said. “So shy. I’ll have to stop by his place tomorrow.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. I’m sure if she just got a chance to know him like we do, she’d love him. Oh, I have the perfect idea.”
“Now, I doubt that,” James mumbled, keeping his head down as Mary shot him a dirty look.
“Remember that show The Dating Game? We should come up with some questions for the girls to ask the fey to get to know them.”
“I think that show was before our time,” I said, having no clue about the reference.
Mary waved a hand at me and focused on Emily, who was nodding.
“Premade questions would be good. Especially if we can turn it into some kind of game. The fey love games, and it might make the girls more willing to go along.”
Their animated conversation drew them away from the table. James shook his head and leaned back in his chair, his plate empty. I looked at the other two plates and saw they were bare, too. Taking a quick bite, I stacked my plate on top of Mary’s and collected the rest.
“You hightailing it out of here?” James asked, watching me.
“As fast as I can.”
James chuckled.
“They mean well.”
I didn’t reply. Spilling my thoughts earlier had almost cost me my opportunity. I wasn’t going to potentially screw it up again.
Taking the dishes to the kitchen, I rushed through washing them and left everything in the drainer to air dry. James was in his chair again. The one facing the liquor cabinet.
“I washed the dishes, figuring they’d be at it a while,” I said, hearing Emily and Mary’s voices coming from the basement.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Just stick up for me when Emily gets mad that I left without her again.”
He chuckled and winked at me.
I smiled and moved to the door, my palms sweating with need. My hands shook as I zipped my jacket.
“Oh,” I said, turning as if a thought had just occurred to me. “And thank you for that bottle of vodka. Let me know if you ever need me to make room for more. The last party wiped out our supply so we have plenty of room.”
He waved at the cabinet.
“Grab a few now. We see at least one new bottle a day. Anything that looks strong enough to clean out a cut, we’ve been sending to Cassie’s